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- Introduction to
Replaytv-
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ReplayTV at a Glance
Stock quote: DMHOF.PK $4.60 (0.00)
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
Company founded: 1997
Product lines: Replaytv, Denon, Marantz
Monthly subscription cost:$12.95
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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.
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.
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. Today, the Replaytv system continues to be offered by Digital Networks North America, however it is not a dominant player, currently holding less than 10% of the North American PVR merket. The main market for ReplayTV is the high end PVR whose advanced features make it a worthwhile investment.
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.
Additional ReplayTV Resources
Back to Main PVR Page
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