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TV networks blissfully ignore TiVo problem
CNN MONEY ^ | 5/19/06 | Mikey_1962

Posted on 05/19/2006 12:58:25 PM PDT by Mikey_1962

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The major TV networks trotted out their biggest stars and presented their fall schedules to advertisers this week during lavish presentations in New York City known as the upfronts.

Media buyers were entertained, wined and dined at famous locales like Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center and Tavern on the Green. And they endured buzzwords like "content," "platforms" and "upscale audience" more times than they can possibly count.

But now that the partying and spin-doctoring from network executives is over, it's time to get down to business: negotiating ad rates and commitments for the upcoming 2006-2007 television season.

After all, that's what the upfronts are really about...getting big corporations to open up their purse strings. Chris Rock, the comedian and co-creator of "Everybody Hates Chris," summed it up best at the CW presentation Thursday.

"You better spend some motherf****** money!" he shouted to the audience.

DVRs: The elephant in the TV room Heading into this week's upfronts, many industry insiders were predicting that the top networks would fall short of the $9.1 billion in commercial time that they sold during the 2005 upfront.

And now that the networks have all shown their hands, there is still a sense that they may all have an uphill battle on their hands. That's because technology is wreaking havoc on the very existence of network television.

But the one piece of technology that has altered the TV landscape more than any other was not mentioned by any executive at any of the upfronts: the digital video recorder or DVR. More and more couch potatoes are using TiVo (Research) or cable boxes with DVRs built in to watch shows when they want and fast forward through the commercials.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
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To: capt. norm

I have an ATI All-in-wonder X800Xt.. :)


21 posted on 05/19/2006 1:54:58 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: capt. norm
All-in-wonder X800XT AGP, not PCIx
22 posted on 05/19/2006 1:57:27 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: capt. norm

About a year ago, I listened to my co-worker extol the beauty of his TiVO, and heard enough about it to buy TiVo STOCKS. I've not regretted the decision. As for watching tv, I prefer to buy seasons on DVD of shows I enjoy. Still no commercials! :-)


23 posted on 05/19/2006 1:57:31 PM PDT by knittnmom (...surrounded by reality)
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To: mikeybaby

Then there is the ad placement within shows. Anyone notice what beverage is in front of the judges on American Idol? Somehow the brand name is always facing the camera. :)


24 posted on 05/19/2006 2:04:19 PM PDT by xp38
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To: 68skylark
Some commercials today are more clever and entertaining than the shows.

You mean that the market *gasp* adapts to change?

25 posted on 05/19/2006 2:06:03 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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To: dfwgator
You mean that the market *gasp* adapts to change?

Yeah, I meant that -- and I also meant to say that an awful lot of shows are pretty lame.

26 posted on 05/19/2006 2:08:21 PM PDT by 68skylark
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To: ZGuy

totally agree. I love that show. I made fun of my mom for watching it and now I'm eating crow. It's a great show. Too bad it's on UPN.


27 posted on 05/19/2006 2:09:11 PM PDT by volchef (After a great meal I could forgive almost anyone......except a democrat.)
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To: Mikey_1962
"You better spend some motherf****** money!" he shouted to the audience.


Such class.

28 posted on 05/19/2006 2:15:35 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: Echo Talon
Just two months ago I bought a brand new ATI video card (without those features).

I could spent close to $300 for the ATI replacement/upgrade or $169 for this add-on (not a video card).

I really don't want to stick another graphics card up in the closet just to get the features I could get much cheaper.

29 posted on 05/19/2006 2:16:57 PM PDT by capt. norm (W.C. Fields: "Hollywood is the gold cap on a tooth that should have been pulled out years ago.")
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To: Mikey_1962
They have already, they put them in he show as product placement. Which I really do not mind at all, its better then the insipid commercials put together by weirdo's
30 posted on 05/19/2006 2:19:11 PM PDT by roverman2K6
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To: twigs

"Maybe that's why the commercials are getting better. Sometimes my husband and I enjoy the commercials almost as much as what we're watching"

Nope, the shows like the movies are getting worse, not the other way around, they just seem better by comparison


31 posted on 05/19/2006 2:20:56 PM PDT by roverman2K6
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To: SoCalRight
Northing's free.

We had a good deal going. We just had to watch their stupid commercials and they entertained us for free. It worked for 50 years. Then we got cool and bought a way to beat the system and bragged to our friends how we didn't ever have to watch commercials anymore.

Next the networks will get tired of losing advertising money and they will stop the free programming. That's what's known as killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

32 posted on 05/19/2006 2:21:01 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: John Jorsett

Same here... I won't watch a show with commercials anymore. If people really knew how much time they spend watching commercials they'd in shock. I forget which show it was, but after fast forwarding through commercials..the actual show was only 42 minutes. 18 minutes worth of commercials. OUTRAGEOUS.


33 posted on 05/19/2006 2:21:28 PM PDT by Hildy
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To: capt. norm
I really don't want to stick another graphics card up in the closet just to get the features I could get much cheaper.

true, just showing you possibly for a new box.. I would suggest the AIW X1900 or x1800 PCI-x if you were building a new box...

34 posted on 05/19/2006 2:22:57 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: capt. norm

I got a DVR with my new satelite TV service and... IT'S AWESOME! I record the 5 o'clock news(hour) and watch it in 18 minutes at 6 o'clock. Zipped through Survivor without seeing a single commericial. They have a button that instantaneously springs ahead 30 seconds. I push that until the show's back on. I tape basketball and zip through the time outs and free throws, halftime, etc. Awesome! I'll never watch live TV again. I hope I never see another commercial.


35 posted on 05/19/2006 2:24:07 PM PDT by MooseMan
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To: highimpact

Yup. We bought a vaccuum cleaner, and they asked if we were buying it because we saw the funny commercials for it. We hadn't. This is a sweet time for us TiVo users, one that will probably come to an end within a few years....


36 posted on 05/19/2006 2:24:38 PM PDT by Theo
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To: capt. norm

Do you have Windows MCE? make sure you have if you are going to be using the NVIDIA DualTV MCE tuner card.


37 posted on 05/19/2006 2:24:50 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: highimpact

I love it when people ask me, "have you seen that funny commercial where the guy blah blah blah..," and I get to answer, "no, I don't watch commercials anymore. I have TiVo."



Let me one-up you.

We don't have TV.


38 posted on 05/19/2006 2:30:16 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney)
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To: ZGuy
"Everybody Hates Chris"

With such an original title, how can it fail?

39 posted on 05/19/2006 2:30:17 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: 80 Square Miles

As for watching tv, I prefer to buy seasons on DVD of shows I enjoy.



Us too. Cheaper than HBO, and then you can lend, gove, or sell on eBay.

Netflix also carries all the TV series, and they send the next disc when you finish the first.


40 posted on 05/19/2006 2:31:54 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney)
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