Although digital video recorders were not widely used just a couple of years ago, they've recently exploded in popularity and manufacturers are now working on multiroom DVRs.
Time Warner Cable, working alongside Cisco Systems and Motorola, will create new multiroom DVRs that offer consumers the ability to resume watching content in any room. Cox Communications and Bright House Networks also are reportedly working with Cisco, although the exact plans have not been disclosed.
"Consumers expect more flexibility and control with today's premium TV services, and we are excited to be offering the whole-home DVR with Motorola," Time Warner Cable senior engineer Louis Williamson said in a statement released by Time Warner.
Comcast's digital cable service already allows users to watch on-demand content in multiple rooms, but DVR systems are slightly different -- and this is the most recent round of talks regarding multiroom DVRs. Each new DVR system allows recorded shows or user-generated video content to be viewed in multiple rooms in the same household.
It's unknown when consumers will be able to call their cable provider and begin requesting multiroom DVR service. Just pay attention to the company offerings, and you'll likely see it soon enough.
If multiroom DVR sounds like something you'd be interested in using, be prepared to shell out your hard-earned cash on the technology. Verizon's FiOS TV subscribers looking for multiroom DVR support pay $19.99 per month, which is $4 per month more than traditional HD DVR. Even though pricing has not been revealed for other providers, consumers will likely have to pay extremely high rates for multiroom DVR service, so it should be interesting to see what other service providers begin to charge.
