TiVo on Wednesday added the ability for video podcast providers to publish their shows directly to certain TiVo machines. The DVR service provider also added hundreds of new, free Web videos to its library.

The additions are available to TiVo Series3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL subscribers. They include hundreds of new podcast channels from outlets like CBS, FOX, Oprah, and G4. Podcast creators can publish original content, meanwhile, via RSS and H.264 video.

TiVo users can watch the videos directly or set up rules to record preferred shows as they are published. They can also stream podcast content from shows not available from TiVo by entering the URL for a video podcast in the "Video On Demand" menu.

"What makes this announcement unique is that everyone has the ability to publish their content to the TiVo DVR," Evan Young, senior director of broadband services for TiVo Inc., said in a statement. "With a robust library of Web videos already available through the TiVo DVR, and the ability to enter the URL for other podcasts you want, this announcement puts the control in the hands of the user to search for and retrieve exactly what they want to watch and from the comfort of the couch."

Broadband-connected HD subscribers can start accessing this feature today via their DVR's. Available podcasts are searchable via TiVo Search.