One of the three points I laid out as TiVo’s keys to survival was to partner with more content providers. And just like that, Virigin Media announced it will be offering TiVo set-top boxes to its 3.8 million subscribers sometime this year. This move, along with the Conax partnership, makes TiVo a major player in the European DVR market. See, I told you the company didn’t deserve the deathwatch label.

However, Virgin Media subs will not be getting the just-announced Premiere model. It does seem, however, that it will be very similar as TiVo’s CEO Tom Rogers stated that the Series4 hardware “heavily inspire the development work” of Virigin’s model. Most of the features we’ve known here in the states will definitly be included, such as TiVo Search, Amazon, Youtube, along with the addition of BBC’s iPlayer.

TiVo won’t be the only new kid in town, though. Sky is also working on an internet-connected device — dubbed Project Canvas — that will offer streaming services as well. However, the project is still waiting BBC Trust approval. The irony here is that Sky introduced the UK to TiVo five years ago but the partnership fell apart and SKY ended up developing its own DVR.

The Daily Telegraph report states that the box should hit sometime before Christmas, but there isn’t any mention of expected up-front cost or monthly subscription rates. [Telegraph via Engadget

Users can pick up the new dongle on a range of different contracts, from rolling 1 month deals right up to extended 18 month programs. Usage limits from 1 to 3Gb a month apply.

Now slated to launch next month the service will enable owners of Freesat satellite TV boxes to access the iPlayer’s on demand programming via a TV. The iPlayer is already available to Virgin Media and BT Vision box owners but both of those services require a subscription whereas Freesat is free after the initial purchase of the equipment.

Not a great deal has been offered by Virgin as to how the arrangement will work, however company CEO said “Our fibre-optic network combined with TiVo’s capabilities will allow us to offer consumers the most significantly advanced and compelling TV service available in the UK.” In the US TiVo boasts a few features that aren’t available in the UK on any DVR, such as the ability to search for shows by actors and the option of accessing music services like Rhapsody though a TV set. It’ll be interesting to see how many of them make it to the UK box.

A new report commissioned by Virgin Media and carried out by The Future Laboratory claims that two thirds of the UK loves being connected at all times and feels more relaxed when connected than when not. These people have even been given a media friendly name: ‘SOSOs’ – those who switch on to switch off. Apparently SOSO behaviour is not only reflected in a love of being connected to technology but also by anxiety caused by the implications of not being connected. Over a third (35 per cent) experienced anxiety when not able to use technology to stay in touch with their family, around a third (31 per cent) was most anxious about not being able to make money/work online and 27 per cent was most concerned with not being able to connect to friends. Anxiety is also apparent when technology can’t be called upon to provide advice, whether through online maps (25 per cent), dating (21 per cent) or shopping for the best deals (15 per cent). Says psychologist Nik Simpson: “At any moment, an urgent email may ping into an inbox, a client may call, an old friend may get in touch via Facebook or a family member may want to get in touch. Therefore, to disconnect from technology may mean missing something we cannot afford to. Always being connected actually becomes increasingly essential for peace of mind, further reinforcing SOSO values.”

Sky has held the HD monopoly for all too long now but, as of this month, Virgin Media is hitting back. Today, Branson TV has announced four more channels in high definition in the shape of FX, National Geographic, Living and MTV Networks to sit alongside BBC HD and all their HD on demand viewing. Now, on the surface, these don’t sound like the most scintillating additions but it means Grey’s Anatomy, Dexter, the Wire, CSI, True Blood and Family Guy in HD as well as the intriguing prospect of Next Top Model. I’m not sure exactly how many of these programmes were shot in HD in the first place and I doubt you’ll get much out of a hi-def version of Family Guy but I’m sure the nature broadcasts on Nat. Geo. will look great. If you’re a Virgin XL customer, then it’s all available at no extra cost from the end of July and there’s also a very good chance that they’ll be adding Good Food HD shortly too. Still a long way to go before they catch up with Sky but not a bad offering all things considered. Virgin XL