Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Amazon Video On Demand on TiVo service work?
Using Amazon Video On Demand on TiVo is easy. After a simple registration process, you will be able to shop for Video On Demand videos to your TiVo DVR from two places--the Amazon Video On Demand Store on Amazon.com and directly from your TiVo DVR^®.

Every video is available for TiVo DVRs. After you purchase a video, click the download button to download the video to your registered TiVo DVR. Then, find your video in your TiVo Now Playing List.

To shop for Amazon Video On Demand videos from your TiVo DVR, select Find Programs > Download TV, Movies & Web Video > Amazon Video On Demand. You'll find a great selection of movies and TV shows to watch right on your TiVo DVR.

In both cases your videos will appear in your TiVo Now Playing List.

How is Amazon Video On Demand on TiVo different than other options for watching digital videos on my TV?
Unlike most digital video-to-TV services, Amazon Video On Demand on TiVo is not an extender. Your TiVo DVR communicates directly with the Amazon Video On Demand service through the internet, so your videos get downloaded directly to your TiVo DVR, where you already watch your favorite movies and TV shows.

Which TiVo DVRs can play videos from Amazon Video On Demand?
Any broadband-connected TiVo Series2^TM, Series3^TM, or TiVo HD DVR can download and play Video On Demand videos. Sorry, this service is not available for DIRECTV TiVo subscribers, TiVo Series1 owners, or TiVo subscribers who use a telephone phone line to access the service.

See the TiVo Getting Started Guide to learn how to connect your TiVo DVR to your home network.

Verify that your TiVo user account preferences are set to "Enable for Video Downloads" at the TiVo.com Manage My Account Page.

Need a TiVo DVR or a TiVo wireless adapter? Visit our TiVo store.

How do I register all of my TiVo DVRs with Amazon Video On Demand?

To register a TiVo DVR with Amazon, you just need to link your Amazon account with your TiVo account. Once your accounts are linked toether, all of the TiVo DVRs registered in your TiVo account will be automatically registered with Amazon Video On Demand. If you buy or upgrade to a new TiVo in the future, simply update your registration with TiVo and your new DVR will be added as a download location for Amazon Video On Demand. You can also unlink your Amazon and TiVo accounts in the future if needed.

Do I need to install any special software on my PC to use the service?
No, you can order and download videos directly from your TiVo DVR or order and download online from your computer's web browser.

How does the quality of Video On Demand videos compare to the quality of shows recorded by my TiVo DVR?
Video On Demand videos watched on a TiVo DVR are of equal or better quality than videos recorded at the Best Quality setting on a TiVo Series2 DVR.

Which Video On Demand videos can I download and watch on my TiVo DVR?
Nearly all of our thousands of titles from leading studios and networks are available to watch on your TiVo DVR. To identify videos that are available for download, just look for the TiVo logo in the Product Details section of the product detail page for your favorite movie or TV show.

See all Video On Demand videos available for download to your TiVo DVR

Where can I find my downloaded videos on my TiVo DVR?
Your downloaded Video On Demand videos appear in your Now Playing List with the rest of your TiVo content, just where you would expect them to be!

If I delete my Video On Demand videos from my TiVo DVR are they gone forever?
Amazon Video On Demand stores your purchased videos in Your Video Library for re-download - so your videos don't have to take up all the space on your TiVo DVR. (Due to licensing restrictions certain new release movies are unavailable for re-download for an unspecified period of time starting 90 days after their release date. While these movies can be viewed as often as you like during this window, they cannot be re-downloaded.)

How long does it take to download an Amazon Video On Demand video to my TiVo DVR?
TiVoHD and TiVo Series3 DVRs now support Progressive Download. If you have one of these DVRs, movies and TV shows will be ready to start watching within about 10 minutes of ordering (subject to Internet connection and home networking speeds of course.)

For Series2 DVRs, downloading must complete before you watch your video. Download times vary depending on your actual internet connection speed, the speed of your home networking hardware, and the length of the video. With a fast broadband connection (5Mbits/sec) a movie can download in about an hour, while a 1-hour TV episode can download in about 30 minutes. On a slower braodband connection (less than 1Mbit/sec), a movie can take up to 5 hours.

Fortunately the Amazon Video On Demand RemoteLoad feature allows you to order videos online from Amazon.com and download to another location you've registered, such as your TiVo DVR. With this feature you can, for example, order a video while you're at work and it will be ready to watch when you get home.

Can I use TiVo Home Media features with my Video On Demand videos?
Due to copyright owner requirements, rental videos can only be downloaded to one location. The TiVoToGo and Multi-Room Viewing features have been disabled for rentals. For movies and TV shows you own rather than rent, the TiVo Home Media features are active and you can download your videos to 2 locations (TiVo DVRs or Windows PCs) from Your Video Library on Amazon.com and from Amazon Video On Demand product detail pages.

If I watch a video online, can I still download it to my TiVo?
In addition to watching your videos instantly online, your purchased videos from Amazon Video On Demand can be downloaded on up to 2 PCs or TiVo DVRs and transferred to 2 portable devices at any one time. Rental videos can only be watched in one location- either online or downloaded to one PC or TiVo DVR.

Still have questions? Visit Amazon Video On Demand on TiVo Customer Support.