NCTA supports TiVo's analog waiver request

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) said it will support a request from TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) waive its long-standing requirement for an analog tuner to be included in digital gear such as digital DVRs. TiVo is about to roll out a four-tuner Premiere Q digital DVR for its cable operator partners, but has said the cost and power requirements involved in including an analog tuner are prohibitive.

The NCTA said it would support TiVo's request for a waiver from the requirement as long as TiVo properly informs consumers that a digital-only DVR will not work in all cable systems, or specifically in those that still offer some analog channels.

Although in reality analog still lives on, it is clear that costs and current thinking about energy conservation are proving how much of a burden analog requirements can be.

For more:
- read this Multichannel News story

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