In the latest twist in the ever-shifting digital video recording industry, the nation’s leading satellite broadcaster DirecTV has purchased most of the assets of ReplayTV, an early pioneer of DVRs that was crushed into near oblivion years ago after
a court battle with Hollywood.
DirecTV Group Inc. acquired the ReplayTV brand and other assets
from Tokyo-based D&M Holdings Inc., D&M said Thursday. Financial
terms were not disclosed.
D&M is the parent company of Denon, Marantz and several other
audio and home theater brands. ReplayTV, along with rival TiVo Inc., debuted its DVR in 1999, introducing TV viewers to the technology of
pausing live TV, zipping past commercials and recording programs
without the hassles of videotape.
ReplayTV beat TiVo to the market by a few months, but TiVo ultimately prevailed, becoming the catchy brand synonymous with DVRs.
It’s unclear what DirecTV’s specific plans are with ReplayTV,
though some might construe the purchase as pre-emptive protection
against future patent disputes.
TiVo is in a high-stakes DVR patent fight against DirecTV’s
rival, EchoStar Communications Corp., which operates the Dish
Network. TiVo has already won a jury verdict in the case, which will
force EchoStar to stop selling its DVR boxes.
But that court ruling is on hold, pending the outcome of an
appeal.
In a statement issued Friday by spokeswoman Jade Ekstedt, DirecTV
said the ReplayTV acquisition will allow it to “explore new
services” and “the potential of ReplayTV’s (intellectual property)”
and patents.
“We consider this to be a significant portfolio in the area of
DVRs and advanced DVR features,” DirecTV said, adding that “no
decisions have been made concerning the integration of Replay
technology with our existing platform.”
In fact, El Segundo-based DirecTV used to partner with TiVo to
sell DVR-enabled satellite receivers, but now it uses DVR technology
from NDS Corp. instead. Just earlier this month, DirecTV extended
that contract with NDS to 2013.
D&M’s chairman and chief executive said the ReplayTV…