Tivo Tracks Superbowl Viewing Habits

ThePretender writes "Sprinkled in the Janet Jackson boob stories is an alarming bit of information: Tivo tracks subscribers' viewing habits. They know how many times the boob was viewed, among other good-to-have (meaning data worth $$) information. Yes, if you agreed to Tivo's privacy policy you knew they could do this, with the promise that you aren't identifiable. Put on the tin foil hats? Or just another way for them to keep your monthly fee down (snicker)." A story from 2002 has more information and makes clear that Tivo does have the capability to record every click you make on the remote control, at all times. Previously Tivo said they tracked 10,000 people for the Super Bowl, this year 20,000.

Comments

Well here is the TiVo press release.

[Aaton]

The offical press release from TiVo.

Is show some more detail about what commercials were most watched also...

To all non-TiVO people who didn't see the boobs.

[IdleTime]

Here are a few links to a page on Norways biggest Newspapers website that show all the picture uncensored and even have the uncensored movie of her. Oh yes, it also includes the streaker that nobody in the US saw.

Click on "Neste Bilde" to see the next picture
Video

Unplug the phone

[andy@petdance.com]

You could unplug the TiVo from the phone.

Sure, I rewound the Janet thing a dozen times while my wife and I discussed if that thing was a pasty or tassel or what, but TiVo didn't include me in the 20,000 because our TiVo isn't hooked up to the phone.

Hack Your TiVo!

[lophophore]

This is yet another good reason to hack your TiVo.

Once properly hacked you can telnet to your TiVo and purge the keystroke logs! (in /var/log, where else!?) Not to mention the other nifty capabilities, like web-based control and Video Extraction...