A new enhancement to the TiVoToGo feature will allow subscribers to transfer their favorite shows to their portable devices via their PC. NBC says this goes too far.TiVo Inc. announced this week that new software it plans to make available next year will allow users to download TV shows and films to Apple's iPod and Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld devices.
The new enhancement to TiVo's TivoToGo feature will include capabilities such as TiVo auto-sync, which will allow subscribers to choose if they want new recordings of their favorite programs easily transferred to their portable devices via their PC. Every morning the devices can be loaded with new programs recorded the night before, the company said.
"We're making it easy for consumers to enjoy the TV shows they want to watch right from their iPod or PSP," said TiVo CEO and former NBC programming executive Tom Rogers.
However, at least one content provider, NBC Universal, is making waves about whether the Alviso, Calif.-based digital video recording company is going too far in distributing television content.
"TiVo appears to be acting unilaterally, disregarding established rights of content owners to participate in decisions regarding the distribution and exploitation of their content," an NBC Universal spokesperson told Hollywood's Daily Variety trade paper.
"This unilateral action creates the risk of legal conflict instead of contributing to the constructive exploitation of digital technology that can rapidly provide new and exciting experiences for the consumer."
Thus, NBC said, widespread use of such technology could be seen as a clear threat to the network's ability to market and sell such products as DVDs, videotapes and CD-ROMs that contain video and audio copies of original network content.
Ziff Davis Internet contacted an NBC representative in New York for further comment Tuesday, but the spokesperson declined to offer any other statements.
Read the full story on eWEEK.com: TiVo Handheld Device Software Draws Ire at TV Network
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