The TiVo media device, launched in July 2008, originally came with 160GB on-board storage capacity. The TiVo hard drive has now doubled in size to 320GB to meet the recording demands of Australians wishing to capture programs across all the Freeview channels including new digital channels such as 7TWO, Go!, One Sport and the pending ABC Kids channel, ABC3.

The new product is branded the TiVo 320 Media Device and will replace the TiVo 160 Media Device from 1 December 2009.

The Home Networking Package provides three additional capabilities: 1. Allows TiVo owners to transfer their Freeview TV recordings from their TiVo device to their PC or portable devices such as an iPhone, iTouch or Playstation Personal (PSP); 2. Enables family photos, music libraries and home videos to be enjoyed on the TV; 3. Provides the ability to transfer and view recordings between two TiVo devices in the home.

In addition to the launch of the new TiVo 320 Media Device – all customers will have automatic access to Hybrid TV’s proprietary content and service portal, CASPAÔ On-Demand.

From 1 December 2009, the TiVo home page, TiVo Central, will replace “Video On-Demand” with “CASPA On-Demand”. Through CASPA, all TiVo customers will have access to new release and library movies, hit TV programs and music videos, concerts and music artist interviews. The CASPA service will provide both free and pay-per-view content with advertiser-funded content playing a significant role from Q2 next year. At launch, there will be more than 1000 hours of broadband content available through the TiVo device and the content portfolio will continue to grow with cumulative hours reaching in the tens of thousands over time.

“The TiVo device is a true representation of the best of broadcast and broadband delivered directly to the living room for the enjoyment of you, your family and friends on the television. CASPA is our means of bringing Australians content and services that can be easily accessed through a TV remote and fairly priced or free, wherever possible. This new service proves the TiVo mandate of providing continuous features and benefits delivered over broadband as all our customers will be able to access CASPA from 1 December.

“With our proprietary broadband proposition it demonstrates how vital our internet partners, like Internode, Primus and iinet are, as they will unmeter CASPA downloads on the TiVo for customers on compatible plans. In addition some ISPs are providing larger capacity plans, unmetered plans or unmetered timebands like AAPTs 8pm to 8am all-you-can-download offering.

“Taking this one step further into our future NBN-world, where we will have ubiquitous high speed broadband connections over fibre-optics achieving speeds starting at 100Mbps. This makes our existing copper connections look like a dripping tap with its meager 512Kbps to 8Mbps.

“Internet speeds achieved through fibre-optics will mean that content consumption and service delivery can reach beyond PC screens and laptops and jump onto the television. We have a near 100% penetration of TVs – but not so with computers. With CASPA, Hybrid TV is poised to be Australia’s premier telco-agnostic content service provider.” said Robbee Minicola, Chief Executive of Hybrid TV.