If I get a Tivo do I need to buy some sort of package or do I just buy the box?

Question

If I get a Tivo do I need to buy some sort of package or do I just buy the box?

Answer 1

You purchase the Tivo and then you pay a monthly fee (starting at $15/mo.) If I were you, I'd be better off purchasing one from your local cable/satellite company where it's (assuming) much cheaper than Tivo ($5.00/mo. for Dish DVR)

Answer 2

Tivo requires a subscription.  Their website as of last night says it's $12.95 a month, but you can pay $399, for an unlimited one-time fee, for the life of the box you buy.  This fee is good for however long you own the box you buy.  The boxes run $179 to $279, though I bought one for $49 from them (they re-sell returned boxes, and refurbished).  You can buy them from Cragislist, too.

I think if you buy a discounted box and the unlimited service, you will save money over cable.  My cable company charged for rental of the box, the DVR service, and then I had to buy additional channels (not related to the DVR, they just required it to take more money).  All said and done, it was $35 per month, and they added $10 in surchages beginning in August, which is why I gave them their DVR box back yesterday and went to Tivo's website!