History of TIVO
The history of TiVo is nothing short of a dream coming true for two entrepreneurs. It all began during the year 1990 with two men by the names of Mike Ramsay and Jim Barton.
Ramsay and Barton had been thinking of a way to devise a machine that would allow the average TV watcher to interact with their favorite television programs for a number of years. After going through prototype after prototype, Barton and Ramsay finally came up with the perfect idea. The problem was creating a machine that everyone could easily afford. After fixing a few glitches and lower the price tag, the duo release the first ever TiVo machine in 1997. From that point on, the history of TiVo is, well, history.
Though they had come up with the model in 1997, it was not until 1999 that Ramsay and Barton shipped the first two units. During that time, only three of the machines were available to the general public. Also, the first machines were only able to record up to 40 hours of television at one time. The list price for the very first machine was $500, which was still a lot of money for the average household. Thankfully, Sony saw the potential of this machine, and the two signed a mega-deal that would launch this device into the future.
In September of 1990, TiVo stocks went public causing quite a stir. Additionally, Best Buy and Sears picked up the product line and began to market it. Within days, this was the new electronic device that everyone wanted to have inside of their home. Though the prices were still high, eventually the company started to sell their product online in order to lower some of the cost. Soon enough, other companies began to manufacture similar products, causing Ramsay and Barton to lower their prices drastically. Once this technology was available everywhere, the history of TiVo really began to change.
Today, there are numerous models available for consumer usage, and the price of the machine is now much lower than ever before. While some still stick by this device, others have found that similar, cheaper, machines do the job just as well.
Whether or not you decide to buy one, the history of TiVo is still quite unique. From two men that wanted to share their dream with the world to millions of users, this machine has changed the face of television forever.