What TiVo has done for my family

As much as I love this product, I thought I would share how it really works in my family's daily life.

I would have to say that I am a Raving Fan of this product, but there is a downside to it.  You don't keep up with the normal "goings-on" of the world, unless you get info from other places (for me, Google News, Bloglines, a few radio stations and the Sunday paper).

My kids are 4, 6 and 9, so my wife saves programs like Maisy, Oobi, Speed Racer, High 5, Animal Planet and That's So Raven.  Just put on a 30 minute show for the kids when its TV time.

Tara and I really look forward to our TV time now.  We have turned our favorite programs into almost a "date night".  Once we finish with everything that needs to get done once the kids are in bed, we watch what we want.  We have Watchlists for Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Woody Allen, for example.  Shows we specifically watch are 24, Alias, Apprentice, Inside the Actors Studio, Significant Others and Suvivor (I know...total brain dump).

I have Watchlists for podcasts (G4 had a quick mention a week or so ago), poker, Ironman, triathlon, Tour de France and Lance Armstrong.

I save the ESPN show Tilt (I love me some poker!) and a bunch of BBC shows.

Managing TiVo is a lot like email.  You have to prioritize what you want to watch. 

I would say that I watch about 50 to 60% less TV than I did before TiVo.  You just don't need to channel surf anymore and with our schedule with kids, there's no time anyway.

TiVo, we love you!

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tags: tivo

Comments

[Winnetta]

Todd,

Great post! This goes back to my comment on your Type A personality and how you get any family time. This is a fabulous idea for anyone. I have be contemplating getting a PVR of some sort. You certainly have given us a template of sorts on how to make our down time quality time.

Thanks for sharing!
Winnetta

[Jon Strande]

Speed Racer is still on???? Man, if that Tivo to go thing works, you're gonna have to share!!! :-)

Jon

[K. Todd Storch]

Believe me, I'm watching Speed Racer with Ryan! Yes, I think it is on late nights on Comedy Central of G4, etc.

You know, another thing with TiVo is that you have no idea what channels show are on, or what time they come on. You just check the in-box and you are ready to go.

I almost forgot, but we also watch Johnny Quest. Another favorite of mine that Ryan now likes.

Go get TiVo!

Todd