TiVo unveils audience measuring

[HarryD]

TiVo Inc., a maker of television-recording devices, Monday unveiled a TV audience measuring system that allows it to report the second-by-second viewing habits of its subscribers to advertisers and network programmers.

More here (http://www.msnbc.com/news/920989.asp?0dm=C13MT)

[cnsf]

Anyone have info on opt-out contacts?

[Halfsek]

Well, Tivo does allow you to opt out of the reporting.

But who cares? The whole idea is to make our watching experience better. It does absolutely nothing to change anything to do with my TV habits or Tivo.

In fact, it does some pretty cool stuff:

The report would, for example, tell advertisers which commercials audiences watched in their entirety during an episode of the comedy ?Friends.? It can also inform ?Friends? creators that viewers changed the channel when a particular character entered the scene.

So hopefully they'll stop putting those stupid Old Navy ads- if most people tend to zip past them. Or they'll make your show better by dropping an annoying character.

Or

?With the Olympics ? as (a reporter) gives a heartwarming story about an athlete, (TiVo tracks) second-to-second what is causing viewers to stay tuned or what is causing them to flip over to something else,? said Martin Yudkovitz, president of TiVo.


Yeah, like how about showing more of the Olympics!

I have no problem with people tracking what I watch. Advertisers and the networks exist only to make money. If tracking my habits makes them raise the level of their commercial and shows, I'm all for it.

[Bardman]

I agree with Halfsek.... If advertisers and Networks knew which parts of their programs that we were fast-forwarding through or skipping entirely, that should awaken them to where fixes are needed!!

If Tivo shared that I quickly 30-sec-skip through every Old Navy ad I see, then eventually, Old Navy will wake up and produce watchable commercials.

In a perfect world, this means that Tivo is actually providing networks and ad agencies the data that could put them out of business!!!! I mean, if these recipients of the data actually used the data to alter their programming (and commercials), then would there really be a need for a Tivo???

[spanishannouncetable]

Originally posted by Bardman
I mean, if these recipients of the data actually used the data to alter their programming (and commercials), then would there really be a need for a Tivo???

I'd still need mine. Skimming through commercials is great, but time-shifting programs to better suit your schedule IS the primary function of a TiVo, isn't it ? :p

[Halfsek]

I remember reading some post that there was a report done showing that even though people fast forward through commercials, they actually remember what they were.
Uhhh, not me.

Although the good thing that Tivo does do is the "press the thumbs up button to record this showing" when there is an advertisement for an upcoming show or movie. I've only seen that twice, but it really helps.

[cnsf]

This is all assuming that they are aggregating the data and not individuals' viewing habits. If the data were to be compromised (a prime hacking target), wouldn't it be nice to find some politician's viewing habits and see that they are buying/viewing porn on a regular basis? Many people value their privacy and should be able to opt out regardless.

How to opt out is the question. Financial insititutions subjected to GLB had to issue privacy policies and opt out information. Shouldn't this also apply?

[raj2001]

So what. TiVo spies on you. Big deal, it's not like anyone else doesn't either. It's still a kick-ass PVR that beats the pants off anything else.

[Halfsek]

Originally posted by cnsf

How to opt out is the question. Financial insititutions subjected to GLB had to issue privacy policies and opt out information. Shouldn't this also apply?

Considering the article said that you could, I would assume that you would just call Tivo and tell them you want no part of it...

[RandyAB]

The cool thing about this is that it would fix the Nielson problem, where shows I record and still watch would still get counted as a watched show. Maybe it will help keep some shows around that I watch, but not watch when they are originally on.

[raj2001]

Originally posted by RandyAB
The cool thing about this is that it would fix the Nielson problem, where shows I record and still watch would still get counted as a watched show. Maybe it will help keep some shows around that I watch, but not watch when they are originally on.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised that they cancelled shows like the Twilight Zone. I actually liked it, and had a high priority season pass for it. It's tons better than all the stupid reality shows we're seeing on TV now.