Bell ExpressVu and Rogers are getting some competition for Christmas, thanks to TiVo. The California-based PVR pioneer says it is coming north into Canada, and will put its product on shelves next month, stepping into the ring with domestic cable and satellite operators that offer similar units to their subscribers.

The TiVo Series 2 unit, an 80-gigabyte PVR that holds roughly 80 hours of standard-definition TV, will be available for roughly $200 at retailers including The Brick and Future Shop across the country except in Quebec, according to the company.

‘We’ve received overwhelming demand from Canadian consumers,’ said TiVo exec Joshua Danovitz in a statement. ‘TiVo’s move into Canada represents a natural, important progression for our business as we continue to make sustained progress across international markets.’

The unit also requires a subscription to the TiVo service, roughly $15 per month.

TiVo service has been available to Canadians for some time, though without any promotion or the hardware. Canucks had to go across the border or online, usually to eBay, in order to complete the package.

The company is synonymous with PVRs in the U.S., and boasts a Mac-like cult of customers. But PVRs have been slow to catch on in Canada, reaching only 6% penetration or 700,000 households in 2006, according to a report prepared for the CRTC.