• by David Goetzl , June 8, 2006

With video on the Web proliferating and convergence increasingly becoming a reality, TiVo will launch a new service that will allow its subscribers to access broadband video on their television sets.

Called TiVoCast, the service will initially include video offerings from the National Basketball Association, The New York Times, male-oriented Heavy.com, iVillage and videoblog site Rocketboom.

The video will be accessible through TiVo's Showcase area, or main menu, by 400,000 subscribers who connect to TiVo via a broadband network. The video comes at no extra charge, though TiVo and/or the programmers will be able to include advertising in the video.

For TiVo, the service gives it another differentiation point in its battle against generic DVRs offered by cable and satellite companies, while the advertising option brings a potential new revenue stream.

"Television is still the preferred platform for watching video," said Tara Maitra, TiVo's vice president and general manager, programming. "The TiVoCast service captures mainstream and specialty-based content on the Web, delivering programming that is not otherwise available through the TV today and providing a wide variety of choice that will be of interest to all segments of the TV audience."

Among the broadband video to be offered on TiVoCast are a special package highlighting great NBA moments, film reviews from The New York Times, "Behind the Music that Sucks" from Heavy.com, and how-to beauty segments from iVillage.