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ABC Wants DVR Fast Forwarding Disabled

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the learn-to-spell-bad-idea dept.

Anonymous CE Worker writes "The television network ABC is looking to develop technology that would disable the fast-forward button on DVRs, and allow commercials to run as intended on their channel." From the article: "Some research executives — even at networks with sales departments that acted differently — had argued before the upfront that ads viewed in fast-forward mode generated value for advertisers, since consumers were at least partly exposed to their messages. But Shaw said ABC was only interested in finding a way to receive compensation for un-skipped ads."

25 of 718 comments (clear)

  1. Hey, here's an idea! by OmgTEHMATRICKS · · Score: 2, Funny

    We can use blipverts! Just watch out for the exploding diabetics.

    1. Re:Hey, here's an idea! by dubmun · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or... utilize the first 15 second of a thirty second commercial spot to present a static image that will catch the attention of a DVR user in fast-forward. If I were an ad executive that's what I would do!

      --
      (end of post)
    2. Re:Hey, here's an idea! by Golias · · Score: 2, Funny

      Alas there's no "-1, Missed Geeky Pop-culture Reference But Replied Anyway" mod.

      You would think there would be, since it comes up so often.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    3. Re:Hey, here's an idea! by Kadin2048 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was thinking the same thing. ABC is missing out on a chance to really increase their advertisement revenue. Here's how: instead of selling regular 30-second commercials, they tell everyone that with the advent of DVRs, that what they really need to do is buy five minute ads, and then play their normal advertisement at 1/10th normal speed for everyone who's watching it in fast-forward.

      Of course, the obnoxiousness of watching a five-minute commercial would immediately cause the folks still watching normal-speed TV to go out and get DVRs in order to FF through them; the end result would be that everyone would buy a DVR, and everyone would watch the same 30-second clips!

      In time, there would be an 'arms race' between the networks and DVR companies, to see who could have faster fast-forwards, and who could have the slowest commercials. Just think: a two-hour Rogaine ad, transmitted at 0.5 fps.

      Isn't technology beautiful?

      --
      "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
    4. Re:Hey, here's an idea! by bcat24 · · Score: 2, Funny

      No! The internet is not a truck! It's a bunch of tubes!

    5. Re:Hey, here's an idea! by 1u3hr · · Score: 2, Funny
      Do they come by trucks?

      Station wagons.

  2. Fine by me... by Skyshadow · · Score: 5, Funny

    So long as it's just blocking fast-forwarding on ABC shows and not other channels, let me be the first to say that I have absolutely no problem with this.

    --
    Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
  3. While they're at it by dsn1337 · · Score: 5, Funny

    they should get TV makers to prevent me from changing the channel when commercials start too.

  4. Re:Whats the problem? by ToasterofDOOM · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hooray Tampons!!!

    You're right, it's just not as appealing as beer.

    --
    I am Spartacus
  5. Indeed by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whenever commercials come on TV, I SWITCH TO ANOTHER CHANNEL without commercials.

    I bet next they'll try to disable the chan up/down buttons, the mute button, and the power button during commercials. Then they'll try to mandate all chairs have restraints that are activated right before commercials come on. Ooh, and little things to hold open your eyelids and ears...

    1. Re:Indeed by just_another_sean · · Score: 1, Funny

      Ooh, and little things to hold open your eyelids and ears...

      Robot Chicken fan?

      --
      Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
    2. Re:Indeed by roguenine19 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Whenever commercials come on TV, I SWITCH TO ANOTHER CHANNEL without commercials.

      My dad and I both do this. It drives my mom nuts, because she's afraid that we won't turn it back in time and we'll end up missing most of what we were watching in the first place. The thing is, we both have a pretty good sense of how long a commercial break is going to be on a given show, so we always end up turing the channel back right as the commercials end. I think that annoys my mom even more.

      Come to think of it, that's probably why we do it in the first place.
  6. Man Law! by everphilski · · Score: 3, Funny

    However good beer commericals on the other hand...

    **scribes your post into large book**

  7. Re:On Screen Ads by eln · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine if the Mona Lisa was 1/3rd covered by an ad for Enzyte (weird mental image there, huh?)

    Well, that would explain the smile...

  8. Re:Whats the problem? by pilgrim23 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think what we REALLY need is a "uber-fast-forward button" so we can GET to the commercials! Given the quality of ABC (and most other) programming, the commercials are the only productions worth viewing

    --
    - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
  9. Re:Whats the problem? by slagheap · · Score: 5, Funny
    But *please* let me skip the tampon commercial. I don't use tampons, I don't want tampons, I'm not going to buy tampons.

    Sure that's what you think now, but if you watch enough tampon commercials...

    Maybe next time you are at the store you'll think to yourself, "Maybe I *do* need some tampons."
    --
    First against the wall when the revolution comes
  10. Television User License agreement, 2010 by captainboogerhead · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the Sony Bravia EULA in the not-too-distant future... By turning on this television, you hereby agree that television shows ("CONTENT") are paid for by advertising and that avoiding advertising is morally wrong. Fast forwarding, skipping of commercials using technology (PVRs, Tape Recording Devices, Time Machines) is prohibited. Talking to your loved ones during commericials is illegal. Going to the washroom during a commercial is stealing. You hereby agree not avert your eyes or plug your ears during commercial breaks. Deaf and/or dumb people found to be in proximity of this television set while it is turned on will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

  11. Re:They never learn by just_another_sean · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm waiting for someone to post that incentivise is a perfectly cromulent word.

    Incentivise is a perfectly cromulent word. Personally I find that utilizing large words embiggens us all. :-)

    --
    Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
  12. In other news... by TheOldSchooler · · Score: 2, Funny

    ABC has filed a lawsuit against the "Channel Up" and "Channel Down" button.

  13. Better yet... by Jzor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just slow the commercials way down so they play at normal speed during FFWD!@

  14. As soon as... by Ric0chet · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...ABC makes a show worthy of my Tivo's drive space, I'll worry.

    --


    How you see the world is how the world sees you.
  15. Re:I want to disable... by booch · · Score: 3, Funny

    In my neighborhood we obey the laws of physics! I'd let the planes' momentum carry them past my house. I would be very seriously surprised if they fell straight down to the ground.

    --
    Software sucks. Open Source sucks less.
  16. Too many people want something for nothing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ABC is responsible for the creation of a great deal of top-quality intellectual property. Wonderful shows like Extreme Makeover and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. If they want their IP protected from common criminals who simply want to steal from them then that's their choice. I intend to help them. On my machine I have not only disabled FF on ABC, but rewind, recording and even the ability to watch them at all. All I had to do is go into the "Manual channel programming" option in the menu and disable their channel.

    Only together can we fight the corruption of copyright infringement. We should stop calling it copyright infringement and start calling it what it is. Terrorism.

  17. Re:They never learn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    To get him to stop using that word, you'll need to incentivise him.

  18. Obligatory joke by stigmato · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, commercials fast forward YOU!