TiVo Teams with Amazon for On-Screen Product Purchasing

By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 7/22/2008 7:41:00 AM

TiVo and Amazon have partnered to provide consumers with the ability to purchase physical products from Amazon.com on their TVs, using their TiVo remote control. The “Product Purchase” feature will allow TV advertisers to market products sold through Amazon.com on any broadcast or cable network, any TV show, or via any of TiVo’s interactive advertising features.

Evan Young, director of broadband services for TiVo, explained: “By teaming with Amazon.com, TiVo enables viewers to purchase products related to their favorite TV shows or that they’ve seen in TV ads without leaving their couch.” If a guest on the Daily Show or Oprah has a new book, CD or DVD, viewers can buy it on Amazon using their TiVo remote—without missing a moment of programming, whether the viewer is watching live or recorded.

Scott Merlino, senior manager of business development at Amazon.com, said, “Teaming up with TiVo enables TV advertisers to break free of traditional shopping channel limitations and reach a specific, targeted audience regardless of which network or show they are watching.”

TiVo will launch the new service today by merchandising products related to several shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Colbert Report.