[dfwgator]

Viewers are going to have to choose, do you want to watch shows for free, or not watch ads, you can't do both.

[IronJack]

"Do not try to adjust your set. WE control the horizontal. WE control the vertical. Now sit back down and listen to this important message about panty shields!"

[A message]

Stanley Kubrick was ahead of his time.

[trebb]

They better not...

It seems we are getting more and more reasons to consider that it's the People that are supposed to have the power and that it is our duty to oppose tyranny by any means possible. Any bets on which party would think the proposition is fine? On the flip side, any bets on which party would oppose it with words, but roll over and let it happen anyway?

[Sam's Army]

There's nothing worth Tivo-ing anyway.

[rattrap]

I guess Philips doesn't like selling TVs very much. Who would buy a TV from Philips that does this versus one from say, Pioneer, that doesn't?

[avg_freeper]

I guess we're only a few years away from the eye lid clamps they used in Clockwork Orange.

I hardly watch any TV as it is.

[tje]

I'm sure the 'off' switch will still work.

[HamiltonJay]

The pending patent, published on March 30, said the feature would be implemented on a program-by-program basis. Devices that could carry the technology would be a television or a set-top-box

Yea, and it will be a cold day in hell when I buy either of them. You better believe, I have a choice between a tv that won't let me flip during a commercial and one that will let me flip... I'm buying the one that lets me flip.

[ElPatriota]

Philips acknowledged, however, that the anti-channel changing technology might not sit well with consumers and suggested in its patent filing that consumers be allowed to avoid the feature if they paid broadcasters a fee. ..

:) - Just the idea of not being able to switch channels would make to brake the box, or tv.. or give it up altogether! :) - I am a professional "channel switcher." I can't stand of the garbage on regular tv... I use my Tivo/direct dvr for everything. I can watch a football game in 30 minutes!! :).. when I want a commercial is because I like it! like the ones with little Gico animation :) I enjoy that commercial. Who me rambling? :)

[steve-b]

This would the same level of ongoing in-your-face assault as telemarketing... and the result in that case was that Congresscritters actually felt enough heat to fear losing their jobs and passed a law (the Do Not Call list) requiring the assailants to back off. IMO, the same thing would happen here.

[Tokra]

Philips acknowledged, however, that the anti-channel changing technology might not sit well with consumers and suggested in its patent filing that consumers be allowed to avoid the feature if they paid broadcasters a fee.

And I will sell Philips executives a lunch box that will punch them in the nose when they open it. They will be allowed to avoid the feature by paying me a fee.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

You can turn the TV off during the ads. If you can't turn it off, you can pull the plug.

[Mike Darancette]

If they can make us pay for TV transmitted through the free atmosphere that we let them use, I guess that we can charge them more for broadcast rights.

[weegee]

Would Queen Hillary use this to force her royal subjects to not change the channel during her televised appearances?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

If you don't watch TV, this can't happen to you...

[Xenophobic Alien]

The other question is what happens when you are channel surfing and hit a channel with commercials on??

Are you stuck on that channel until the commercial is over..

That would REALLY tick me off!

[Babu]

I never watch commercials -- just record everything on DVR (same as TIVO) and skip through commercials. However, I have heard that newer DVR/TIVO units have removed the "skip forward" button due to sponsor pressure, so I'll be hanging onto my two older units that have the precious "skip forward" buttons.

Re their threats to force us to watch commercials -- I don't think so ... There is radar, and radar detectors. So if they try that, hackers will make and sell workarounds, and if the congress critters make that illegal, it will be on the black market at swap meets, etc.

Somehow, they are going to lose this battle in the long run ...

[ElPatriota]

Philips spokesman Andre Manning

Andre fire the jerk who came up with this idea!... He is hurting the company as it is.. right away, fire him!

[somniferum]

Have you all noticed that most new dvds now won't let you skip through the previews/commercials? It is infuriating.. and whoever did that should be dragged out into the streets and SHOT! =P (Only slightly kidding..)