Kellner Says Commerical-Skip Worth $250/year

Steve B writes: "A sequel to Turner CEO: "PVR Users Are Thieves" -- according to this story reported by Broadcasting & Cable, our friend Jamie Kellner says that consumers should be prepared to pay "as much as $250 per year" for the privilege of zapping over commercials. BTW, I'm not being entirely sarcastic when I call Kellner "our friend" -- if we properly exploit this story as an example of why Hollywood wants control over our consumer electronics, Kellner just might dig their graves with his big mouth."

Comments

I'd pay it!

[markwelch]

I'd gladly pay an extra $250 per year for the commercial-skip feature, if it were actually available somehow, at some price. (Hmm, does that price include commercial-skip abilities for all programming that comes into my home, including cable-only channels like Comedy Central, or just broadcast channels?)

I really want the ability to record programs, and later watch them, and I'd pay a premium for certain PVR features like:

• Dual tuners (so I can record one program while watching another, or record two programs at once)
• A meaningful "commercial skip" (I'd even accept a 30-second-skip button or a working fast-fast-forward mode)
• Accurate programming information (not data that's six weeks old, but data that's updated to reflect programming changes
• I'd pay an additional premium for a system that would not record the last 10 minutes of an overtime sports event and then cut off recording 10 minutes before my program ends.
• I'd pay extra for a system that recognizes my programming preferences and suggests new programs I might enjoy.
• I'd like the ability to pause live TV.
• I'd like the ability to "record the past," with my PVR recording and storing the last minute or two so I can hit a command to save it to watch again (hey, sometimes those nude scenes are worth seeing again, and sometimes you want another look at a flash of skin in a commercial).
• Proper synchronization so I don't lose the first 2 or last 2 minutes of programs because the system decides that it's 7:59 when Fox thinks it's 8:01.

Each of these features is worth money, and if I have to pay a premium to get some or all of these features, I will do so. If the broadcasting networks think that it's worth $250 extra per year to receive their programs without commercials, then why don't they try offering it? Couldn't they offer their content without commercials on a series of premium cable channels? Gosh, no, it turns out that it's not just about skipping commercials -- I think people are more interested in the time-shifting ability than skipping commercials. I certainly am.

While each of these features is promised by one or more companies that claim to manufacture PVRs, I have been unable to see any PVR in use, except for one demo of UltimateTV (which I later learned I cannot use because I apparently can't get a signal at my home).

I've recently been shopping for a PVR and have concluded that none are currently available from companies likely to be in business in 6 months.

I really, really want a Personal Video Recorder, and I'd gladly pay a premium. Indeed, I actually bought an RCA UltimateTV unit and satellite dish, but I can't get a signal and neither DirecTV nor UltimateTV could suggest the name of any installers who would not charge me huge fees just to confirm that I can't get a satellite signal. I sent the system back.

I wanted to try TiVo, which has a "fast-fast-forward" but they signed an exclusive deal with Best Buy, which won't demo the unit (and doesn't have them in stock anyway).

ReplayTV demands a huge premium (charging roughly a $300-$350 premium for its prepaid lifetime subscription for programming -- but the money isn't put in escrow, and I assume that if the company loses or settles the pending lawsuits, it will abandon all customers.)

And that leaves . . . nobody. Oh, yeah, DishTV offers its own PVR, but of course I don't expect to get a DishTV signal if I can't get a DirecTV signal (and I understand the companies are merging).

I really want the ability to record programs, and later watch them, and I'd pay a premium for certain features like dual tuners (so I can record one program while watching another, or record two programs at once), a meaningful "commercial skip," and accurate programming information and proper synchronization so I don't lose the first 2 or last 2 minutes of programs because the system decides that it's 7:59 when Fox thinks it's 8:01.

I'd gladly pay a premium, and $250 per year for the commercial-skip capability would be well worth it.