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- ReplayTV History -
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ReplayTV at a Glance
Stock quote: DMHOF.PK $0.00 (N/A)
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
Company founded: 1997
Product lines: Replaytv, Denon, Marantz
Monthly subscription cost:$12.95
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Early History
ReplayTV
is another U.S. pioneer in the personal video recorder market. Replay Networks was founded in September 1997 with the purpose of designing, building and marketing next-generation television products using advanced digital technologies. Based in Silicon Valley, the heart of the high-technology industry, Replay Networks brought together leading engineers, interface designers and other experts to create cutting edge television products.
Replay Networks' designers and marketers were brought together from a who's-who of successful entrepreneurial companies. These include Palm, Macromedia, NeXT, InfoSeek, Disney, LucasArts, Commodore Amiga, 3DO and others.
Replay Networks' first product, ReplayTV with the Replay Network Service, was a new breed of digital recorder that will forever change the way people watch television. ReplayTV enables consumers to take charge of their televisions. No longer subject to the programming whims of network and cable executives, viewers can watch what they want, when they want.
RTV2001 Replaytv (1999)
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Despite an early entry into the personal video recorder market, in addition to award winning features and product lines, the ReplayTV system was only able to connect with 15% of the personal video recorder market. It was dwarfed by the much larger and better financed Tivo, which had captured the remaining 85% of the market.
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In 1999, the ReplayTV system was unveiled to the public, largely promoted as a successor to the common and extremely popular VCR. While the Tivo system which was also introduced in 1999, focused on simplicity and ease of use, ReplayTV focused on advanced features, offering many features and connections that Tivo and most other home entertainment components did not.
Early Features
The original ReplayTV system offered the following features:
- Easily create and configure your own personalized Replay Channels
- Guaranteed recording of your favorite TV shows
- VCR-type controls while watching live TV (Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward)
- Rewind to the beginning of a live broadcast while it is still being recorded
- Instant replay
- User definable video-quality levels
- Fast IEEE-1394 (FireWire connection) for future attachments and storage expansion
- RF/ANT input for cable (F-type)
- Line One input (2 audio RCA: 1 composite video RCA)
- Line Two input (2 audio RCA; 1 composite video RCA; 1 S-Video
- Line One output (2 audio RCA; 1 composite video RCA)
- Line Two output (2 audio RCA; 1 composite video RCA; 1 S-Video)
- Upgradable storage capacity
- On-screen easy-to-use program guide
- Automatic clock set
- Compatible with all over-the-air, cable, and direct broadcast satellite systems
- Easy one-button recording of TV programming
- ReplayTV does not use videotape
- Models that store 6 to 28 hours of video
The Replaytv RTV2000 series offered many never before seen features. The main drawback was a high initial cost, approximately $900 which included a lifetime subscription to the Replaytv software and programming update. Later models would allow personal photos, commercial skipping and room to room streaming.
For its time, the ReplayTV PVR was one of the most advanced on the Market with
automatic commercial skipping features and networking features
that allow room to room streaming and also sharing of recordings
over the Internet. The ReplayTV also allows you to download your
favorite photos from your PC for viewing on your TV. You can even
communicate with your ReplayTV remotely to set it to record your
favorite shows when away from home.
The ReplayTV system also has the usual PVR features such as a
detailed and interactive program guide, including that of most
major cable and satellite providers, live TV pause/recording that
allows you to pause, resume, slow-motion and instant replay of
live television broadcasts, show organizer to allow you to easily
organize your recordings, show finder to locate shows to record
via a number of searches and much more.
Recent History
In 2001, Replay Networks was aquired by SonicBlue. Over the next year, SonicBlue would work to improve the ReplayTV system, adding in contraversial new features such as commercial skipping and show sharing/streaming. It was eventually sued by a number of companies over the features, which forced it into chapter 11 bankruptcy. In March 2003, the ReplayTV line of products was aquired by Digital Networks North America, which own the Denon and Marantz line of home audio and video products. Between 2003 and 2006, Digital Networks North America continued to offer the ReplayTV systems, however it held only a small percentage of the market.
From Hardware to Software
In 2006, Digital Networks North America announced the intention to phase out production of the standalone ReplayTV hardware in favor of production of a PC-based software DVR system. This became available to the public in late 2006, requiring the purchase of a compatible PC video DVR card and purchase of the ReplayTV DVR software as well as a subscription to the ReplayTV service. While the original ReplayTV boxes are no longer in active production, they continue to be supported as well as the new PC DVR card, which share many of the same features.
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08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
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Cycling
VERSUS
9:30 am ET
When viewers tune in today to the opening of the 96th Tour de France in Monaco, they'll see at least one familiar face. Lance Armstrong, the seven-time champ, will return to compete on the nearly 2,200-mile route for the first time since 2005. This year, a particularly difficult mountain stage has been added at the end of the 21-stage race, which runs until July 26.
A Capitol Fourth
PBS
8:00 pm ET
Jimmy Smits hosts the Independence Day concert at the U.S. Capitol, welcoming a slate of performers that includes Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, the cast of "Jersey Boys," Michael Feinstein and classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen. Erich Kunzel returns as conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. Also: fireworks!
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
NBC
9:00 pm ET
Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber of "Today" host this broadcast of the annual gala fireworks display from New York, featuring such A-list musical acts as country superstar Kenny Chesney, Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks.
2009 Hot Dog Eating Contest
ESPN
12:00 pm ET
Nathan's Famous' yearly salute to acid reflux comes live today from Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., where American Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will defend his title in the 94th annual event. Last year, the 24-year-old Californian downed 55 franks and buns in 10 minutes, tying six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, whom he then defeated him in a five-dog "eat-off." Those two men return today to compete in an international field of "eaters."
Apollo 13
MAX
7:30 pm ET
Tom Hanks stars as Cmdr. Jim Lovell in director Ron Howard's 1995 theatrical hit about the near-disastrous 1970 Apollo 13 mission. Headed for the moon, Lovell and his crew, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert (Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon), experience an on-board explosion. On the ground, their colleagues scramble for a solution while the world holds its breath. Gary Sinise and Ed Harris also star. Jim Lovell appears in a cameo role as captain of the USS Iwo Jima.
Burn After Reading
HBOE
8:00 pm ET
The star quality certainly is present in the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, the Oscar-winning makers of "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men," but the story gets too frantic for its own good. John Malkovich plays a newly resigned CIA agent whose secrets are swiped by his divorce-seeking wife (Tilda Swinton) and ultimately land in the hands of gym workers (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, alias Mrs. Joel Coen). George Clooney also appears.
Far From Home
MNT
8:00 pm ET
And far from good, this movie marked young Drew Barrymore's attempt to transition from kiddie fare into more adult roles. She plays a teenager on a tour of national parks with her dad (Matt Frewer). The pair gets stranded without gasoline at a trailer park in a remote area where a serial killer is picking off people. Unfortuntely, this poorly written film runs out of gas just as quickly. Richard Masur and Karen Austin also star.
Kings
NBC
8:00 pm ET
King Silas (Ian McShane) sends David (Chris Egan) on a mission to recover a national treasure, the Charter of Gilboa, but David learns shocking news about his father's death while carrying out the assignment; Jack and Katrina's (Sebastian Stan, guest star Leslie Bibb) engagement gets attention and decidedly mixed reactions from Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson) and the king. Dylan Baker also stars in "Chapter One."
NASCAR Racing
TNT
8:00 pm ET
NASCAR action continues tonight in Daytona Beach, Fla., where top Sprint Cup drivers square off in the traditional Fourth of July weekend race, the Coke Zero 400. Last year, Kyle Busch benefited from a last-lap wreck that brought out the race's 11th caution and gave him a narrow victory over Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered finish. He'll return to defend his title against the likes of Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, among others.
Rocky
TCM
8:00 pm ET
Sylvester Stallone rose to superstardom with this 1976 blockbuster about a small-time boxer who reclaims his self-respect by taking on the world heavyweight champion (Carl Weathers) in a well-hyped title bout. Taking his long shot seriously, the challenger prepares with the help of a wise old trainer (Burgess Meredith). Talia Shire and Burt Young also star in the film, which inspired four sequels.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
NBC
10:00 pm ET
While hearing a harassment case involving a woman (guest star Sprague Grayden, "Jericho") and her ex-boyfriend, Judge Koehler (guest star Alan Dale, "Ugly Betty") asks Benson and Stabler (Mariska Hargitay, Chrisopher Meloni) to question a convicted serial killer about the location of his son's body. Richard Belzer and Stephanie March also star in "Liberties."
The Keeper
TMC
10:30 pm ET
Dennis Hopper is so good at playing psycho he can phone it in. And that's what he does in this formulaic 2004 thriller. His character, a cop who's a few doughnuts short of a dozen, takes it upon himself to "rehabilitate" a stripper (Asia Argento) ... by locking her up in his basement. Even more ludicrous is the subplot involving the TV producer (Helen Shaver) who's crazy -- and we mean that literally -- about Hopper's copper.
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