Amazon Unbox Could Unbundle Too

An interesting piece of news speculates Amazon (AMZN) may be partnering with Tivo (TIVO) to use their DVR platform.

Seattle-based Internet retailer Amazon, which recently launched a digital video downloading service aimed at taking on Apple’s Computer Inc.’s iTunes service, is talking with TiVo about a deal that “could be a key step toward bridging the gap between the home computer and the television set,”

Note the Source: New York Post. Caution required.

Regardless, this is exactly what investors should expect from Tivo, and the prospect of forward progress is encouraging. The Tivo/Netflix (NFLX) announcement was supposed to be exactly this, but never happened.

Apple (AAPL) drew an incredible amount of attention with its iTV announcement (see ‘Apple Overload and Zune Confusion‘), which in reality was a rather pathetic low quality media extender that relied on external storage and a powered-up PC. The library is currently limited to Disney only titles. Studios are concerned that the Apple monopsony in digital music might be extended to video as well. It’s obvious that Hollywood wants to enable multiple supply chains to the consumer.

Amazon’s key differentiator?

Amazon has deals to sell movies online with every studio except Disney, whose board includes Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs.

Amazon launched the Amazon Unbox service to near universa