FCC chief captivated by TiVo

By Jim Krane
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is a new convert — to the personal digital video recorder faithful.

"My favorite product that I got for Christmas is TiVo," FCC chairman Michael Powell said during a question-and-answer session at the International Consumer Electronics Show. "TiVo is God's machine."

If Powell's enthusiasm for digital recordings of TV broadcasts are reflected in FCC rulings, the entertainment industry could find it difficult to push in Washington its agenda for technical restrictions on making and sharing such recordings.

Powell said he intended to use the TiVo machine to record TV shows to play on other television sets in his home, and even suggested that he might share recordings with his sister if she missed a favorite show.

A TiVo competitor, SONIC-blue, has been sued by movie studios and some TV networks over a ReplayTV device that enables users to share recorded shows over the Internet.

Powell made the statements during a brief exchange with Gary Shapiro, who heads the Consumer Electronics Association, a lobbying group opposed to government-imposed restrictions on TiVo-like digital recording technology.

Shapiro was delighted, calling Powell's statement "good news" and suggesting to Powell that his authority might allow him to rule in favor of sharing recorded TV broadcasts.

Many in Hollywood have railed against the machines, saying they could cut into TV advertising revenues if fewer people watch commercials.