Your TiVo lifetime subscription doesn’t mean your lifetime

I was talking to a friend the other day that was interested in upgrading his older TiVo unit to a newer one to take advantage of some of the newer TiVo features like dual tuners (ability to record two shows at the same time). I told my friend that swapping one TiVo for another should be relatively easy to do.

Then he asked me, "My lifetime subscription will carry over to the new TiVo, right?"

For those that aren't familiar with the TiVo lifetime subscription it is an option offered by TiVo to pay around $400 up front with no subsequent monthly fees front rather than pay up to $14 each month perpetually. It's a calculated risk that some people are willing to take.

I didn't see why my friend's lifetime subscription wouldn't carry over but I told him I better speak to someone at TiVo just to be sure. Good thing I did because TiVo does not allow you to transfer a lifetime subscription. Correction, TiVo does not allow you to transfer a lifetime subscription except under the following circumstances:

• You activated the DVR with Product Lifetime Service less than 30 days ago.
• The DVR was exchanged under warranty, either through the retailer or the manufacturer.
• The DVR was activated under an incorrect service number.

I guess my friend should have thought ahead "accidentally" dropped his TiVo on a concrete surface a few days before the warranty expires. Of course, I don't condone this type of behavior but I found it odd that TiVo, a company I am constantly praising, wouldn't budge on their position.

To be fair, the representative at TiVo did tell me that they occasionally offer a deal that allows you to transfer your lifetime subscription but it's up to you to watch for the special deal.

So if you're thinking about TiVo and thinking about a lifetime subscription, beware. Lifetime means the lifetime of the TiVo unit itself, not your lifetime.