Tivo on Tuesday initiated a step in marrying TV with the Web, launching a new set-top box, facilitating cable programming and streaming content from the Internet to TV screens.

Tivo's Premiere box is a cable box that can search and record content from TV broadcasts and the Internet. Tivo previously serviced digital video recorders that recorded content from TV broadcasts.

Tivo's President and CEO Tom Rogers, during a press event in New York, posted that the Premiere device aims to unite programming options from both mediums. The company has manufactured a software interface that makes surfing for programs easier, he added.

In addition, the new interface extends fast access to content based on categories like actors, directors or seasons. It also facilitates users to browse via collections, like an Oscar collection, to quickly view relevant movies.

A set-top box is equipped with 320GB of storage and is priced for US$299, and will record up to 45 hours of high-definition programs. A box with 1TB of storage will be available for $499.

The set-top box operates on the Linux operating system, and the software interface is developed on the Adobe Flash platform. The boxes will support Wi-Fi 802.11 g/n to pull content from broadband connections.