cTiVo for MAC
Free Mac app that downloads shows from your TiVo and converts them to popular formats and devices, with subscriptions and hands-off operation.
cTiVo Overview
cTiVo is a free Mac application that downloads shows from your TiVo and converts them to many popular formats and devices. It finds the TiVos on your network by itself, shows you what is on them, and lets you queue shows by dragging them. Once you subscribe to your regular shows, new episodes download and convert without further work, so they can be waiting on your iPhone or iPad in the morning.
It can remove commercials or just mark them for a quick skip, using TiVo's SkipMode when available or by analyzing the content. It also extracts closed captions, adds artwork and carries metadata over for tools such as Plex and pyTivo. Formats and handling can be changed for each download or subscription, with encoders including HandBrake and ffmpeg. cTiVo is made by Scott Buchanan and Hugh Mackworth. You need a TiVo for it to be useful, and a Remote Control window runs your TiVo from your Mac. Version 3.6.5 updates the TiVo certificate through May 2029 and replaces Microsoft analytics with Google analytics. It is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel and needs macOS 10.15 or later. The source is public on GitHub, but the repository has no license file.
Key Features
cTiVo handles your TiVo recordings from download to device.
- Auto-discovery: finds all your TiVos using Bonjour.
- Subscriptions: downloads new episodes of your shows automatically.
- Commercials: remove them, or mark them for a quick skip.
- Captions: extracts closed captions and creates subtitle files.
- Artwork and metadata: adds both, for use in TV and tools such as Plex.
- Many formats: predefined and custom formats for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and more.
- Scheduling: choose when the queue is processed.
- Remote Control: run your TiVo from your Mac.
What’s New in Version 3.6.5
cTiVo 3.6.5 renews its TiVo certificate and updates HandBrake.
- Remote TiVo certificate updated, good through May 2029
- HandBrake updated to 1.10.2, with a broken preset fixed
- Microsoft analytics removed and replaced with Google analytics
- Filename templates gain an OR operator and original air date keywords
- showTime and startTime filename keywords fixed
- Some obscure multitasking issues repaired
cTiVo FAQ
Is cTiVo free?
Yes. cTiVo is a free Mac application.
Do I need a TiVo to use cTiVo?
Yes. cTiVo downloads shows from your TiVo, and it finds the TiVos on your network automatically using Bonjour.
Which version of macOS does cTiVo need?
macOS 10.15 or later.
Does cTiVo run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Can cTiVo remove commercials?
Yes. It can remove commercials or mark them for a quick skip in the player, using TiVo SkipMode when available or by analyzing the content.
Can cTiVo download new episodes automatically?
Yes. Subscribe to your regular shows and it downloads new episodes whenever they are available.
Which devices and encoders does it support?
Target devices include iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Xbox and YouTube. Encoders include HandBrake, mencoder, ffmpeg and Elgato, and you can create custom formats.
What should I do if Remote Control or SkipMode stopped working?
The developers say those functions need an updated TiVo certificate. Version 3.6.5 includes one that is good through May 2029.
Can I install cTiVo with Homebrew?
Yes: brew install --cask ctivo.
Where does the cTiVo download on ctivo.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official cTiVo releases page at https://github.com/mackworth/cTiVo/releases/latest. ctivo.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.