(7 November 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Online service provider Yahoo and Tivo which shot to fame with the digital video recorder (DVR) are expected to announce a deal to connect Yahoo's vast online service to TiVo's set-top boxes. In addition to recording television programmes, the STBs can connect to the Internet. It is this ability that the new deal is looking to tap.

Users of Yahoo's TV page will be able to click on a record-to-TiVo button directly from a television programme listing to remotely schedule recordings.

And in the coming months Yahoo's traffic and weather content, as well as its users' photos will be viewable on televisions via Tivo's broadband service and easy-to-use screen menu.

While the terms of the deal under discussion were not disclosed, Tivo VP corporate strategy Edward Lichty was quoted in media reports saying that it hopes the collaboration will set the foundation for a long-term relationship.

From any Yahoo TV episode page, users can click the "Record to my Tivo box" button, the companies said. The request is automatically sent to the home the next time once the Tivo box is connected. The companies suggest allowing for one hour of lag time if the TiVo is connected to broadband through a standard home network. Dialup users have to wait 36 hours for a request to take effect if the Tivo uses dialup.

Conversely, Yahoo is working to move its services from personal computers to other devices, including mobile phones and - by way of devices like Tivo - the television set, state reports.