Virgin Media confirms it will offer TiVo set-top boxes in 2010

After much speculation Virgin Media has confirmed it will be bringing TiVo software to its set top boxes towards the end of this year. It's been fairly tight-lipped over the developments to its next-generation TV service which, it's now been revealed, should be available to consumers before Christmas 2010.

According to a report by the Telegraph newspaper it's likely Virgin Media's 3.8 million customers signed up to its TV service will be greeted with a home page when they fire up their TV box. Here, it will be possible to search for keywords and the TiVo service will present a list of programme options. These may be listed in order of popularity or whether they're available to view on a traditional broadcaster, YouTube or an online retailer, such as Amazon.

A "discovery bar" at the top of each navigation page will give users the chance to jump directly to the viewer's favourite programmes or films and these will be updated automatically with the latest information. Bonus features will also be available allowing users to view extras such as actor biographies.

Telly addicts keen to be kept up-to-date with all the latest TV scheduling should be pleased to hear it's also possible for TiVo to initiate a "wish list" feature. With this, users will be able to hold a search on a user's behalf and alert them if it becomes available.

TiVo is already proving a bit of a hit in the US with stateside users who seem appreciative of interactive features including show recommendations. However, if it's previous UK debut is anything to go by it may have a bit more of a challenge to impress an audience over the pond. In early 2000 it tried and failed with a Sky partnership which ended with Sky launching its own set-top box in 2003. The imminent launch of internet-enabled TV from the forthcoming Project Canvas delivered by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT and TalkTalk could also prove worthy competition. However, Project Canvas is still currently awaiting approval by the BBC Trust.

Yet TiVo's chief executive Tom Rogers is confident TiVo has enough clout to compete against Project Canvas: "People will need to pay for a broadband connection in order for 'free' services like Canvas to work," he said. "If they are already willing to pay for that service, they should be interested in looking at how to get the most value out of their connection. Our service represents a huge amount of choice for not a huge amount of money."

Virgin Media has yet to confirm any pricing details for launch of TiVo only stating it will be "very competitive".