Matthew DeCarlo
If you’re looking to take the next step toward cutting your traditional cable service, TiVo has just announced a new 4K streaming device that will let you watch content from TiVo+, Sling TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and more.
The TiVo Stream 4K is a small dongle-like Android TV device that connects to your television through an HDMI port, supports features such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR, and you can control from your couch with a bundled voice-enabled remote. TiVo says it tried to make the device easy to use for folks who just want to plug the thing in and start surfing through their favorite video content. The company notes that its software interface makes that process particularly intuitive.
Along with providing access to TiVo+, which includes a lot of free (ad-sponsored) shows and movies, TiVo has partnered with Sling TV to make the Sling TV app available on the Stream 4K, including support for Sling TV’s Cloud DVR service. It’s probably worth noting that TiVo has simultaneously announced that 23 new channels are being added to TiVo+, bringing the total to 49 channels. Those two platforms should provide a decent selection for folks who are interested in subscription TV. At the same time, access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Vudu, HBO, and other services should cover the rest of the bases.
What’s special here is that you’ll be able to search through all of that content in the same streamlined interface without having to toggle between different apps. The company says this should make it feel more like you’re just watching plain old TV instead of having to navigate some newfangled interface that might feel foreign to someone who isn’t all that tech-savvy. In other words, this thing is probably great for your grandma.
“With TiVo Stream 4K, we have created a dramatically better experience for viewers who are tired of hunting through apps and interfaces to find the amazing content available through online content providers,” said Dave Shull, president and CEO of TiVo. “We are excited to help TV lovers and occasional viewers alike make the most of their time in front of the screen and bring together the best of the streaming and TV experiences.”
Along with being easy to navigate, the TiVo Stream 4K will bring a level of personalization to the content that it presents you. When you first configure the device, you can let it know what kind of content you’re into, and that’s what you’ll see on the main screen when you load it up. That’s also a pretty big deal considering the device will populate the screen with content pulled from various streaming platforms, not just TiVo+ or some other singular service.
Going forward, TiVo is talking with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to open up even more content on its new Stream 4K device. The company has recognized how popular streaming is becoming, and it wants to position itself to address that growing demand. It’s a first-gen streaming device and the company says the Stream 4K should arrive in early April.
TiVo says it will have an MSRP of $69.99, but plans to launch the device with an introductory price of $49.99.
