DirecTV sitting on TV commercial technology

I'd rather have the cooperative/unified scheduling (if one DVR had a conflict it would find another DVR that didn') that Replay also had then commercial skipping.

 

If they ever do roll it out, the gnashing of teeth around here over programming costs skyrocketing will be epic. :lol:

 

From the end of the article:
"Broadcasters say the technology could destroy the industry since program owners need the advertising revenue to help cover the cost of their shows. "

Let's face it. We all get mad when the price goes up every February, we all get mad when we read about locals getting held hostage due to negotiations (Fox, Hearst etc.) for more pennies per local sub, so if there's any truth to this, maybe we should let the commercials come through. And press the buttons on the remote to skip them.

 

Wouldn't it be something if Directv said to programmers that are wanting a through the roof rate hike, Well, if you want that much, we will turn on our commercial skipping technology for your channel.

 

Who is to say that hasn't already been part if the negotiations? I find it difficult to believe DirecTV bought this technology to sit on a shelf. Even if they have never threatened to use it, the fact that they have it could play an impact on negotiations.

Now that Dish has pulled the trigger the legality issue is going to be forced. If Dish prevails, the technology would become an even bigger bargaining chip but if Dish loses it will be worthless as a bargaining chip.

In the end I think all this will do is drive content costs up even more. I predict before my home mortgage is paid off, my entertainment provider bill will be higher than my mortgage!

 

I hate commercials as much as the next guy but if this is going to SLOW down the HD-DVR's even more or cause significant rate increases than I'd rather not have it.

 

IIRC they purchased the Replay patents to help prevent lawsuits against them for their DVR software. It was all the patents, not just the commercial skipping that was purchased.

 

Same here, I'm fine with hitting the 30 second skip, a few times.

 

The popularity of DVR's attest to the desire to skip commercials. I would assume that DVR owners given a questionaire about what they like the most about their DVR would rate commercial skipping #1 and time-shifting #2.

The networks have noticed and are not pleased. I've actually seen ads for upcoming movies RIGHT ON TOP OF PROGRAMMING on some NBC reruns. Not movies to be shown on NBC but new THEATRICAL releases. And other clever ways of making customers watch commercials are being employed. For example, on "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS, all of the vehicles are Chevrolet and they even have a 10-second blurb advising you of the fact in case you didn't notice.

The "30 slip" feature does give you a glimpse of the commercials and more than once have I stopped the DVR and played an interesting commercial in it's entirety. But the DISH network commercial skipper gives the viewer no clue about the commercials which is why advertisers and networks are furious.

 

The idea consumer demand hasn't been there is misleading in my view. Was America breaking the doors on providers down for TIVO, PVR, and DVRs before they existed or knew anything about it? I wasn't. Had I never heard of them or had one I'd still be fine using a VCR or DVD Recorder. Was everyone wanting their iPod and phone combined and demanding it? No. It's only when technology is implemented people want it for its advantages. I also don't believe the commercial skipping while a nice feature I guess is ever going to be something I MUST HAVE OR ELSE! I can fast forward through them like I have been. No biggie.

 

I believe #1 is time shifting is the most important for most people. #2 commercial skipping is just a added benefit. Id still have a dvr if I couldn't fast forward commercials. Would I enjoy it as much no.

 

That's been going on for a while on NBC (over a year). The movies advertised have all been Universal releases. Corporate synergy!

 

I have to agree. Commercial skipping was a nice fringe benefit, but time shifting freed me from the yoke of TV networks.

I don't even watch TV during primetime anymore, no other technology has changed my life to the extent that DVR's time-shifting has. (I didn't do it very often with VCR's cause it was't worth the hassle and degradation of what was an already terrible cable signal/picture).

 

+1

I wouldn't presume to speak for "most people", but it definitely applies to me.

 

Time shifting is not that important to me. Skipping one or more commercials is more important to me.

So I must not be part of the group of "most people".

 

I believe that advertising pays for a lot more than the average person thinks. If every viewer in the universe stopped watching commercials, advertisers would stop advertising and networks and cable stations would go belly-up without revenue. If you think cable/satellite/telco fees are bad now, guess what they might be to make up for lost advertising revenue.
Commercials are here to stay. Some of them are even better than the programs they support. Commercials are such a minor annoyance. They pay for what you want to watch.

 

Fast Forward x4 > 30 second skip

 

Shows that I watch on a regular basis I know exactly how many times to hit the 30skip and not miss a thing. The cool thing is the receivers are fast enough that when I hit the 30skip 6-10x I never see any of the ads.

 

+1

but at the same time I do occasionally watch an ad if it interests me... Or will let them run when someone needs to have a break

 

Or maybe actors wouldn't get $500k per episode or sports stars wouldn't get $20M per year any longer. I would feel so bad for them :nono2: