Tara Lachapelle writing for BusinessWeek:

Potential buyers for TiVo include Microsoft (MSFT) and Google. Microsoft has wanted to offer a set-top box and have a presence in television systems through cable operators, says Tony Wible of Janney Montgomery Scott, who estimates a takeover price of $17 a share. TiVo’s television search capability would appeal to Google as it tries to gain a foothold in living rooms with Google TV, which lets users search online video and other content on their TV screens. It also would complement the company’s acquisition last month of SageTV, a DVR software maker to be integrated with Google TV, Harding says.

People have been saying for years that it would be nice to see Apple buy Tivo, but they just don’t seem to be beyond that “hobby” stage with television yet.

The sad part about Microsoft or Google buying Tivo is that they would offer more of the same.