TiVo to launch Guru Guide feature
US digital TV recorder pioneer TiVo has announced the upcoming launch of its latest feature: Guru Guide.
The new service will be available in the coming weeks to allow TiVo subscribers to automatically record collections of shows recommended by editorial experts at some of America's top consumer magazines and news sources.
Guru Guide—which follows the recent introduction of the KidZone and Mobile features to the TiVo personal video recorder—will create a virtual television channel from each critic, while leaving the ultimate selection and choice to the consumer.
Writers from sources including Entertainment Weekly, Star, Sports Illustrated, Automobile, Billboard and CNET will offer viewers suggestions from popular TV categories including sport, film, music, comedy and drama, and subscribers will be able to automatically record the recommendations via TiVo's online scheduling feature.
TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said: "Providing our users with a better, smarter way to enjoy their favourite television is at the core of what we do at TiVo and how we transform TV viewing for consumers".
Tara Maitra, vice president of programming for TiVo, added: "By matching up TiVo technology with engaging Guru Guide recommendations from trusted sources, we are empowering subscribers with a brand new way to find, organise and view their favourite shows in an increasingly crowded television environment".
Meanwhile TiVo announced widening first-quarter losses of $10.7m on revenues of $56.5m, compared with year-ago losses of $857,000 on revenues of $46.9m.
TiVo said it had 4.4m subscribers at the end of April, up 33% on the year.
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