Why it Might Be Time to Short TiVo

Earlier this week, TiVo introduced the Mini, a broadcast box that takes saved programs or content from your primary digital video recorder for watching in another room. A similar accessory called the TiVo Stream allows you to broadcast to an iPhone or iPad.

All of which would have been awesome two years ago, but not today. Why? Both services impose heavy fees, while requiring the services of a primary TiVo box: $99 for the Mini itself plus $5.99 per month or $150 lifetime service fee for the Mini, and $130 for the Stream. They're also dependent on wired Ethernet, because TiVo deems Wi-Fi too unreliable.

Worse, the Mini advertises access to streaming services, but lacks support for the two most popular: Netflix and Amazon.com's Instant Video.

Is TiVo flirting with disaster? Or is the company finally waking up to what TV consumers want? In this interview with The Motley Fool's Alison Southwick, Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova, long a believer in the company's business model, argues that now may be the right time to go short. Please watch, and then leave a comment to let us know what you think.

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The article Why it Might Be Time to Short TiVo originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of, and a long-term call options position in, Netflix at the time of publication. Check out Tim's web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and Netflix. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Amazon.com and Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.

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