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The Dinosaur Media continues to bellow its death throes...

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Pinging the Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™ List

[mainepatsfan]

I use the FF much more than the reverse.

[TommyDale]

What's next? Will the networks demand that the "On/Off" switch be disabled so they can force feed their crap to us?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

While MSOs risk losing some of their DVR customers if fast-forwarding were blocked, Shaw said the cable operators--who are beefing up their own local ad sales operations--"are in the same business we're in." "They've got to sell ads too," he said. "So if everybody's skipping everybody's ads, that's not a long-term business model for them either."

That's why I built my MythTV: nobody can disable MY fast-forward.

I love zapping commercials.

[gondramB]

>>ABC HAS HELD DISCUSSIONS ON the use of technology that would disable the fast-forward button on DVRs, according to ABC President of Advertising Sales Mike Shaw, with the primary goal to allow TV commercials to run as intended.

"I would love it if the MSOs, during the deployment of the new DVRs they're putting out there, would disable the fast-forward [button]," Shaw said.<<

This would be the best way to encourage internet trading of shows with the commericals stripped out entirely.

[ajwharton]

"While MSOs risk losing some of their DVR customers if fast-forwarding were blocked"

Some? My DVR will go in the crapper the moment that FF is disabled. Of course, if it is only for ABC, that isn't a problem...there is zero on that network that I watch.

[Izzy Dunne]

Maybe people in the ad biz know, but I don't:
What's an "MSO"?

[KarlInOhio]

I can watch a one hour show in less than 45 minutes with commercial skip. I wish my DVR and DVD-recorder had the feature my JVC VCR and DVD player have - 1.5x speed. It allows you to watch a little faster. Voices sound pretty close to normal although it does tend to screw up music.

If you take away my fast forward button I won't buy your equipment. If worse comes to worse, I'll just go back to recording on DVDs or even (shudder) video tapes so I can continue fast forwarding.

One response by the networks is producing shows like Treasure Product Placement Hunters where they make sure to get their hints on Motorolla Razor phones, look up information on Ask.com and schedule their flights on Orbitz - continually. I think the show is just a warning on how bad things will get if everyone skips commercials.

One other thing I can see is instead of having 10 minutes of show followed by 5 minutes of commercials, going to 2 minutes of show and 15-30 seconds of commercials so you are likely to watch more of it before you hit the fast forward button and are more likely to catch some of it when getting back to the show.

[KansasConservative1]

"I'm not sure that the driving reason to get a DVR in the first place is just to skip commercials."

Keep smoking crack, the real world will always be here... heheheh.

That is the primary reason I use my dvr. In fact, I sometimes watch a show an hour later just to have the abilty to skip commectials. Why should I have to pay for satellite and then watch commercials too.

[DustyMoment]

"I'm not so sure that the whole issue really is one of commercial avoidance," Shaw said. "It really is a matter of convenience--so you don't miss your favorite show. And quite frankly, we're just training a new generation of viewers to skip commercials because they can.

Dude, get a clue. People avoid the commercials because they HATE them!!! You block our means of fast forwarding past them and two things will happen - 1) consumer backlash like you won't believe and. 2) a cottage industry developing and selling add-ons that allow consumers to bypass the block you put on the DVRs.

[MattinNJ]

DVR's rock.

[longtermmemmory]

The creepy fact is that the Dinosaur media's worries will go the way of the dinosaur as customized advertising takes hold.

When ads become directed to what a specific consumer wants the odds of FastForward becoming a problem decrease. Creepy in that some suit's computer knows what you like.

IOW you only see ford commercials not chevy (OR vice versa)
IOW you only see politicians commercial number 6, 7, 8, but not commercials 1, 2, and 4

IOW The dinosaur media can't survive using a one way medium in a two way era.

[SoFloFreeper]

Screw u, ABC.

[Winston Smith]

I rarely watch television, if I do it is on a cable channel that doesn't have commercials. The advertisers treat me like I am an idiot, and like verbal abuse. They insult my intelligence!!

It is getting to where I can hardly listen to Limbaugh anymore because of his tons and tons of "profit centers." I may get his premium service just to dump those!

[LIConFem]

I love the cable stations that show mini-commercials at the bottom of the screen during a show. And I get all giddy when the station decices to turn on my closed-captioning during certain commercials (it doesn't turn off when the commercial is over).

I'm thinkin' seriously about fillin' my TV with dirt and using it as a planter.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I normally abhor violence, but this guy needs his head stuffed in a toilet.

[mowowie]

I'm just glad those 5 min long phone commercials from a few years ago are gone.

[smith288]

I expect a new "feature" in DVR's that will place banner ads as you fast forward.

Nothing I would complain about but its definately a boon for the cable outlets to make money since EVERYONE fast forwards regardless what this ABC empty suit thinks.

[American_Centurion]

If the advertisers would make entertaining commercials people would watch. I've even seen a few commercials that were so good I've searched them out on the internet and down loaded them. If you haven't seen the Jack Links "Messin with Sasquatch" commercials you are missing out on some great enterntainment, IMO.

[Vision]

This is a strange article. Did they not have the same feelings about VCRs for the last 30 years?