Tivo, the much vaunted personal video recording system, has only managed to attract 5,000 subscribers in the UK, despite having been launched almost eight months ago, according to sources, writes David Wood.
The figure, which represents a fraction of the company's total 200,000 global subscriber base and a minuscule quota of the UK's estimated 23 million TV homes, emerged following the company's first quarter results last Friday (25 May). Tivo, which has signed development partnerships with companies such as Channel 4 and BSkyB, is available in more than 1,000 stores including Dixons and John Lewis and launched last October.

However, despite the slow take-up, Tivo UK vice-president Andrew Cresci claimed the UK had been 'very receptive' to the system. 'This is primarily due to (Tivo's) lifestyle-enhancing technology which enables viewers for the first time to ... fit the best of TV viewing into their busy lives,' he added.

Tivo's results showed a loss of $50.2m (£35.3m) for the first quarter ending 30 April, more than double the $23.4m (£16.5m) loss in the first quarter last year.