DirecTV scrambles to fill orders for TiVo boxes

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — After years of lukewarm demand, the elves at satellite television provider DirecTV are suddenly scrambling to fill holiday orders for its TiVo-based set-top boxes.

Some shoppers are finding they have to wait weeks before getting their digital video recording satellite receivers as "unprecedented demand" has led to supply shortages at various stores, DirecTV spokesman Bob Marsocci said Wednesday.

Marsocci said the backlog was limited to particular locations and not nationwide. Most large consumer electronics retailers still have inventory, he said.

The shortage is of DirecTV receivers with TiVo Inc.'s pioneering digital video recording technology that lets TV viewers record shows to a hard drive and pause live programming.

Demand surged after DirecTV lowered the price of its TiVo-based devices in October from $200 to $99, including installation.

DirecTV customers helped TiVo surpass 1 million subscribers in November and accounted for more than two-thirds of the 209,000 new subscribers TiVo acquired in its last fiscal quarter.