TiVo from AdZapper to Advertiser's New Best Friend

Thomas Hawk writes "A lot of noise has been made lately regarding TiVo's transformation from an ad zapper to Madison Avenue's new darling. In their first podcast ever, TiVo explains how they hope to redefine advertising in the age of the DVR through a customer centered approach. I'm not sure you are going to see TiVo changing their slogan to "we'll leave a light on for you," anytime soon, but with DVR penetration hitting mainstream how will their new initiatives change your TV viewing experience?"

Comments

Re:Couldn't expect it to last

[misleb]

That's fair; personally I find many commercials funny, or striking in some way. I don't use a commercial to tell me what to buy or how to live; it's a 30 second clip which might amuse or entertain. And those, I like to see and share with friends.

If there was ever any application for the label "tool," I'm pretty sure this is it. But I guess maybe I am a little anti-social that way. You may not think that advertisements are telling you what to buy or how to live, but they affect you. Advertisers aren't naive, you know. They don't believe that their ads will automatically get people to buy something. It is about getting in your head. It is about getting your attention so that when you DO get around to buying something, their product is near the top of your list of choices. That is what "branding" is all about. And you are playing right into their hands. Maybe you don't care. Maybe you just care about the entertainment value of it. Thats your right, but don't be so naive as to think that you are immune to the intended effect of advertisement. They only care about entertaining you insofar as it sells more crap.

The article links back to a story where there's a better description of what's been launched... Sure, anything can change in the unknown future, but I'd say there is some pudding. And to me it looks delicious.

That is one way to describe it. "Inane" comes to mind as well. But hey, at least it is optional.

-matthew