Dish Network forcing advertisement timers on us.

[dingoringo48]

I noticed today that there was a new timer on my 522. It's an auto tune timer for, I assume, a commercial/infomercial. Very uncool to force ads and timers on paying customers. I pay plenty for the service, I don't see why they need to double dip and sell us to advertisers. Here's a screen grab:

[James Long]

Welcome to DISH Network.

BTW: The product being advertised is a DISH Network product (SlingBox ... Sling Media was purchased by DISH). DISH didn't sell you, they are just marketing another one of their products to you.

[phrelin]

Hmmmm. I knew some moron was in charge of marketing. But I suppose it will sell a slingbox or two out of the millions of recordings....

[dingoringo48]

Originally Posted by James Long

Welcome to DISH Network.

Sling Media was purchased by DISH. DISH didn't sell you, they are just marketing another one of their products to you.

Thank you for clarifying that, but it still rubs me the wrong way. They can run ads for their products on channel 101 all day and night; that's their right and it doesn't bother me one bit. But pushing ads into the customers' timer list and changing the channel for us to their ads? Sorry, that's a no-no as far as I'm concerned.

[Slamminc11]

so don't watch it. They aren't requiring you to have to watch it so just delete it.

[James Long]

I'd say dump DISH and find another provider, except DirecTV managed to force a political ad to their receivers. Marketing is just part of the service.

[fwampler]

Or maybe cable?

Originally Posted by James Long

I'd say dump DISH and find another provider, except DirecTV managed to force a political ad to their receivers. Marketing is just part of the service.

[Bill R]

Originally Posted by dingoringo48

Very uncool to force ads and timers on paying customers. I pay plenty for the service, I don't see why they need to double dip and sell us to advertisers.

You do know that you can turn them off if you don't want them, don't you?

I don't have a 522 but on the 622/722 to turn them off press menu, system setup (6), installation (1), TV Enhancements (6), choose disable and you will not see the popups.

[Kent Taylor]

Originally Posted by Bill R

You do know that you can turn them off if you don't want them, don't you?

I don't have a 522 but on the 622/722 to turn them off press menu, system setup (6), installation (1), TV Enhancements (6), choose disable and you will not see the popups.

Does that prevent the recordings as well?

[Bill R]

Originally Posted by TulsaOK

Does that prevent the recordings as well?

What recordings are you referring to? The recordings only take place if you press select and choose to record the program for that advertisement popup. If you turn off the "enhancements" you won't see the popups at all.

[James Long]

They are talking about forced program records. I have not seen any on my receivers in quite a while (years). This isn't the new "set a recording" interactive popup (mentioned on the Tech Forum).

[SaltiDawg]

Originally Posted by Bill R

You do know that you can turn them off if you don't want them, don't you?

I don't have a 522 but on the 622/722 to turn them off press menu, system setup (6), installation (1), TV Enhancements (6), choose disable and you will not see the popups.

Bill R,

I think you need to re-read the original post... he's talking about a timer being created on his box by E*.

[CorpITGuy]

I have a TiVO box (which I purchased during a brief period of time where I had to have cable) that does that.

[Bill R]

Originally Posted by SaltiDawg

Bill R,

I think you need to re-read the original post... he's talking about a timer being created on his box by E*.

I think that turning off "enhancements" will stop them too.

[dingoringo48]

Originally Posted by Slamminc11

They aren't requiring you to have to watch it so just delete it.

It absolutely amazes me when topics like this come up and people defend the corporations with sentiments like, "So don't watch it...just delete it." I mean, really dude? Do you also tell people concerned about domestic wiretapping that if they haven't done anything wrong then they have nothing to worry about?

I know that I'm not "required" to watch it, the point I was making by starting the thread is that paying customers should not have ads pushed into the timer list. And I don't want Dish Network to decide what I should be watching and changing the channel to an advertisement for me.

Others in the thread have pointed out that DirecTV and Tivo have also done this sort of thing in the past. I wasn't aware of that because I've had Dish Network for as long as I can remember - and they've never done anything like this before. The only similar thing I can think of was about four years ago when they introduced name based recording and pushed a timer that recorded a five minute tutorial on how to use it. That was service/feature related and I was very pleased that they did that, even though I already knew how to use it and had no personal use for the tutorial.

In fact, part of the reason I've stayed with Dish this long is that they always seemed to be the least "scum-baggy" of all the TV providers. I hope that's not starting to change. Maybe if people were more indignant about things like this, corporations and government wouldn't feel as though they had the right to inject themselves into every little corner of our lives. It's a slippery slope, my friends.

Originally Posted by Bill R

I think that turning off "enhancements" will stop them too.

Bill, thank you for the advice, but my "enhancements" are (and always have been) off. This wasn't like one of those blue pop-up icons. This was an actual auto tune timer to an advertisement on channel 101.

[inkahauts]

Originally Posted by dingoringo48

It absolutely amazes me when topics like this come up and people defend the corporations with sentiments like, "So don't watch it...just delete it." I mean, really dude? Do you also tell people concerned about domestic wiretapping that if they haven't done anything wrong then they have nothing to worry about?

I know that I'm not "required" to watch it, the point I was making by starting the thread is that paying customers should not have ads pushed into the timer list. And I don't want Dish Network to decide what I should be watching and changing the channel to an advertisement for me.

Others in the thread have pointed out that DirecTV and Tivo have also done this sort of thing in the past. I wasn't aware of that because I've had Dish Network for as long as I can remember - and they've never done anything like this before. The only similar thing I can think of was about four years ago when they introduced name based recording and pushed a timer that recorded a five minute tutorial on how to use it. That was service/feature related and I was very pleased that they did that, even though I already knew how to use it and had no personal use for the tutorial.

In fact, part of the reason I've stayed with Dish this long is that they always seemed to be the least "scum-baggy" of all the TV providers. I hope that's not starting to change. Maybe if people were more indignant about things like this, corporations and government wouldn't feel as though they had the right to inject themselves into every little corner of our lives. It's a slippery slope, my friends.



Bill, thank you for the advice, but my "enhancements" are (and always have been) off. This wasn't like one of those blue pop-up icons. This was an actual auto tune timer to an advertisement on channel 101.

Oh man... did you just compare wiretapping with providers putting ads that you can watch on your DVR?

Tivo and Directv do it and keep these recordings in a seperate place from the regular recordings we make. It doesn't take up any of the hard drive space that is advertised as recording space for me... I don't even know there there unless I look for them...

Generally, if you buy a service from a provider, they are going to offer to sell you more products... and they are going to advertise to you... Do you get catalogs from any company in the mail? Its the same thing... only its a heck of a lot cheaper for Dish and others to do things that way than send out a catalogue...

To me its kind of like they have a place in my dvr where if i feel like i want to see some offers, i can go find them, but i don't have to see them if i don't want to.. and they never show up on any timer or anything like that on Directv.. its all done in the background.. So it never interfears with me..... They keep those where they keep all the how to videos for us too...

And it is THEIR products that we are using, so they are giving us the option to not get these advertisments.. just don't get their service.... I think thats a two way street in the world of service providers... Thats not at all the same thing as governmental issues.. they work for us.... and its not an optional thing on our part... their exsistance in our lives that is...

I don't think that this is scum bag tactics... Its advertising, which is the way companies make money... Now, what they claim in advertisments.. that is where scum bag tactics might come in... and Dish is every bit as bad as Directv is with that.. But I do believe that cable is by far the worst offender, at least around my parts...

Are you going to say that the newest fun thing tivos can do is bad too? In case you haven't heard, people will be able to order dominos pizza and have it delivered to your house... Is that just as bad? Seriously? Or would you consider that more of an additional feature? Where is the line between features/convineces and butting into out lives?

[Slamminc11]

Originally Posted by dingoringo48

It absolutely amazes me when topics like this come up and people defend the corporations with sentiments like, "So don't watch it...just delete it." I mean, really dude? Do you also tell people concerned about domestic wiretapping that if they haven't done anything wrong then they have nothing to worry about?

I know that I'm not "required" to watch it, the point I was making by starting the thread is that paying customers should not have ads pushed into the timer list. And I don't want Dish Network to decide what I should be watching and changing the channel to an advertisement for me.

Others in the thread have pointed out that DirecTV and Tivo have also done this sort of thing in the past. I wasn't aware of that because I've had Dish Network for as long as I can remember - and they've never done anything like this before. The only similar thing I can think of was about four years ago when they introduced name based recording and pushed a timer that recorded a five minute tutorial on how to use it. That was service/feature related and I was very pleased that they did that, even though I already knew how to use it and had no personal use for the tutorial.

In fact, part of the reason I've stayed with Dish this long is that they always seemed to be the least "scum-baggy" of all the TV providers. I hope that's not starting to change. Maybe if people were more indignant about things like this, corporations and government wouldn't feel as though they had the right to inject themselves into every little corner of our lives. It's a slippery slope, my friends.



Bill, thank you for the advice, but my "enhancements" are (and always have been) off. This wasn't like one of those blue pop-up icons. This was an actual auto tune timer to an advertisement on channel 101.

I'm glad I was able to amaze you!
Sounds to me like you need to drop pay tv and just get your basic five if you are that paranoid. Wiretapping, really!?!

[SaltiDawg]

Originally Posted by dingoringo48

... the point I was making by starting the thread is that paying customers should not have ads pushed into the timer list. ...

WTF? Where is this written? May Ads be included with your monthly bill? How 'bout in the Newspaper that you pay for? On the Cereal box from which you get your Oatmeal?
I love it when people make up rules.

[JohnH]

Well, it seems to me as though there is a possible violation of the "do not change content" rule. Consider I may be watching one of my local channels when this timer fires and inserts different content into my viewing pleasure.

[BillJ]

I haven't seen this yet on either of my 622s. Providing it doesn't (a) override one of my existing timers or (b) override something I'm watching live, it wouldn't bother me. If I see something in my recorded programs that I didn't setup I'll just delete it. I have more important things in my life to worry about. Like how I'm going to feed myself once the financial crisis has destroyed my net worth.

[finniganps]

This is the way it will be in the future. They want to sell you more. It's just like when you go to the movies you're hit with a barage of ads...the movie "starts' and you get more ads. Just ignore them, or as others suggested go to cable.

[Bradtothebone]

Originally Posted by BillJ

I haven't seen this yet on either of my 622s. Providing it doesn't (a) override one of my existing timers or (b) override something I'm watching live, it wouldn't bother me. If I see something in my recorded programs that I didn't setup I'll just delete it. I have more important things in my life to worry about. Like how I'm going to feed myself once the financial crisis has destroyed my net worth.

(My emphasis above)

Notice the priority on the recording in the screenshot (1 of 94). In theory, it definitely could override something you have set to record. Maybe not at 2:00 a.m., but maybe.

I don't really philosophically disagree with this type of advertising, but manipulating recording priorities is maybe going too far.

Brad

[Stewart Vernon]

Maybe I'm giving Dish and the receiver firmware too much credit... but since the screen capture shows this as a "manual timer"... isn't it possible that the process of pushing this timer to the customer involves checking his scheduled timers and setting the timer for a non-conflicting time?

It should be relatively easy, in my opinion, for the receiver to check its timer schedule and define this timer for a known non-conflicting time. Whether or not this is what happened is more fodder for debate, but I submit that it is at least possible... in which case this would be much adieu about nothing.

[Michael P]

Originally Posted by BillJ

I haven't seen this yet on either of my 622s. Providing it doesn't (a) override one of my existing timers or (b) override something I'm watching live, it wouldn't bother me. If I see something in my recorded programs that I didn't setup I'll just delete it. I have more important things in my life to worry about. Like how I'm going to feed myself once the financial crisis has destroyed my net worth.

This timer looks like the free "on demand" content that gets downloaded in the wee hours of the morning. I actually have watched a few of these programs (no they wern't infomercials). They show up in a seperate area. Perhaps the 522 does not have this same area?

[James Long]

Originally Posted by JohnH

Well, it seems to me as though there is a possible violation of the "do not change content" rule. Consider I may be watching one of my local channels when this timer fires and inserts different content into my viewing pleasure.

If it is recording on the tuner you're watching you'll get the two minute warning and can stop the channel change.