Tivo Goes Low, Looks High for Chief Fan

New rebate promotion and "Tivo Ambassador" contest seen as ways by digital video recorder company to bring new users into the fold.

A Tivo for $49.99? A chance to be Tivo’s main fan for a year? That’s just two of the incentives the digital video recorder company announced today as they attempt to grow their user base.

The $49.99 promotion is a $150 rebate offering impacting all Tivo Series2 DVRs, except DirecTV DVRs with Tivo, purchased between now and November 27, 2005. Service must be activated before January 15, 2006.

“Whether you’re new to the service or finally getting one for every TV in your house, at $49.99 after rebate, there’s no reason not to bring the TiVo experience into your life,” said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo. “We’re spreading the ‘TiVo, TV Your Way’ message far and wide with the launch of a nationwide contest to enlist our most passionate supporters — TiVo subscribers — to help get the word out about the new low price and about the benefits of watching TV with a TiVo box.”

As far as getting to be Tivo’s main fan for a year goes, the company is kicking off a nationwide contest to find a “Tivo Ambassador” who will participate in various promotional activities and receive $25,000 in cash and a Tivo-branded Mini Cooper. To be eligible, contestants must be entered into the Tivo Rewards program and have earned 25,000 points prior to when the contest starts on November 27, 2005. They must then also provide a short video, write a short essay and provide testimonial from a friend as to why they should be the Tivo Ambassador. The deadline for entries, Tivo said, is December 31, 2005.

“We all know that telling our friends and family about the wonders of the TiVo experience is really part of the fun of owning a TiVo box,” said Rogers. “Every day I run into subscribers who tell me, ‘You wouldn’t believe how many TiVo boxes I’ve sold.’ Now we’re giving them a chance to prove it. I want to find the most passionate, most enthusiastic TiVo evangelist to help further the TiVolution.”

Also on the Tivo promotional docket is a weekly contest through the end of the year which rewards one winner with $1,000. To be automatically eligible, that person must be a Tivo Rewards member who successfully refers someone to the Tivo service.