It's approaching midnight, it's in the single digits outside, and I really don't feel like watching regular TV right now. I feel like having something on while I get under the covers and read. Time for the Yule Log!

This season (Jay reviewed one a couple of years ago), Comcast, Cox, Time-Warner, and Bright House all have the Yule Log on their On Demand service (via iN Demand). It's that scene of a crackling fireplace to get you in the Christmas mood. It's especially good if you don't have a fireplace of your own (duh), and it's in HD! I have Comcast digital, and to access it, go to your On Demand menu, then scroll down to HD On Demand, then go to TV Entertainment. You'll see a "Yule Log & More" category (not sure how to get to the section on other cable systems - maybe it's the same?).

But wait, there's more...

Comcast, Cox, and TiVo have been working on deploying TiVo software on cable company hardware for well over a year now. But while the original goal was to let cable operators flip a switch and automatically send the TiVo software to a customer's box, the reality has been a bit trickier. For the most part, if you've been one of the lucky few people who even had access to Comcast's TiVo service, you probably had to wait for a guy in a truck to roll up to your house and work some magic.

But now TiVo CEO Tom Rogers says the days of auto-flip activation are nearly upon us. This feature will make it much less expensive for cable operators to deploy the TiVo service, which means it's likely we'll see the service expand beyond its current test markets in New England.

[via Gizmo Lovers]

Now that Comcast has already begun offering TiVo software on Comcast-branded set top boxes in Boston, it looks like Cox Communication wants in on the action. Both Comcast and Cox have been working with TiVo for the last few years to add the popular PVR-maker's software to their set top boxes. Now Multichannel News reports that Cox is preparing to roll out a limited trial in New England.

Cox provides cable service in Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut, so it looks like Cox and Comcast won't be going head to head in Boston.

No word on what kind of premium Cox will charge customers for the TiVo software or when the software will be publicly available. We assume Cox will roll out the software upgrade much the same way that Comcast has, meaning you won't need to call your cable company and request a new box. Rather, the company should be able to deliver a software upgrade over your cable line.

TiVo released its quarterly financial results yesterday and the company reports narrower than expected losses. And buried in CEO Tom Rogers' statement was this little nugget: TiVo is working on a standalone set top box that will support Tru2Way, the standard once known as OCAP.

What that means is that one day you'll be able to buy a TiVo box that has support for advanced digital cable functions like switched digital video, video on demand, and pay per view. Right now, the closest you can get is a Motorola box from Comcast that runs TiVo software. If you happen to live in the Boston area, that is. For folks in the rest of the country, you have a choice: TiVo, or video on demand. You can't have both on the same set top box.

Of course, by the time TiVo gets this new box to market, Comcast and Cox may have already rolled out TiVo software outside of New England.

[via TiVo Lovers]

After years of waiting, it looks like Comcast and TiVo are almost ready to launch TiVo service for Comcast set top boxes. During TiVo's quarterly earnings call yesterday, CEO Tom Rogers announced that the official launch will be around August.

The software is currently in limited trials. But in August, Comcast plans to launch a limited commercial rollout in parts of New England. Rogers says Cox Cable could be ready to offer TiVo software on its set top boxes by the end of the year.

At this point, TiVo is fighting the generic cable company set top box on two fronts. While sales of the $800 TiVo Series3 haven't been spectacular, Tivo is continuing to work on a lower-cost high definition unit. But if selling standalone boxes doesn't work out for the PVR pioneer, it looks like providing software to television providers may be a viable business model.

The good news for Cox Cable customers: ABC and ESPN have agreed to offer top shows and football games on demand.

The bad news: Cox will disable fast-forwarding on those programs.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Disney-owned networks insisted that ad-skipping be turned off for those programs as part of the deal.

What's most surprising about this arrangement is that it hasn't been tried before. While viewers with personal video recorders in their homes get to decide whether to watch the commercials, previews for upcoming shows, or slow bits of Lost is entirely up to the viewer. But cable companies have a lot more control over how customers watch video on demand programs.

I'm not sure there'd be a revolution in the streets if Cox disabled fast forwarding on every program, but it certainly wouldn't be popular. But for premium content, it makes a lot of sense as a way for Cox and Disney to make money.

[via Zatz Not Funny]

Former TiVo CEO (and current board member) Mike Ramsey tells the Sunday Herald that TiVo could be returning tot he UK, but not with its own set-top-boxes.

Ramsey says manufacturing and distribution problems have kept the company from launching a new box in Britain, but the same technology that will allow TiVo software to run on cable boxes distributed by Comcast and Cox Cable in the US could be used to add TiVo software to Freeview boxes in the UK.

TiVo would work with a Freeview device maker to distribute the boxes, while TiVo would be responsible for providing service. The company has been talking with companies, but Ramsey says TiVo's not ready to announce any partnerships yet.

[via HDTiVo Blog]

According to an SEC filing by TiVo, cable giant Comcast has spent $16.2 million to help develop a version of TiVo's software for Comcast set-top-boxes.

Comcast and TiVo had initially promised to launch a co-branded PVR with TiVo software by the end of last year, but that target date came and went. The next goal is to push out a finished product by June 30. Comcast and TiVo showed off a working unit at CES in January.

TiVo is also working on bringing its software to Cox Cable set-top-boxes, but it looks like that deal's on the slow-track for now. TiVo's SEC filing doesn't mention any revenues or expenses under that arrangement.

[via TiVo Lovers]

During yesterday's speech to investors, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers admitted that the $799 price tag on the Series3 HD TiVo probably hurt sales.

Rogers says the company plans to offer a lower-priced high definition unit soon. That ambiguous statement could mean lowering the price on the Series3 or offering a stripped down version of the box.

While some resellers have offered Series3 TiVo for under $600, that's still a lot of money to shell out when you can pick up an HD PVR for just a few bucks a month from your cable or satellite provider. TiVo's been tackling this issue on two fronts:

• By throwing features (like TiVoCast, Amazon Unbox, and web video) onto its boxes, providing features that you can't get on generic PVRs.
• By partnering with cable providers like Comcast and Cox to bundle TiVo software with cable company set-top-boxes.

As much as I hope TiVo plans a major price drop for Series3 units, Rogers might have been talking about rolling out HD TiVo service through Comcast and Cox boxes.