Arris to add TiVo software into set-top boxes

Arris has agreed a partnership with set-top box rival TiVo to integrate TiVo’s software and cloud-based services with Arris set-top boxes.

The firms said that the partnership is part of an “ongoing collaboration” to give service providers options for delivering multiscreen, TV everywhere, and DVR functionality to subscribers.

The first product to come from the partnership will be the DCX3635 Video Gateway with TiVo. This will feature six video tuners, eight DOCSIS downstream channels, will be capable of supporting dual simultaneous HD video transcoding sessions and carry 1 Terabyte of onboard storage – enough memory to record 150 hours of HD programming.

Larry Robinson, Arris’ president of customer premises equipment said the TiVo deal “represents an ongoing collaboration to help our global customers usher in tomorrow’s technology through familiar, branded solutions that subscribers trust. Together, we’re inventing the future of TV and delivering it through reliable, scalable, and consumer-friendly solutions.”

Tom Elam, the vice president and general manager of TiVo’s service provider business, said: “We’re partnering with Arris to give service providers a greater range of choices for delivering the award-winning TiVo experience.

“Now providers can choose Arris’ innovative hardware to deliver the signature TiVo service for entertainment, anytime, anywhere, and across a variety of screens.”

Separately, Arris and Charter Communications announced that they have completed their joint US$135 million acquisition of cloud TV specialist ActiveVideo.

The deal, which was first announced last month, now sees Arris own 65% and Charter 35% of the joint venture company they formed for the deal. ActiveVideo will continue to operate independently of Arris and Charter, with Arris serving as the sales channel for ActiveVideo’s CloudTV platform. Jeff Miller will continue to lead ActiveVideo as CEO.