[invaliduser88]

Check out:http://uk.news.yahoo.com/020524/152/cznfz.html

A disturbing "feature" of Tivo.

 

[MarkA]

I dunno, as long as it lets you record something else instead during the time period and it let's you watch something instead of record that show, it seems like a good form of advertising. If those two requirements aren't met it's downright wrong.

 

[spanishannouncetable]

Jeez, what some people won't complain about...

If the unit had a recording scheduled by the user at that time, the unit ignored the show suggested by the BBC.

If the owner was watching something on live TV at the time, it gave them an on-screen option to NOT record it.

If the owner gave permission or did not answer the prompt for some reason (like not watching TV at the time), it stored the show on the section of the hard drive reserved for TiVo's use (as mentioned in the agreement in the box the TiVo came in).

Yes, it stays on the menu for a week and can't be deleted. So what ? The drive space used isn't accessable to the user anyway, so no usable drive space is lost.

And NO ONE is being forced to watch the show. It's just a temporary menu option and can be ignored completely.

I just don't understand what the tinfoil-hat crowd finds so upsetting about this :shrug:

 

[Karl Foster]

No offense to Tivo owners, but first Tivo tracks your usage (by zip code only) unless the owner physically diables it, and now records programming that the user may or may not want. Regardless of whether it takes up space that can't be used for other purposes or not, if the owner doesn't set the machine to record, it shouldn't record it.

 

[MarkA]

I just don't get what the problem is? How is it any different from other advertising? Though I do feel TiVo should drop the subscription fee if they are going to take ads.

 

[jrjcd]

well, it's abvuse of the system, for one thing-also, i don't think i have seen any mention anywhere that tivo is going to force recording programming on you that you can't get rid of for a period of time as part of the deal...the problem with this is if BBC can get away with it, others will want to also, the logical conclusion being that one day you DO come home and find all your avalable space used up and nothing you can do about it...
personally, the greed behind this just leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

 

[MarkA]

That can't happen jrjcd, as it's only recording to space reserved for TiVo advertising. It will not take any of the user's drive space.

 

[RichW]

Consider also that this was doen in the UK, not here in the USA.
People in the UK pay for TV by subscription fees. There is a different treatment of TV "rights" in that country. There is actually a fine for watching TV without having paid a license fee on the TV.

 

[MarkA]

RichW, the legality of that fine is widely debated. The license is for watching OTA (and satellite/cable British) sources, and pays for the BBC. TiVo is one company, I just believe BBC was first willing to pay for this. If ABC had been first, it would have happened here.

 

[jrjcd]

mark, you would be surprised at all the things that can't be done that jump out of the woods and do happen...

 

[MarkA]

But it hasn't happened YET, and this is a perfectly acceptable form of advertising. TiVo is a major company and isn't going to do anything to destroy their customers' trust.

 

[Ryan]

This is effectively the same as the Starz video-on-demand feature that will place movies on DirecTivo units. But one is presented as a feature and the other is presented as troubling. Either way, something someone else thinks is important gets recorded and stored on a non-user area of the hard drive.

How you feel about it is your own business. Just because you're paranoid...

 

[garydw]

For me I have no intrest in Tivio if they are going to force items to be recorded.

And I will not have it in my house as long as they are recording and selling my personal information.

 

[MarkA]

But it isn't FORCED to record, it's only recording if you aren't using the unit anyways, and it's recording to a TiVo reserved hard drive area anyways. And any statistics gathered are in an anonymous way that does not violate your right to privacy.

 

[Guest]

TiVo is very good at what it does.

It's business plan calls for selling viewing data it collects and for selling targeted program placements to interested advertisers.

It's possible to opt out of the viewing data collection but you have to call TiVo's CS and wait on hold to do so. TiVo doesn't encourage you to opt out.

TiVo, Inc. is hoping most of its subscribers won't care about or even be aware of all it's revenue producing plans. It's still ascertaining the limits of what's acceptable for its service. Some of its revenue producing ideas push the envelope to the creepy line, IMHO.

 

[RichW]

The problem I have with these data collection services is that it sometimes is not clear that you can "opt out". I believe the default should be to opt out and then convince people to opt in.

 

[gcutler]

As long as it is anonymous, I want my viewing habits being recorded. Before there was only the Neilsen ratings. Now I am doing my part to prop up shows that I like. And if my season pass for a show like "Jeremiah" on Showtime helps it survive then more power to the viewing habits recording.

Maybe no longer will I have to say "I loved that show but not being a Neilsen family makes my opinion worthless."

 

[MarkA]

Plus, it's a lot easier than filling out the stupid Neilsen diary is!

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by RichW
I believe the default should be to opt out and then convince people to opt in.

I agree but it'll never work that way. TiVo's data collection isn't a Nielson sample; it requires volume to be worth anything.

There will never be a significant number of TiVo users who opt out much as there wouldn't be a significant number who would opt in.

Of course there are other DVR options than TiVo which is the only DVR now collecting viewing data. ReplayTV used to but hasn't been since their 4XXX's came out. UTV, Dishplayer and Dish's 501 don't.

 

[lee635]

Great, so I'm recording a show on vcr so I can have an archive copy and half way through the show, a box pops up from Tivo advertising about a BBC show and if I'm not there to check NO, I'm OOL.

What sucks is you're paying $10 to $13 per month so they can force feed programs down your throat. It would be different if they gave you a break on the monthly fee in return for these intrusions.

It's like commercials on pay movie channels; it's just wrong.