TiVo Tries to Scoop Up Former Aereo Customers

In the ashes of Aereo's now-defunct service, TiVo is making a play for the streaming service's former customers.

Over the past few days, an email bearing the Aereo logo with the subject line "Aereo Bankruptcy Resolution" has been hitting Aereo subscribers' inboxes. The email, which TiVo confirms to Adweek it sent, pitches the company's Roamio-OTA DVR, explaining that the device "was conceived, developed and introduced for people just like you."

TiVo purchased the Aereo trademark and customer lists following Aereo's bankruptcy filing in November. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled last June that Aereo was infringing on the copyright of the major broadcast networks. At its height, Aereo counted nearly half a million subscribers in several metropolitan areas, including New York City, Atlanta, Boston and Cincinnati. For a monthly subscription, Aereo's technology allowed subscribers to receive broadcast signals over the Internet.

The TiVo offer gives ex-Aereo customers a Roamio OTA box, a TiVo Stream and two years of service for no money down and $19.99 per month. By comparison, Aereo's monthly rate was $8, though at least the Supreme Court won't shut down TiVo's offering.