Comments on: Philips device could force TV viewers to watch ads

So long, TiVo? Invention would prevent channel switching during commercials or fast-forwarding past ads on a DVR.

[cariengon]

Could it be a reality??

If our cable/dish providers choose to use this technology, we as consumers could be hosed.

But why are they working on this technology instead of something that levels the volume between the show and the commercials. I am so tired of having to turn up the tv to hear my program, only to be blown away when a commercial comes on!!!

[cariengon]

Reality - yes...

And what I mean by this is that the cable & dish providers give us the box - if they have this on the boxes they require us to use, we'd be at their mercy. And of course, the majority of consumers wouldn't research this up front and would get the bad news after they've already had everything installed...

[deylat2]

nti American Phillips conglomerate

This isunconscionable: we need to band together: bioycott every Phillips product: lightbulbs and of courseNorelco brand, thenamethey used tocamouflage theirtrue Dutch origin beforeAmericans got used to buy foreign junk
SAY IT: no more phillips, NO NORELCO!

[deylat2]

nti American Phillips conglomerate

This isunconscionable: we need to band together: bioycott every Phillips product: lightbulbs and of courseNorelco brand, thenamethey used tocamouflage theirtrue Dutch origin beforeAmericans got used to buy foreign junk
SAY IT: no more phillips, NO NORELCO!

[livingontheedge]

Hurray!

I gave up TV a couple of months ago and find life richer. I read
more, hike more, laugh more and value relationships more!
Anything that discourages TV is good.

[ralfthedog]

infomercial

Thats all I have to say. Just picture yourself channelsurfing, then BANG, you get naled by a 60 minut infomercial

[duggerdm]

Do I smell a Philips product boycott in the making. - and US priorities.

Its interesting to note the number of comments made to day on c/net articles. The alberto gonzales legislation to require porn sites to register with the gov. got 57 comments. Understand that this legislation is just stroking the dim witted conservatives into voting for Repubs. in the upcoming elections. Its also a distraction so we don't focus on the ending of the world by the Bushites. Again - 57 comments on the end of the world politics. However, when some idiot marketeer with Philips wants to make the US public watch lame commercial - that gets 88 comments. Gotta love this country and its people's priorities. On the other hand if we survive the next two years of Bushitus, I'm all for boycotting Philips.

[duggerdm]

Do I smell a Philips product boycott in the making. - and US priorities.

Its interesting to note the number of comments made to day on c/net articles. The alberto gonzales legislation to require porn sites to register with the gov. got 57 comments. Understand that this legislation is just stroking the dim witted conservatives into voting for Repubs. in the upcoming elections. Its also a distraction so we don't focus on the ending of the world by the Bushites. Again - 57 comments on the end of the world politics. However, when some idiot marketeer with Philips wants to make the US public watch lame commercial - that gets 88 comments. Gotta love this country and its people's priorities. On the other hand if we survive the next two years of Bushitus, I'm all for boycotting Philips - just for thinking this kind of crap.

[imacpwr]

Philips products now removed from wish list..

I presently own a Philips wide screen (picture tube) television but want to move up to an LCD wide screen TV. I've been looking at models from Samsung, Sony and Philips. After reading this article my obvious choice will now be between the Samsung or the Sony..!

[jhencken]

Shoot me now!

I will try to remain calm, because I don't want my blood pressure to rise dangerously...

The only thing I can say about being forced to watch ads, is that if they try, I shall even consider the most radical action I can imagine: I may actually turn off the television and spend my time engaging is social conversation.

Horrors!

;-)

[jhencken]

Shoot me now!

I will try to remain calm, because I don't want my blood pressure to rise dangerously...

The only thing I can say about being forced to watch ads, is that if they try, I shall even consider the most radical action I can imagine: I may actually turn off the television and spend my time engaging is social conversation.

Horrors!

;-)

[jhencken]

Shoot me now!

I will try to remain calm, because I don't want my blood pressure to rise dangerously...

The only thing I can say about being forced to watch ads, is that if they try, I shall even consider the most radical action I can imagine: I may actually turn off the television and spend my time engaging is social conversation.

Horrors!

;-)

This is preposterous!

Viewers should decide whether they’d like to see commercials or not. Imposing commercial content is tyrannical and, simply put, idiotic. Who came up with this idea? Way to go!

This is preposterous!

Viewers should decide whether they’d like to see commercials or not. Imposing commercial content is tyrannical and, simply put, idiotic. Who came up with this idea? Way to go!

[MTGrizzly]

What?

So, you can't change channels while a commercial is playing without paying for it? So, when can you change the channel without paying for it? Who decides which "commercial" is pre-emptive? It seems to me that, too often, when I change channels during one commercial, I get another commercial.

Do advertisers want you to change channels only during the programs that are supposed to paying for? Given the current increase in the numbers of commercial messages, particularly on Discovery, and ever shrinking amount of TV that is actually aimed at "entertainment", is this a particularly good idea? I mean, it seems this product would make you choose between watching one channel all the time, trying to change the channel during the 1.5 minutes between commercials or just chucking it all and reading a book...

Oh, and what about those annoying "mini-commercials" that most of the cable networks run along the bottom of screen inbetween the actual commercials? Would you be able to change the channel during those? How about product placements? Better buy one TV for each channel, because it seems there is less and less time on broadcast and cable TV that is not devoted to advertising in one form or another.

[Stan Johnson]

I won't buy anything from Philips!

good-bye

[Ripsnortr]

Doubble dipping?!

So, what they are saying is, they can have the companies pay for the advertising slot on cable that we are ALREADY paying out the nose for, and THEN offer us the ability to freely use the service we paid for when WE want to by paying yet ANOTHER fee?!

I call BS and will give up what little TV I watch now if this is ever an option.

[JakeBudDMX]

riddle me this....

How many drugs does one have to consume, over what period of time, to come up with such a ridiculous idea?

If the Manufacturers and Broadcasters actually think consumers will stand for such gangster tactics as paying to NOT see commercials, they're going to be unpleasently surprised. Personally I hope the technology bankrupts them just to teach a lesson.