We had been TiVo users for about 10 years, and the unit we used had an older analog tuner in it. We contacted TiVo to check on our options.
TiVo had just introduced a version of its Roamio DVR for cord cutters in 2015 that cost $50. The TiVo Roamio OTA DVR is identical to the regular Roamio, except the cable card slot is disabled, and you had to pay for the $15 monthly service plan.
The reason you have to pay for a service plan with TiVo is so the DVR will download updated schedule information allowing you to record programs.
TiVo typically offers Monthly, Annual and All-In plans.
- Monthly is $14.99/month (1-year commitment); $19.99/month (no commitment)
- Annual is $149.99/year
- All-In is a one-time fee of $549.99 (they periodically run promotions that knock the price down significantly)
The Roamio OTA received good reviews, and the unit also has built-in streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Plex, and Amazon Prime. They market it as an "all-in-one" solution.
But the main caveat for cord cutters was the required monthly service agreement.
ChannelMaster's competing DVR+, by contrast, was available in $249 and $399 models, and required no annual service subscription plan. The drawbacks of the Channel Master are that you have to purchase add-ons like an external hard drive (for the $249 model) and add an optional USB wi-fi adapter (unless you plan to hard wire it to your router to get the program guide updates).
Having used TiVo for many years, I can attest that they make a nice product, and the current Roamio OTA includes built-in wi-fi, has "SkipMode" so you can click through commercials, pause and rewind live TV, allows you to record four programs at once, searches TV and streaming content simultaneously, and has a 1 TB hard drive that holds 150 hours of HD programming (which is an upgrade from last year's model).
TiVo recently changed pricing and now sells the Roamio OTA DVR for $399 -- a higher initial price, but they have eliminated the service fee.
The price is a bit hefty, but bundling "lifetime" service with the unit is a positive, and makes it a much more competitive option with the Channel Master DVR+, and other DVR options targeted at cord cutters.
We don't use a DVR.
It was an adjustment last year eliminating our DVR, but we have adapted well.
For the network shows we don't view "live," we watch them on demand via the ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox apps on Apple TV, or wait for seasons to appear on Netflix and Amazon Prime. (We also subscribe to CBS All Access for $5.99/month because we are big fans of "Survivor," "Big Brother," and "The Amazing Race"...and enjoy the option to watch those episodes right away, view bonus content, and stream "live feeds"...)
I don't know if I would go the route of a DVR again.
But there are times when I miss having the ability to record programs.
My brother uses a TiVo Roamio (with a card from his cable company), and he loves the system.
TiVo makes solid products, and if having a DVR makes the transition easier for you, it would be a worthwhile consideration.
One note: With the proliferation of affordable 4K televisions at electronics retailers, you might want to keep an eye on compatibility with that format. Eventually, over-the-air, cable and satellite providers will introduce new 4K transmissions. We aren't there yet, but could be within the next five years...
Read yesterday's blog post: Unboxing Longmire
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