It is a consumer video device which allows users to capture television programming to internal hard disk storage for later viewing (and time shifting).
After the sale of assets to DirecTV, ReplayTV's only ongoing activity was maintenance of the electronic program guide service by D&M Holdings, which was to be discontinued on July 31, 2011.
[1] On September 2, 2011, programming contact through the ReplayTV dialup system was terminated without any update message being sent to subscribers or posted on replaytv.com.
Even with the end of support from DNNA, third-party solutions are available to provide Electronic Program Guide data to ReplayTV units.
On March 23, 2003, SONICblue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and on April 16 sold most of its assets, including ReplayTV, to the Japanese electronics giant D&M Holdings.
SONICblue was fighting a copyright infringement suit over the ReplayTV's ability to skip commercials when it filed for bankruptcy.
On December 19, 2005, Digital Networks North America announced that it was exiting the hardware business as soon as current inventory was sold out.
ReplayTV would then concentrate on PC software sales of its DVR technology in a partnership with Hauppauge Computer Works, a manufacturer of television cards for PCs.
On October 31, 2001, numerous TV companies, including the three major networks, filed a lawsuit against SONICblue, which at the time marketed the ReplayTV device.
They alleged that the ReplayTV 4000 series was part of an “unlawful scheme” that “attacks the fundamental economic underpinnings of free television and basic nonbroadcast services” according to the lawsuit.
The TV industry attacked ReplayTV for two reasons: Both the “Commercial Advance” and the “Send Show” features were alleged to violate U.S. copyright and other federal and state laws, according to the TV industry plaintiffs, who wanted sales of the ReplayTV 4000 devices—slated for shipment on Nov. 15, 2001—stopped.
[citation needed] Some ReplayTV models allow automatic commercial skipping with no user intervention.
Beginning with the earliest models, ReplayTV units had an undocumented "random access skip" feature.
The 4000-series models were the first to include an Ethernet port, and to support the sharing of shows between different units either locally (using video streaming) or over the Internet (by duplicating the content).
2005 products with list prices (no longer available): The ReplayTV 5000 series included a JP1 remote which could be reprogrammed or upgraded using free software.
The ReplayTV subscription has two different options, a monthly recurring charge of $12.95, or one-time lifetime activation fee of $299.
Their website states the reasoning as being that the industry conversion to HDTV is complete, and customers should contact their local providers for options.
However, there may be options to keep service alive after official support ends using the WiRNS application as all units should be permanently activated if they contact ReplayTV servers before July 31, 2011.
[13] On July 29, 2011, D&M Holdings reversed their previous decision and will continue the ReplayTV electronic program guide service.
We apologize in advance should there be any minor disruptions in the ReplayTV service while we implement the continuation of the programming guide.