TiVo watches when you don't, and it tattles

DVR maker starts research division to sell data on how TiVo users watch, or don't watch, commercials.
The New York Times

The story "TiVo watches when you don't, and it tattles" published July 26, 2006 at 6:36 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from The New York Times expires after 7 days.

[craban]

Goodness

It never ceases to amaze me that humanity finds items of Big News in the bloody obvious. Today we are apparently, continually surprised that people do not, in fact, enjoy watching commercials. I suppose we should also be amazed that we'd skip work if we could, avoid paying taxes, and spend our lives lying around sipping cold drinks if given the choice.

Well I for one am glad these things are finally being proven out. Goodness knows we need to Know them, since knowing wasn't enough.

Thank goodness for technology, solving the serious issues that dog mankind's peace of mind...

Yippie.

For the record, I hate commercials, hate seeing them in the movie theater, hate seeing them on bloody websites now, and hate getting them in my mail. The price to pay for living in a consumer-driven economy? Phooey. That doesn't mean I have to like it, and I avoid them whenever possible... so there.

[Get_Bent]

A wonderful grasp of the obvious

"The research service is part of an effort by Thomas S. Rogers, TiVo's chief executive, to build revenue and also to try to repair relations with marketers, which have been angry about its role in helping viewers avoid advertising."

Gee, imagine that -- people are recording programs and then skipping over the drivel in the commercial interruptions. This falls under the same heading as "the sun rises in the east and sets in the west."

As for TiVo phoning home about your viewing habits, this qualifies as spyware in my book. I refuse to use a DVR that reports what I'm recording and/or how I play it back. If marketing companies want to know my viewing habits, they can pay me for that priviledge.

[umbrae]

This is why I built a PC DVR

I can do whatever I want regardless of DRM and broadcast flags, and my TV usage is not reported back to anyone. My Cable/Sat provider might know the channels I watch, but nothing else.

[Jim Hubbard]

Its only a matter of time...

...before your software vendors sell out too.

Unless you are using an open source DVR app. Which one are you using?

[jachamp]

tivo is not interested in the consumer

tivo does not now...nor has it ever done one single thing that benefits the consumer. it makes most of its money off of advertisers and marketers by supplying them data of what you watch and don't watch.

if you don't see this company trying to replace nielsen ratings and also a provider of data to the nsa/fbi/local police, you have a problem.

any device that needs to phone home, isn't doing so to better your experience. it's doing so to tell on you.

and if you believe this "aggregate data" line and your information is cleansed before being passed along, think again.

your data is put into a giant database and housed until such time as they can make deals that you will never know about and then that data can be used to harass you and target you.

[jabbotts]

freaking marketing..

Seriously, soon even our dreams will be interupted with broadcast marketing. The sad truth is that tv shows are there to support the comercials, not the other way around as assumed by new tv viewers.

As previously mentioned, build your own PVR. A tv tuner card or usb dongle is under a hundred bucks and you can choose any OS to run on it through some better than others. No calls home.

I can give the marketing folks a tips they've missed though. I've not purchased (yes, you lost a sale) products because of marketing far more often than marketing has ever shown me something I just gotta have. Every comercial, billboard (videobillboard showing comercials) and marketing ploy for a product further drives my sale away from your cash register.

If I wanted your crap, I could find it myself through retail outlets, your website or customer reports. Get your intrusive advertising the hell out of my house and out of my entertainment and communications feeds.

[Penguinisto]

The Cure:

http://www.mythtv.org

A spare PC, a vidcap card, and a bit of brain grease... and you're all set (w/o the stupid subscription fees, privacy intrusions, etc etc etc.)

(Note: Linux only, but Linux itself costs $0.00)

Product Placement

I think that the real inovators will find a way to axe all commercial interuptions through product placement in the show itself. If the show does really good than they get more support. If the show sucks well... you get the idea.

Only thing they have to be concerned about is the product advertisements taking over the show. So far most placements I have seen are pretty tasteful. Sometimes they are obvious on purpose because they are an integral part of the show.

I watch Overhaulin' on TLC and every show they are advertising some kind of oil, armoral or high-end part in the show. But I don't mind, because they only use top notch stuff on those overhauls. Baer brakes are just about the most desireable aftermarket item for old school hot rods and classics that used drum brakes. If it was not for that show I wouldn't have even known they existed and I am glad I do know now.

[ronniecray]

Nielsen people meter

Nielsen can measure if viewers are in the room when the commercials are played.

That's what the people meter is for.