TiVo to Sell Your Fast-Forward Button

Thomas Hawk writes "PVRblog is reporting today that TiVo will begin to place banner advertisements on your screen when you are fast forwarding. As one of the whole points for people getting a TiVo is to remove obtrusive advertising, it seems like a really bad move to force advertising on people at the exact moment that they are using your technology to avoid advertising. This act points to the desperation of TiVo and their management team and although it might help them in the short run it will most certainly backfire in the long run." This is ironic for a company whose slogan used to be "TV Your Way," but not surprising, since its CEO says he wants to move to a largely advertiser-supported revenue stream. I've bought three TiVos in the past four years, but my next PVR will run MythTV -- unless HR2391 passes and makes me a criminal for skipping commercials.

Comments

Re:I dont think its such a bad idea

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

The problem is that the TIVO is NOT free. You paid for that device, and you paid for that service. Getting ads you don't want is a betrayal of the customer.

BS. If you don't like the product, don't buy it. Sounds like you no longer like the TiVo product. Don't buy it.

Are Amercians Just Plain RETARDED?

[webzombie]

Ok, now just how f@#$'n STUPID are Amercians going to get before the implode on themselves or the rest of the planet kicks their greedy lying asses?

The US government is spreading cruelity and misery in the Middle East and calling it freedom. US corps are patenting anything and everything. FCC declares they own PCs and anything attached to them that "communicates"... the list of stupidity goes on and on!

Think about folks... the last attack on the US government before 911 was Oklahoma and executed by Amercians.

Re:I dont think its such a bad idea

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

You're missing the point. People already bought it for its ability to remove commercials. Now TIVO will change that, and a lot of TIVO customers will have no way of recovering the cost of that purchase.

I'll bet there is something in the EULA about this. You should always READ a contract before you agree to it.

Re:I dont think its such a bad idea

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

This isn't the first time that Tivo has removed and/or changed features on customer purchased devices that didn't help the customer.

Than how is it a surprise? My guess is that this is all covered in the EULA (a contract). Guess you should READ contracts before you AGREE to them, then you will have all the information about the service you are paying for!