Could Apple buy TiVo?

Rumours are rife that TiVo is being watched by several companies looking to take it over. Of these, Apple seems to be the hottest prospect. Reuters has reported TiVos shares rising by 17 percent.

"What we hear on the street is that Apple is interested in their business and that they are a takeout target," said analyst Steven Kroll Jr. of Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co.

TiVo is in turmoil at the moment, and a takeover by a company like Apple would give them some stability, and useful ties into other markets (such as music) where Apple dominates. Apple would have a technology in people's living rooms that would give them a portal into services like iTunes. People could buy music from their TiVo and download straight to their iPods. If the inevitable video iPod could be tied into a TiVo to download video and record TV programmes, that would put Apple in a superb position. On top of that, both companies have similar ideas on making superb user interfaces, and use hardware and operating systems with much in common.