BURLINGTON, ON – Cogeco Cable is launching a Canadianized version of TiVo to its Ontario-based cable customers on Monday, with a French-language version slated to arrive in Quebec by spring.
The Cogeco TiVo service’s fully integrated search function will mine through live TV, recorded, on-demand and over-the-top content, including Netflix, to show users what programs are available to watch, reads Thursday’s announcement. TiVo will also help users discover new content by providing personalized recommendations, and automatically recording content that it predicts might be of interest to the user.
"Cogeco TiVo Service will be a game-changer in the cable market in Canada," said Cogeco Cable Canada president and CEO Louise St-Pierre, in the announcement. "We have worked closely with TiVo to develop a platform that is customized for Canadian viewers, and we are proud to bring it to market today. We developed Cogeco TiVo Service in direct response to what our customers told us is important to them – great content, convenience, availability and ease of use. Cogeco TiVo Service delivers that, and more."
Cogeco TiVo Service also extends out of home, with a Cogeco TV app available on supported iOS devices that allows customers to search, browse and schedule recordings from anywhere. Additionally, users can download DVR recordings to their iOS mobile devices running the Cogeco TV app to watch from anywhere, without the need for a WiFi access. An app for Android is expected to arrive in April 2015.
The Cogeco TiVo Service will be available starting November 3 for Ontario residents in Cogeco Cable markets. The service will be available in its Quebec markets in spring 2015 after the platform interface, language and recommendations algorithm is customized for a Quebec audience.
Cogeco Cable's U.S. subsidiary Atlantic Broadband launched TiVo earlier this year “with great customer acceptance”, according to the company.
