I had one of the earliest TiVo (NASDAQ:TIVO) digital video recorders. It was so prehistoric that it didn't even talk me into a monthly -- or lifetime -- subscription to keep feeding my device with current programming information.
When it finally bit the dust, I went ahead and bought a new one, becoming one of the millions of paying subscribers who -- like Dakota Fanning's character in War of the Worlds -- think that TiVo is "so cool."
A lot happened along the way. TiVo's single-digit share price over the past few years should clue you in that not everything has gone according to plan for the company. This week, it even made the cut as a contender for Biggest Disappointment in our Olympics-themed competition.
It has also been a disappointment since it was singled out to Motley Fool Stock Advisor subscribers. The potential is clearly there. So is the pessimism. Which one will prevail?
Not all Fools agree. Tim Beyers feels that TiVo is too promising a company to pass up; Rich Smith wants to see the company make promises that its finances can keep.
Does TiVo belong in your portfolio? That's what this week's Duel is all about.
Duel on!
- Read the bull argument
- Read the bear argument
- Read the bullish rebuttal
- Read the bearish rebuttal
- Vote for the winner
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz holds no financial position in TiVo.
