TiVo, NTCA Critical of Pay-TV Set-Top Plan

TiVo had harsh words for a pay-TV set-top box proposal offered as an alternative to the FCC unlock-the-box plan, while NTCA expressed caution, in separate lobbying meetings disclosed this week in docket 16-42. The pay-TV plan would “deprive consumers” of features they already have under CableCARD and offer less choice than the FCC plan, TiVo said in a meeting Thursday with staff from the offices of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and Chairman Tom Wheeler and to Chief Technologist Scott Jordan. The pay-TV plan doesn't allow third parties to offer competitive user interfaces, home recording, or in-home streaming of content, TiVo said. The proposal also would require third-party box makers to make deals with every pay-TV carrier, “a difficult if not impossible task for retail manufacturers,” TiVo said. The company said it's “not wedded” to any particular approach to creating a competitive retail set-top market. NTCA also discussed the pay-TV proposal in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly Monday, saying the compromise plan is “not a silver bullet.” Both the FCC and pay-TV plan would raise costs for small cable operators, and the agency should exempt them from any rules, NTCA said.