TiVo has been granted additional U.S. patents for its PVR technology and service, San Jose company said. One patent covers functions of digital recording devices while 2nd applies to networking of multiple streaming media devices in home. TiVo said TrickPlay patent (6,327,418) describes method of controlling streaming media in digital device, such as ability to pause live TV and perform other disc transport functions. Storing, editing and manipulating video also are among 64 claims in patent. Company earlier this year received patent (6,233,389) for Time Warp technology that enables simultaneous recording and playback. Other new patent (6,310,886) is for home networking that permits TiVo PVR and other streaming media devices to be linked in home - - application that TiVo said will proliferate in future.

SonicBlue said it was in negotiations with rival TiVo on possible licensing agreement for patent it received last week for portion of personal video recorder (PVR) technology.

FCC Comr. Martin said Tues. he was wary of instituting new regulations on Internet but indicated willingness to lift rules to achieve regulatory parity between cable and other kinds of companies that provided Internet or information services. He told reporters Commission should act soon on Notice of Inquiry pending more than year on how to define Internet delivered over cable. Question whether it’s telecom service, cable service, information service or some other kind of service has regulatory implications no matter which way it is decided, he said. Bankruptcy judge allowed Excite@Home to turn off its Internet network, leaving thousands of AT&T Broadband customers without service (CD Dec 4 p1, Dec 3 p4). Because Internet provided via cable has yet to be defined, FCC has no regulatory role now, raising criticisms from consumer advocates. Internet service provided by telcos over phone lines is regulated, which angers telco executives. Martin pointed to DSL provider Rhythms, which went out of business earlier this year and had to ask FCC for permission to discontinue service. In such case, Commission could provide transition period for consumers.

Competition for PVR maker TiVo in U.K. is about to come from party that warmly endorsed set-top PVR and service just last year. New opponent is News Corp.’s BSkyB satellite service, which has introduced rival Sky+ set-box made by Pace. Besides challenge from Sky, TiVo is facing other difficulties in U.K. market owing to unreliable nature of British programming schedules -- upon which its timer-recording function depends to acquire telecasts and store them on hard disc.

Cablevision rolled out its Interactive Optimum (iO) little more than month ago, but Chmn. Charles Dolan already views it as successful. Without revealing numbers, he said N.Y. area subscribers signed up in droves, despite initial glitches with system. VoD is “going to change this industry,” he said. Speaking at CTAM Broadband Opportunity Conference in Tyson’s Corner, Va., Dolan told how Cablevision executives introduced iO in letter to customers warning that they could experience problems at outset because company was new to digital. “If you are willing to be tolerant of the problems that we are going to have at the outset, then return the enclosed card and we'll give you a priority installation,” Dolan quoted letter as saying. “We've never had a higher return to a direct mail piece.”

Concurrent Computer Corp. said it was expanding its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) tests in Columbia, S.C., to 2 additional Time Warner systems in Summerville and Myrtle Beach, bringing to 6 number of SVOD trials. Company said its MediaHawk Model 2000 was being used in all 4 current SVOD trials, including TW’s Home Box Office test in Columbia. Trials allow 328,000 basic subscribers in Columbia to have HBO movies and original HBO programs on demand with VCR functionality, including pause, fast-forward, rewind. MediaHawk video servers used in Columbia are capable of 5,440 streams and nearly 2,000 movie titles, as well as back-office services such as billing and subscription management, company said. Trials are on both Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola digital networks and involve SVOD programming providers, including Starz Encore, HBO and Showtime, Concurrent said.

BEVERLY HILLS -- While sex and drugs might be traditional bedmates of rock ‘n roll, music video channel executives said viewers shouldn’t expect to see much of either on air. At Billboard Music Video Conference, panelists said gratuitous violence or depiction of drug use or sexual activity were major reasons for videos not to be aired. “Violence without any purpose is a big no-no, as well as sex-role stereotyping, which is a line that keeps moving but is still a big issue for us,” Much Music’s David Kines said, and it’s still important to contextualize content. VH1 Vp-Programming Paul Marzalek said it was often simply matter of demonstration appeal.

Monthly service fee for personal video recorders (PVRs) should be eliminated as annual sales increase to millions of units from current 200,000-300,000, officials told video-on- demand conference in N.Y. Wed.

Showtime Networks executive Mark Greenberg extols virtues of TiVo device that allows his children to pause live TV, but Greg DePrez of Starz Encore Group believes operators can offer much fresher material out of head-end. They were among 7 panelists discussing next generation of video-on-demand (VOD) at VoD Summit in N.Y.C. Tues. They agreed, however, that hybrid of network and personal video recorder (PVR) devices based in home would be embraced by cable industry for immediate future. For example, Greenberg, exec. vp-corporate strategy & communications at Showtime, likes ability to skip commercials on home PVR. However, DePrez, vp-subscription VoD at Starz, says PVRs are “nice, but they don’t predict what you're going to watch.”

Microsoft will roll out Intertainer video-on-demand (VoD) subscription service today (Thurs.) in nation’s top 35 broadband markets at www.intertainer.tv. Intertainer will be promoted through co-branded Web pages Oct. 24 on MSN Entertainment. Intertainer offers films, TV shows, music videos and concerts for broadband-connected PCs. Companies touted service as better than VHS quality, with no titles ever out of stock, no worn-out tapes or late fees. Intertainer library has programming from more than 70 content providers and its partners include A&E TV Networks, Discovery Channel, Dreamworks, EMI Music, ESPN, NBC, New Line Cinema, PBS, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., others. Service is delivered using Microsoft’s Windows Media, and content is protected with Windows Media Digital Rights Management. All video content is encoded at 500 kbps using Windows Media Video 8 to deliver full-screen video. Content plays in an embedded Windows Media Player that offers VCR functionality, allowing viewers to pause, rewind and fast-forward. Intertainer’s subscription service begins with FirstPass, which gives subscribers unlimited access to a library of TV, life-style and children’s programs for $7.99 per month. Programming is updated every week. Once users sign up for FirstPass, full-length feature films can be purchased on a pay-per-view basis. New releases are $3.99, library titles $2.99 and music videos free. Internet subscribers with broadband connection speeds of at least 580 kbps who reside in country’s top 35 broadband markets will be able to access service. Viewers can watch directly on PC or on TV linked to PC with S-video cable or a wireless connection.