TiVo chief optimistic about future

Saturday, February 5, 2005

TiVo chief optimistic about future

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TiVo chief Michael Ramsay talked about the future in a press conferance at the consumer Electronics show in January.

Investors are growing skeptical about the digital video recorder (DVR) pioneer. They see cable operators rolling out low-priced DVR services. TiVo's relationship with DirecTV ? which accounts for about 61% of TiVo's roughly 3 million subscriptions ? is in doubt now that the No. 1 satellite company is introducing receivers for its own DVR service.

Adding to shareholder anxiety, CEO Michael Ramsay said last month that he will relinquish that job, but remain chairman, once a replacement is found. This week, Marty Yudkovitz resigned as president.

The result: TiVo stock has fallen 40% in the past month, closing Thursday at $3.63.

But Ramsay remains implacably optimistic about a product that he says is still the best of the bunch ? and a business plan that will turn profitable this year. Ramsay spoke with Senior Media Reporter David Lieberman about his view of TiVo's prospects and public misconceptions. Read the interview at www.usatoday.com.