History

TiVo was started by Jim Barton and Mike Ramsay as Teleworld on August 4, 1997. The two founders had previously worked together at Hewlett Packard and later at Silicon Graphics. In 1997, after leaving Silicon Graphics, they came together to discuss their entrepreneurial ventures. Barton had started his own company called Network Age Software, which aimed to create a smart home management system connecting all household appliances on a network. One of the innovative features of this concept was the ability to record and pause live television, a groundbreaking idea at the time when VCRs with physical tapes were the norm.

However, the concept of managing a smart home with such complexity was proving to be too ambitious and expensive. At this point, one of their employees, Bob Fisherman, suggested that they focus solely on the television recording aspect. The idea was embraced by the team, and they decided to shift their attention to developing a device that could revolutionize how people watched television.

The guiding principle for the team was to make TiVo "simple as a toaster" so that anyone in the family could easily use it. To design the company and its products, TiVo collaborated with Pittard Sullivan, and together, they explored hundreds of names. They ultimately settled on "TiVo," which not only ended in "o," as they desired, but also doubled as a word that could replace "TV" in conversations. Interestingly, the name "TiVo" didn't stand for anything specific; it was a unique, catchy brand that would become synonymous with the world of digital video recording.

The first recorded show on a TiVo occurred in late 1998 when Jerry Springer's show was saved on the device. TiVo had planned to unveil their groundbreaking product at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in 1998. The response and interest were immense, leading to key partnerships with companies like Philips, Thomson, and DirecTV. Philips was responsible for manufacturing the first TiVo devices, Thomson handled the TiVo units released in the UK, and DirecTV collaborated with TiVo to offer support for their platform.

TiVo's journey to launch was filled with challenges. Founder Mike Ramsay set an ambitious deadline of the end of March 1999, a timeline that the team believed to be nearly impossible to meet. Competition also loomed as ReplayTV announced their DVR around the same time, pushing TiVo to strive to be the first and most memorable product in the market.

During the development process, the TiVo team encountered numerous bugs and technical issues. The Live Guide, an essential feature for user navigation, was coded in a grueling 48-hour session and added as one of the final components. To meet their deadline, the team held daily meetings, even on weekends, working tirelessly and often sleeping in the office on couches, pillows, or blankets.

The collective dedication and determination paid off, and TiVo successfully launched its product on time. In March 1999, the team visited the manufacturing plant in Milpitas, California, to witness the first units rolling off the production line. The first TiVo device produced was signed by every team member and proudly displayed at the TiVo headquarters.

TiVo had originally had lots of bugs, and servers were running on a PC, which had been under someone's desk. The Live Guide on TiVo was coded in one 48-hour session and was one of the last features to be added to the TiVo. A meeting was held every morning, 7 days a week, to touch base. The team worked so hard to meet the deadline that people would sleep in the office on couches, pillows, or blankets and worked nonstop to finish the unit. Even two of the engineers passed code to each other while the other would sleep in the middle of the night.

In the end, TiVo managed successfully to bring the product out on time, and in March 1999, the company had taken a field trip to the manufacturing plant in Milpitas, California, watching the units being rolled off the manufacturing line and wearing blue lab coats and caps. The first TiVo that came off the manufacturing line was signed by everyone on the team and showcased in the TiVo headquarters. On March 31st, the first 250 boxes were given to TiVo employees' family and friends.

Ramsay thanked everyone for making TiVo be released on time and chained up the office and told everyone to have the day off. This became known as Blue Moon Day, which is to this day a holiday at TiVo headquarters, which has been celebrated with parties every year and Blue Moon bear.

TiVo's journey from its inception to the successful launch of its revolutionary DVR device showcased the power of innovation, teamwork, and perseverance. The company's commitment to simplifying television viewing and its dedication to delivering a high-quality product resulted in TiVo's lasting impact on the way people consume television content. As of today, TiVo continues to be a recognized brand in the entertainment industry, having left an indelible mark on how we experience television.