DVR maker laid off "most" of its hardware engineers, according to Wired, but a spokesperson denies that the company is getting out of the hardware business. January 22, 2014 6:09 PM PST One of TiVo's most recent offerings is the Roamio, which combines a 6-tuner DVR with new streaming options. (Credit: CNET) TiVo is apparently preparing itself for a future beyond just DVR hardware. The company has laid off the majority of its hardware team -- five engineers -- as it focuses on a future based instead on the cloud and software licensing, according to a Wired report. The company has reportedly retained two engineers in the division to handle support for current and planned third-party devices running TiVo's software. Related stories TiVo, Roku, and Sling: Catching up with modern-day TV pioneers Netflix's TV look gets a face-lift two years in the making LinkedIn inserts profiles into e-mails A TiVo spokesperson confirmed that the company made personnel moves on Wednesday but disputed the characterization that it was abandoning the hardware business. While declining to discuss specific numbers, TiVo spokesperson Steve Wymer confirmed to CNET that a "relatively small number" of positions were affected by the moves and said the company was still actively involved in several future hardware projects. TiVo revealed its cloud ambitions last September when it unveiled the TiVo network PVR, a cloud-based television platform designed for television providers. TiVo said at the time that the PVR would include all of the company's standard DVR features, including the ability to check upcoming programming and record shows, in addition to the ability to share programming with others through the TiVo user interface. In addition to its hardware business, technology licensing has proven lucrative for TiVo. During the last couple of years, TiVo has won major settlements from competitors, including $500 million from Dish Network, more than $250 million from Verizon in 2012, and a $490 million lump sum payment from Cisco Systems and Google's Motorola division last year.
DVR maker laid off "most" of its hardware engineers, according to Wired, but a spokesperson denies that the company is getting out of the hardware business.
One of TiVo's most recent offerings is the Roamio, which combines a 6-tuner DVR with new streaming options.
(Credit: CNET)
TiVo is apparently preparing itself for a future beyond just DVR hardware.
The company has laid off the majority of its hardware team -- five engineers -- as it focuses on a future based instead on the cloud and software licensing, according to a Wired report. The company has reportedly retained two engineers in the division to handle support for current and planned third-party devices running TiVo's software.
Related stories
- TiVo, Roku, and Sling: Catching up with modern-day TV pioneers
- Netflix's TV look gets a face-lift two years in the making
- LinkedIn inserts profiles into e-mails
A TiVo spokesperson confirmed that the company made personnel moves on Wednesday but disputed the characterization that it was abandoning the hardware business. While declining to discuss specific numbers, TiVo spokesperson Steve Wymer confirmed to CNET that a "relatively small number" of positions were affected by the moves and said the company was still actively involved in several future hardware projects.
TiVo revealed its cloud ambitions last September when it unveiled the TiVo network PVR, a cloud-based television platform designed for television providers. TiVo said at the time that the PVR would include all of the company's standard DVR features, including the ability to check upcoming programming and record shows, in addition to the ability to share programming with others through the TiVo user interface.
In addition to its hardware business, technology licensing has proven lucrative for TiVo. During the last couple of years, TiVo has won major settlements from competitors, including $500 million from Dish Network, more than $250 million from Verizon in 2012, and a $490 million lump sum payment from Cisco Systems and Google's Motorola division last year.
