RSSTiVo Fast Forward Popup Ads Return
By Ed Oswald | Published January 16, 2007, 11:29 AM
Customers of the DVR service TiVo began reporting over the weekend that the fast forward ads which appear during commercial breaks have reappeared. The ads appeared last in March 2005, when the company was testing new ways to generate money from the service.
However, TiVo has made changes in response to the initial customer backlash. The ads only appear when a user fast-forwards through a commercial that matches the pop-up ad's content. Additionally, when the commercial is played at regular speed, a flashing green "thumbs up" key is placed on the screen.
From there, a consumer would be able to get more information on the product, or in the case of the product where the new pop-up ads were first spotted -- the BMW X5 "SAV" -- watch a longer commercial stored on the TiVo about the product.
Like last time, consumer response to the return of the fast forward ads has not been positive. "I question if I would have spent $300 on this device, had I know that I would be bombarded with these and other annoying ads. Where does it end?" one TiVo customer posted to his blog Monday.
To TiVo's defense, the company does state that advertising through the service helps to offset costs. "The TiVo Service is supported in part by monthly or product lifetime subscription fees, and in part by advertising on the service (Showcases, TiVo Central Promos, Fast Forward Tags)," a TiVo represenative said when the fast forward ads last appeared.
I love my Custom motorola dct6412 III cable box, that I purchased direct market. It works on the major cable systems and has the firewire port enabled. But what I love even more is the after market firmware update that allows you to use the firewire port in conjunction with Windows Media Edition to transfer your DVR movies to your Computer flawlessly.
Even better the VLC program allows you to stream the DVR video to any output you wish direct through the firewire and then over a network.
There is a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet Port but so far the firmware gurus have not figured out how to activate it. When they do this will be a PERFECT cable DVR unit.
TIVO Smivo, Its a dead product as far as I'm concerned. This is just another nail in its coffin.
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|revenue is king
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|Then offer a "no-ad" subscription...duh
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|You are really "pushing my buttons" Tivo...
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|If you subscribe to TiVo, just call them and say you want to cancel because of the new brute force tactics.
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|Umm, Comcast HD boxes have DVR built in. Watch 2 HD shows and record a third.
The best part is I found a nice IR code for my universal remote that is not included with the regular Comcast remote called skip 30. Two or three pushes (sometimes four) and you are back watching your show.
I heard there is a skip 60 as well but I can find it anywhere.
Maybe TiVo will realize people use it solely to skip commercials. I don't record shows so I can just watch them later, I do it to skip all the ads, period.
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|What makes you think that Comcast won't place ads on their service at some point?
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|The BMW ad that appears at the end of a show is just bad usability for the sake of cramming in more advertising. Apple should buy TiVo if only for their IP. Also, where's the Comcast TiVo already?
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|i'm paying for tivo why should i have to look at ads when i am fast forwarding?
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|Uh, don't? It's not that hard to ignore them ya know.
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|i'm paying for tivo why should i have to look at ads when i'm fast forwarding?
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