The bottom line is the only reasons cable subscribers might not want to go with the Premiere is that they'd rather roll their own DVR, they couldn't care less about the experience or they're just cheap.
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80
Conclusion: We're mixed
With four tuners, TiVo's elegant and intuitive interface, support for internet video services, and enough space for 300 hours of HD video, TiVo's Premiere XL4 may be the best aftermarket DVR available today. But it's expensive, and requires a $19.95 monthly subscription fee. That's more than most cable providers charge for their DVRs, and doesn't include any fees your cable company may charge you for a CableCARD, which is required for the TiVo Premiere. And it may not work with your cable provider's video-on-demand or pay-per-view services. TiVo fans and viewers who frequently need to record or watch up to four shows simultaneously will love the Premiere XL4. But if you're already satisfied with the DVR you're renting from your cable or satellite provider, even if it's not quite as good (and it's probably not), there's little reason to switch.
90-Day Price History
Critic reviews
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The TiVo Premiere Elite might be a luxury, but it's definitely a luxury worth paying for.
Read the full review →While its ability to record 4 shows simultaneously and its search and streaming media support impress, the TiVo Premiere Elite suffers from lack of support for cable providers' on-demand media--and it's very pricey.
Read the full review →The high-end Premiere Elite DVR has a lot to offer for TiVo fans, but the competition has surpassed TiVo on several key features, particularly support for devices like smartphones and tablets.
Read the full review →Couple the UI with hardware you can't get anywhere else and the TiVo Premiere Elite becomes the first choice among set-top DVRs.
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nielej
I had a first gen TiVo. I left when cable started incorporating DVD into their service. Cable DVD is not as good but having it all in one was more appealing. I finally got fed up with cable costs and went to over the air HD channels and the TiVo. Really happy I did especially since it is more...
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Dignan17
I've been a Tivo owner for 11 years now, and despite their slowness (some might say refusal) to innovate, I still believe that they do this product category better than anyone else. Certainly far better than the cable companies. I upgraded to this box when my Series 3 Tivo (not Tivo HD) started...
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How it stacks up
Instantly compare the TiVo Premiere XL4 (Premiere Elite) side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!
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