Due for it Australian release later this month, Australia will be the first market Tivo has entered and not featured monthly subscription fees. The set-top DVR can be purchased outright for AU $699 at Harvey Norman initially (July 15th is tipped to be the date), then other retailers in the following months.
The Australian Tivo is expected to ship with dual HD tuners to allow for recording of 2 channels simultaneously, HDMI, a 250 GB hard drive (plus a eSata port to rig up extra storage). The Tivo will also feature an Ethernet port to enable network content streaming and updates to the in-built program guide.
Without the on-going revenue stream, consumers will naturally pay more for the up-front cost of the device. For what Tivo offers, I think the price tag is a little steep and will place it firmly into the TV enthusiast category. Had they offered Tivo for around $200-$300, it would appeal to everyday consumers, and could have seen a place in most Australian homes.
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