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AOL-Time/Warner's PVR to Skip Ad-Skipping

Posted by michael on from the they-control-the-horizontal dept.

btempleton writes "Echoing recent comments that PVR users are thieves a story from CNET announces that AOL's set-top box plans may not allow skipping ads. Broadcasters continue to be afraid of the PVR, admitedly with good reason for their current business model. As I point out in my essay on the future of TV, PVRs and Advertising, TV ads are a terrible bargain for the user, paying us about $1.20 per hour of our attention, and something has to change. It's worth noting that they say they like the Tivo over the Replay because the Tivo does not have 30 second skip, but in fact it does."

11 of 390 comments (clear)

  1. I see.... by Disevidence · · Score: 5, Funny

    But do they get the first 100 hours ad-free?

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    Think nothing is impossible? Try slamming a revolving door.
  2. life on a boat by jck9626 · · Score: 2, Funny

    what da hell, i'm just gonna go live on a boat in international waters!

  3. Re:it is in the name of money and their business m by dirvish · · Score: 2, Funny

    There are no ads on the WWW and it is free.

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  4. I seem to remember... by morgajel · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...paying for MY cable- so I owe it to AOL/TW to watch their commercials?

    I think not.

    They can get in that long line of people who are full of crap and can blow me.

    I guess they can just lose a customer over this.
    /. is more entertaining anyways.

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  5. will they sue me if I put a black cardboard.. by kipple · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...in front of the TV screen?
    I think they will because I'm actually "developing a technology" that allows me to "avoid restrictions" put on "digital media".

    Obviously I'm joking.

    They won't sue me because I'll patent this "technology" (the black cardboard) and make money from it, so since I'm getting paid for that I am under the law. A disclaimer will avoid me the legal stuff.

    Thank God I didn't want to release that idea under a GPL-style license!

    --
    -- There are two kind of sysadmins: Paranoids and Losers. (adapted from D. Bach)
  6. Few comments.. by Disevidence · · Score: 2, Funny

    AOL spokesman Mark Harrad confirmed the company's ad-skipping plans

    They're skipping now? A bit of a typo...

    cable operator is also looking at including copyright-protection technology in such devices. The technology would limit how viewers can use content delivered to their homes.

    This is getting insane. Next they will have a CDTBPA like law for video players. If your sending out the content to my home, and im paying for that service (either through the advertising or subscription) I'm damn well allowed to do what I want with that stuff (within piracy laws, obviously).

    Just because they send out advertising with it, doesn't mean I have to watch it. So how's this different from deleting it? I spose they'll be telling us what to watch, what to listen to etc, Oh wait......

    --
    Think nothing is impossible? Try slamming a revolving door.
  7. Re:Information wants to be free by C_nemo · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Advertisement blocks can be replaced by advertising during a show. In a show, the actors could wear certain clothing, use certain cars, eat certain foods"

    shurly not on Star Trek or?
    Picard: "Geordi, I think it's time we replace that old warp core with a brand new Hundai, affordable quality "

    Geordi: "Shure Captain, i'll just finish my happy meal with a go large for just 3$, soooo tasty"

  8. Re:Options by vegetablespork · · Score: 2, Funny
    Either tv companies earn their money through adverts which cannot be skipped or... They accept that ads will be skipped and start running them along the top or bottom of the screen during the program. Which would you prefer?

    The latter. I can defeat the latter with two well-placed pieces of cardboard. Of course, I already defeat it all by downloading what little TV I want to see. And if they take that away, I'll live happily without them. I've always been meaning to explore that, um, outdoors thing.

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  9. The All Commercial Network by mikosullivan · · Score: 4, Funny

    This could be a real problem if I ever get my idea of an All Commercial Network off the ground. I can just see the folks with their PVR's clicking on the 30-second buttons grumbling "man, these commercials go on FOREVER!".

    --
    Miko O'Sullivan
  10. Re:Information wants to be free by Klox · · Score: 2, Funny
    Advertisement blocks can be replaced by advertising during a show.

    This is illegal for children's shows. The problem is that kids can't tell what's advertising and what isn't. If Barney chugs a Bud Light, children assume that everyone drinks beer. They're too impresionable to understand that TV may not reflect reality. Children under 8 have a hard time seperating commercials from the program, and advertising in the program would only be worse. (Yes, a 6 year old may be able to identify the commercials, but they lack the reasoning skills to identify what the real goal of the commercials is).
  11. BAH! by gnovos · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is an INTELLIGENT solution to the problem. Just how do you expect this to be even the least bit helpful? The AOL/TW execs aren't just going to grow brains here at the last moment are they? PLEASE PEOPLE! If you are going to be suggesting ideas, make sure they are IRRATIONAL, POORLY THOUGHT OUT, and above all else, ANTI-INNOVATIVE (preferably sucking the life out a previous innovation through both legislation *and* poor technological replacements). If you can't keep your ideas in line with the status quo, you are part of the problem, not the solution?

    --
    "Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"