Will Tivo work on Comcast Basic cable? Who do you pay fees to if it does?

Question

Will Tivo work on Comcast Basic cable? Who do you pay fees to if it does?

Answer 1

I use TIVO with Comcast. I have expanded service and it works fine with no cable box required. The Tivo fees are paid to TIVO. You can either purchase a lifetime (lifetime of the TIVO box not you) or monthly service. Tivo will check the schedule every day. You will either connect it to your phone line or to the Internet. Internet is best if you can do it.



I hear there is a free "basic" service that TIVO offers. They don't promote it but I am told you can get it if you ask. If I was you I would call and inquire about it. It might meet your needs. The reason I haven't called is I have the lifetime service.

Answer 2

Everyone else has answered this.



Yes, TiVo works with Comcast basic cable (not digital channels). I've used a Tivo with cable, now Comcast, for over 6 years.



You pay a separate subscription fee to TiVo for the TiVo service from your Comcast cable bill.



Later this year, TiVo will come out with their Series 3 DVR that has two CableCard slots and will record digital and HD channels. The latest expected is October 2006.



In some areas, Comcast offers a DVR. It costs about $10 a month on top of your basic cable bill. I have a Comcast DVR too for the HD channels, but plan to dump it once the TiVo Series 3 comes out. The disk is too small, it doesn't have key features that I like on the TiVo, and it periodically doesn't record shows or records the wrong show -- problems I just don't get with TiVo.

Answer 3

Friends of mine have Comcast and have no problems using their TiVo. With Tivo you pay for the unit and then you pay a monthly subscription fee directly to TiVo at the same time you are also paying a subscription fee for cable services to Comcast. Therefore, you are paying 2 bills to 2 separate companies.

Answer 4

Yes. You still pay fees to TiVo, because the service costs money. It's more than a TV Guide, they actually add extra info so that the tivo can "understand" what your viewing preferences are and automatically record favorite shows. It actually works better on Basic because it doesn't have to hook up with a cable box to work.