Good news -- Christmas came early this year! This morning, TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) and Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ) announced that they have joined forces to bring us all one step closer to the American dream. Thanks to a joint venture between the two companies, subscribers to TiVo's digital video recording service can now order a piping-hot pie from Domino's direct from their television set.
To take advantage of this waistband-unfriendly service, TiVo customers can click "I want it" from their TV remote. However, I imagine it's possible that this simple directive may soon be replaced by a series of Jabba the Hutt-like gurgles.
Rob Weisberg, vice president of precision and print marketing at Domino's, bragged that ''This is the first time in history that the 'on-demand' generation will be able to fully experience couch commerce by ordering pizza directly through their television set." (That sound you hear is the collective hardening of the 'on-demand' generation's arteries.)
As something of a lazy pizza-eater myself, I can't really give TiVo or Domino's too much grief over their scheme to fatten up the populace. My only question: why launch this groundbreaking service more than halfway through the regular football season? I can think of quite a few Bengals games this year where I could have used a pizza or two to kill the pain -- but I simply couldn't muster the energy to remove myself from the couch and pick up the phone...
Elizabeth Harrow is an analyst and financial writer in the research department at Schaeffer's Investment Research. She is featured in the video series Schaeffer's Daily Q&A on SchaeffersResearch.com.
Fresh From the Oven
Claiming to be the first major restaurant chain to offer such a service nationwide, Domino's Pizza announced a new line of oven-baked sandwiches for home delivery. The $4.99 selections include Philly cheese steak, chicken bacon ranch, chicken parmesan, and Italian.
Domino's Pizza / AP
In April, Pizza Hut launched its line of Tuscani Pastas for delivery. The chain expected the Creamy Chicken Alfredo and Meaty Marinara pastas to make up as much as 15 percent of the company's business within a year without slicing into pizza sales.
Pizza Hut / AP
In March, Papa John's CEO Nigel Travis said that despite slumping sales and rising expenses among the industry, his chain had no plans to cut costs by shrinking pizzas or lowering the quality of ingredients. Source: AP, Reuters
Papa John's International, Inc. / AP











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-17-2008 @ 12:17PM
Chris said...
I think the sarcasm is a bit over the top here.
Businesses do their best to supply what is demanded...Should they do the opposite and create things that no one wants?
The latter occurs everyday and it's called business failure.
If people demand this service and Tivo and Domino's have forecasted correctly to supply it...then kudos to all involved.
11-18-2008 @ 8:24PM
Mark said...
Dominos Pizza, as a whole, is losing money and they are trying anything they can to stay afloat. One of their biggest problems is throwing toppings on top of crust and not really caring about how it looks or tastes. Their green peppers and onions come in sealed bags and many times are soggy as hell and shouldnt be used on a pizza.
I used to work for them, and NO I wasnt fired. I just tired of their inferior product.
11-18-2008 @ 8:40PM
Del said...
Having worked for Dominos myself I have never come across a soggy green pepper or onion. Obviously someone's individual store wasn't a busy store. Mark and Elizabeth obviously have a strong dislike for Dominos.
11-18-2008 @ 8:55PM
cyaml said...
Dominoes in Poinciana, FL sucks. They take over an hour to deliver.
11-18-2008 @ 9:16PM
Chancellor Zed said...
This is totally awesome! This is indeed news. Soon, when you see a commercial on TV, there will be an icon to click with the remote, to receive the product immediately. Want KFC? Click the icon and it will be delivered, in no time at all. Want that new stomach/ulcer remedy? Do the same. The days of dialing the 1-800 numbers and having to wait six weeks for the product are close to the end. There is one tiny little glitch however. The potential for abuse would be great. There would have to be safeguards so that unauthorized use, would be blocked. Otherwise, if you leave your kids at home, you could find when you return, tons of stuff they ordered without your consent. Those infomercial's can be very convincing. They would have to work on that potential problem.
11-18-2008 @ 9:28PM
FB said...
By-pass surgeons will love it. Easier & faster blockage means earlier retirement.
WORRIED ABOUT TRAILER THEFT??
You need to:
http://www.carrythebigstick.com
11-18-2008 @ 9:42PM
Kelly said...
This is the most unprofessional piece of garbage i have read in a while. Are you 14 and anorexic ?Your sarcasm in obnoxious and unnecessary, why is food the only thing you focus on. How about how far this could be taken , being able to order driectly from your remote, how many other products can now do this? Grow up
11-19-2008 @ 6:44AM
Ken said...
Come on Liz, how much moral superiority do you think you can squeeze out of ordering your pizza by hitting the speed dial on your cell phone?
I don't have Tivo and I live too far out in the country to get pizza delivery but I can still admire the neat application of technology.
11-19-2008 @ 6:54AM
Rotty said...
I think the author of this article should stick to her financial writing.
11-19-2008 @ 6:58AM
Dan said...
The sarcasm in this article is way over the top. It makes you wonder if the person that wrote it works for one of Dominos' competitor or own stock in one of them. I happen to think it's not much different than being able to order online and if it happens to generate more business for them, then good for them.
As for one of the previous posters complaining about how long it takes to get a delivery. It probably takes so long because they do a lot of business and as a matter of safety the drivers are not encouraged to race around like maniacs. That's the reason they haven't guaranteed a 30 minute delivery time in years. And to the person that said they worked for a Dominos and said that the green peppers were soggy. You were an employee and were encourage to report any and all problems without fear of repercussion. So basically your saying you weren't doing the job you were paid for.
Ps Don't forget to tip your deliver driver. He/She is driving thier own personal vehicle and working for less than minimum wage plus tips and no the delivery charge is not the tip. They need to make a living too! And yes the tips should be at least eqivalent to what you would tip a waiter/waitress in a restuarant.
11-19-2008 @ 8:00AM
Brandon said...
It's all down to PRICE for people not taste or quality. Dominos food is horrible. And with that way of thinking, American companies do not have a chance in manufacturing against China. It's all down to price, how much it costs to buy. Lets face it American made means expensive.
11-19-2008 @ 8:36AM
Gary said...
Eric....wow, you are cheap....and uninformed. Pizza delivery drivers make minimum wage, absorb the costs of gas and maintenance on their vehicles, and rely on tips to make it worthwhile. Your reasoning of a "write-off" is severely flawed as well. You can only "write off" your expenses if your total expenses exceed the amount you would normally get for your personal tax deduction....drivers would have to have over $8,000 in expenses to be able to write them off. Even then, they aren't getting the money back, just the taxes they would have paid on that amount which is 15%. That means the other 85% is a out of pocket LOSS.
You TIP people because they are making something CONVENIENT for your lazy azz....waitress saves you the hassle of getting your own food and a pizza delivery person saves YOU from getting off that lazy azz and driving to the store. TIP the people more than $2, you cheap SOB....they do a LOT more work than a server does...plus they have to deal with crazy drivers and the elements.
11-19-2008 @ 8:49AM
Macarena said...
I've had REALLY bad experiences every time I decide to try Dominos. :( They always come burnt, or taste really bad. If I had TIVO, I wouldn't order. So it's not like it affects me. I'm sticking to pizza hut although I'm not much of a pizza eater...
AND I completely agree with Eric. Sorry, but I'm not tipping the delivery guy 20%, which I would a waiter.
11-19-2008 @ 8:56AM
When Humor Bites You said...
Come on people. This was a humorous article, done in satirical fashion. Didn't you read the part where she said that she was a lazy pizza person, too. Save the indignance for something more important than Domino's Pizza or the 'Noid'll get ya! Remember him?
11-19-2008 @ 9:10AM
Sean said...
Abou time...Willie Wonka thought this up in 1971 with Wonkavision. Only with his you could reach into the TV and grab a Wonka bar
11-19-2008 @ 9:30AM
Gary said...
I fogot one thing...Pizza Delivery Drivers do NOT get a "fuel allowance".....so it is up to them to have as fuel efficient vehicle as possible. People need to read up on these things and not go off of assumptions because most assumptions are incorrect. I am a teacher and I learned a long time ago to reseach any assumptions I had about incomes after repeatedly going nuts hearing people say "Teachers have it easy....they work 8 months out of the year and get paid for 4 months vacation!" That couldn't be further from the truth. Have a good day everyone!
11-19-2008 @ 5:56PM
Eric said...
Domino's and Tivo are two products I don't use already, so while this is a cool idea this new service doesn't affect me in the least. However, I am a Comcast digital cable subscriber, so hopefully if they decide to try out something like this they'll sign on with a restaurant that delivers palatable food.
And about tipping pizza delivery guys: sure, they use their own vehicle, but they make more than minimum wage and they should already get a certain amount extra for gas; if not, they can claim the mileage on their taxes and get credited for it with their income tax return. And delivering a pizza is not an on-going service: they're expected to drop it off and leave, as opposed to a restaurant server who not only brings you your food, they also take your order, refill your drinks, clear off your table, and otherwise contribute to a pleasant dining experience. I'll gladly leave a server 15-20% or even more, but a pizza guy will be lucky to leave my house with $2 more than when he arrived...sorry for the diversion from the topic...
11-20-2008 @ 12:18AM
LadyDena said...
Back in the 90's my exhusband had a car phone that was voice activated. You could say "Pizza, Pizza" and it would connect on speakerphone to Little Caesars.