ABC Wants DVR Fast Forwarding Disabled

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."

Comments

Screw that...

[Dh2000]

I'll just stop watching TV... oh wait, I already did.

No commericials, no annoying crap. I get more done, and if there is anything I want to watch, then I download it off of one of the many sources of free video.

Quality and instant (yet horribly scheduled) access is the only thing TV networks have going for them, now.

I want to disable...

[booch]

...cars that are pissing me off on the highway.

...cell phones of people in the grocery store with those stupid BlueTooth headsets.

...push-to-talk on cell phones.

...Blackberries.

...airplanes flying over my house at night that are too loud.

Is there any reason why ABC should be allowed to disable someone else's equipment that they don't like, and that I should not be allowed?

Re:Movies (was: Unskipped ads only)

[Erich]

By the way, I really reduced the number of visits to the local movie theaters, I went to watch the Superman though and it was terrible experience: it was a 10pm show and people brought their 2-3 year old kids

This is why I only watch movies at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas here in Austin. No children except at special showings (for Superman, no children under 6 and then only with parent). Even then, if they are noisy they will get thrown out. Also, no commercials and special movie-themed pre-show entertainment. (Unless you consider previews commercials, or 60's-era Car commercials before the movie Cars to be annoying commercials rather than fun pre-show entertainment... which I don't).

Also, they have good beer. Hooray, beer!

Seriously, if you like movies, the Alamo is a good reason to move to Austin. Or, at least, to visit.

When this happens ....

[gstoddart]

Should this ever happen, I will be cancelling my DVR and cable, and not watch any more TV.

I can't tolerate live TV as it is, and I have occasionally rewound an ad which looked funny which I had skipped. (Like those great VW ads about unpimpin' your ride ;-)

I won't watch yout (*&#^ Kotex, McDonald's, or Huggies commercials because I can guarantee I will ever be a consumer. Your ad contract with ABC does not extend to me.

I wish advertisers would outgrow this belief that I am somehow morally/legally bound to watch the stuff I don't want to see that they paid someone else for. Pay me a few hundred extra/month, and I'll personally watch all of the ads during all of the TV I watch. Otherwise, go away!!