Interview: Jim Plant, director of marketing for Replay Networks Inc.

1-21-99 (ruel.net) -- I have to admit something to you. I love watching videos. Last weekend, I watched three movie videotapes. What I like about videos is that I can watch them whenever I want to without being tied down to a schedule. So I put my VCR to good use.

Now, there is the ReplayTV box. At first glance, you would think it is nothing more than a glorified VCR. But the folks at Replay Networks Inc. would tell you otherwise. They would say ReplayTV is not a VCR. ReplayTV is supposed to give you "Prime Time Anytime." Depending on the model, the ReplayTV can record from 6 to 28 hours of TV shows. ReplayTV uses a harddrive system that is optimized for the large storage of video data. Replay Networks is based in Palo Alto, California, and can be found on the Internet at http://www.replaytv.com. Replay Networks is reported to have more than 120 patent claims regarding television technologies. Netscape cofounder Marc Andreesen recently invested some of his personal money in Replay Networks.

Replay Networks' director of marketing Jim Plant provided some enlightening information about ReplayTV in a recent Q&A session:

RH: What makes ReplayTV better than a regular VCR? For instance, skeptics would say why get ReplayTV when a VCR is cheaper.

JP: It is a mistake to think of ReplayTV as a replacement for the VCR. By and large, VCRs are used to do two things: play prerecorded material and provide permanent archival of video material. ReplayTV does not perform either of those functions.

RH: So it's incorrect to think of ReplayTV as a VCR?

JP: Yes. ReplayTV is really very different from a VCR in a number of ways. First, there's no tape in ReplayTV. Secondly, ReplayTV includes a network component -- the Replay Network Service -- that allows it to maintain a customized channel lineup in its internal memory among other things.

RH: What about MPEG that I hear ReplayTV can do?

JP: The ReplayTV hardware and software does realtime encoding and decoding -- this is the MPEG2 -- of any television signal from any tuned source. When you combine these functions you end up with a product that is unique, powerful, and pretty darn useful. And we throw in some special sauce via the free Replay Network Service.

RH: Special sauce?

JP: ReplayTV allows you to do true one-button recording from an Electronic Programing Guide - the EPG. So no more hunting for blank tapes. ReplayTV also allows you to create your own customized channels that contain your favorite TV shows, sports and movies, that are available whenever you want to watch them at the click of a button on a remote control. ReplayTV gives you full transport control on live television. You can pause, rewind, and instantly replay live television while you are watching a TV show in realtime. VCRs cannot do any of these things.

RH: Okay, but WebTV Plus viewers would say they have VCR scheduling capability right now. How is ReplayTV any better?

JP: Two words: No Tape. This really makes a huge difference. OK, maybe more than two words: WebTV Plus doesn't have any of the live television features of ReplayTV. Oh yeah, there are no monthly fees. To be fair, we don't do web browsing.

RH: So ReplayTV is not a "Internet TV" box. But you have that EPG.

JP: We are not currently working on any Internet TV-related functions, but the ReplayTV technology is extremely portable, so you can expect to see the manufacturers of all types of devices integrating ReplayTV functionality into their own products.

RH: Okay, so how would the typical TV viewer use ReplayTV?

JP: ReplayTV is transparent to your normal television viewing experience. You watch TV like you normally would. As an aside, one of our design philosophies is to introduce powerful new features to watching television without introducing new behaviors.

RH: Okay, but for those who want to know exactly what happens since the ReplayTV is not actually in stores, how do you use ReplayTV?

JP: Here is how you could use ReplayTV to enhance your viewing experience: When you sit down to start watching TV, you can either watch what's on -- that is what we do now -- or what's on-demand. ReplayTV has an EPG -- the Electronic Programming Guide -- which is similar to what you might find with DirecTV or the Dish Network.

RH: EPG -- like the programming guides most people may be familiar with?

JP: Yes. The EPG is customized for each ReplayTV device based on the television inputs you have coming into it. For instance, if you have cable, then we create a custom guide based on the channel guide data for your cable system. Our database contains the channel line-ups for over 12,000 cable systems in the U.S. If you have both cable and DSS, our system will automatically combine the two sources into one integrated guide.

RH: And then you use the remote to click through the EPG....

JP: Yes. Using the direction buttons on the remote control you can navigate and tune to any live channel. You can also navigate into the future and use the record button on the remote to select future shows for recording. It's really easy. You can also use the record feature to select shows that you would like to turn into on-demand channels.

RH: I like that. "Navigate into the future...." Sounds easy enough. That's how to record. And then play what you recorded....

JP: There is the option is to hit the ReplayGuide button on your remote control. This brings up a list of shows that are stored on the harddrive and they are available to watch at anytime. These shows may have ended up on your harddrive as result of your specific instructions such as recording every episode of X-Files. Or based on search parameters you entered, you can record movies starring Harrison Ford or baseball games featuring the San Diego Padres....

RH: But since you're in Palo Alto up in Northern California, you yourself will probably record San Francisco Giants baseball games ... boo hiss....

JP: (laughs) ReplayTV is an equal-opportunity recording device of all television shows and sports programs.

RH: What about special functions for the gadget fans who like to play with their gadgets?

JP: You can do some really neat things with the live television transport controls. For instance, you can pause live TV to handle an interruption like a doorbell, a call coming in on the telephone, baby crying, etc. And then you can pick up right where you left off. You can then fast forward or quick skip 30 seconds if you want to catch up with realtime. You can do your own instant replays. All of these functions are available with a single-button press of the remote control.

RH: Cool. So what time frames can you publicly talk about when consumers can expect to get a ReplayTV box? And what prices can the consumer possibly expect?

JP: The first ReplayTV units will ship directly from Replay Networks at the end of March 1999. We offer models from $699 to $1499. And we are taking orders now on our web site at http://www.replaytv.com and by telephone at 1-800-266-1301.

RH: Okay. You know there are still skeptics out there who will be unclear about this new way of watching TV programs. Is there any one significant thing you would say about ReplayTV?

JP: Probably the most significant thing to remember about ReplayTV is the Replay Network Service. In the beginning, the basic Replay Network Service will include things like channel guide data, clock information and software updates. But eventually you will see that this is the key component that will differentiate us from our competitors in years to come. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of all the new capabilities that will be delivered via this service so stay tuned.

RH: ReplayTV is supported by your network....

JP: I know you said only one thing, but I also want to point out a few other things. We don't charge monthly fees. And we don't create a profile of your viewing activities so that marketers can target you with advertising as our competitor does.

RH: So, you respect your customers' privacy concerns when there are potentials for some sort of manipulative marketing?

JP: Yes. We don't try to guess what shows you might like based on shows you've watched -- this is called collaborative filtering. We think this is a bad idea for a television and fraught with privacy issues.

RH: One last question: Can you hook up a VCR to a ReplayTV box? There will be people who you cannot break away from their VCR habits....

JP: Sure. ReplayTV has multiple video outputs so you can easily connect a VCR for archival recording. Additionally, we've also added a IEEE 1394 port for future expansion options. This port will not be enabled initially because of copyright concerns, but as soon as the industry reaches an agreement on a standard for content encryption, we will send some software through the Replay Network Service to enable the port.

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