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You may have no choice when it comes to TV commercials

W

Wheezer

Diamond Member
If a new idea from Philips catches on, the company may not be very popular with TV viewers. The company's labs in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, has been cooking up a way to stop people changing channels to avoid adverts or fast forwarding through ads they have recorded along with their target programme.
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story
 
Originally posted by: Homerboy
stop me from changing me channel?.... ummm I don't think that will fly anywhere.
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LOL Yeah, it's one thing to stop FF through a DVR, but it is something very different to stop people from channel surfing. I think the smaller networks (which gain viewers who find something interesting) will have a REAL problem with that.
 
Well the question then is WHEN can I change the channel? During the show? I don't think TV producers and network execs will like that too much either.
 
Will never fly. Any cable service that starts trying to keep you from changing the channel at will is a cable service that will lose subscribers so fast they won't know what hit them.
 
Dunno about channel zapping idea but they'll sell the fast forward preventation tech to all the major networks and will get rich(er).
 
They've already done this, IMO. The digital cable boxes Time Warner uses are sooooo sloooow when switching channels that channel surfing loses all its appeal. I'm much more likely to just use the on-screen guide and scroll down/pick channels that way.
 
Originally posted by: UNCjigga
They've already done this, IMO. The digital cable boxes Time Warner uses are sooooo sloooow when switching channels that channel surfing loses all its appeal. I'm much more likely to just use the on-screen guide and scroll down/pick channels that way.
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I'll agree on that, hard to channel surf on TW's service.
 
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Originally posted by: UNCjigga
They've already done this, IMO. The digital cable boxes Time Warner uses are sooooo sloooow when switching channels that channel surfing loses all its appeal. I'm much more likely to just use the on-screen guide and scroll down/pick channels that way.
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I'll agree on that, hard to channel surf on TW's service.
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You guys talking the PVR boxes? I don't use one mainly because of that fact. I just PVR on my PC now and have standard digital cable.
 
What I don't get is how the channel guide on my "normal" DirecTV receiver is lightening fast (and channel changes are pretty fast as well). The DirecTIVO is dirt slow during either process.
 
With PVR, channel surfing is non-existant for me.. because I only watched recorded shows. (ok, 95% of the time..)
I love my ReplayTV automatic commercial skip. Too bad they removed it from later models.
 
Engadget

Update: Reader Paul B, who also happened to chair the group that wrote the MHP PVR specification, writes to inform us that "there is no such flag as standard in the spec. Philips could add one as a Philips-specific flag but it wouldn't apply to the other manufacturers. Secondly, as currently specificed there is no way for an MHP application to take control of the channel switching function, so changing channels always works." There you have it folks; it seems that all your MHP-equipped gear is safe -- for now.
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Next thing you know, the commercials will be louder than the rest of the program.

Oh, wait. They're already doing that....
 
Originally posted by: BriGy86
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Originally posted by: Vic
It won't sell.
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I sure as hell wouldn't buy it.
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unless it's the only option they give you 🙂
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You mean like with LCDs and CRTs? (LCDs are nice and have improved...but its not like there's really a choice anymore, they just plain don't make decent CRTs anymore.)

I'd imagine even joe moron couldn't ignore this little feature. Whats next? The TV can't be muted when commercials are on? How about it has a battery backup so you can't even unplug the thing?
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: BriGy86
Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Originally posted by: Vic
It won't sell.
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I sure as hell wouldn't buy it.
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unless it's the only option they give you 🙂
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You mean like with LCDs and CRTs? (LCDs are nice and have improved...but its not like there's really a choice anymore, they just plain don't make decent CRTs anymore.)

I'd imagine even joe moron couldn't ignore this little feature. Whats next? The TV can't be muted when commercials are on? How about it has a battery backup so you can't even unplug the thing?
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Then I won't watch TV/Use the Computer. Take the fun/convenience out of a product and *gasp* people suddenly stop buying it.

You never have "no choice" abstinance is ALWAYS a choice. It isn't Hollywood's/Sony's/Phillip's money until you sign the check.




Except maybe for gas 😉
 
The FCC would not allow that. Airwaves are public domain, purchased by corporations (or citizens if you have enough money). The FCC still regulates them, though, and this would take control away from the public/FCC and into the hands of Corporations. I very much doubt it would fly in the US.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
What I don't get is how the channel guide on my "normal" DirecTV receiver is lightening fast (and channel changes are pretty fast as well). The DirecTIVO is dirt slow during either process.
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Me too. thought it was just my connection to the bedroom where the tivo is.
 
Originally posted by: Midlander
Next thing you know, the commercials will be louder than the rest of the program.

Oh, wait. They're already doing that....
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That is annoying as hell.

Seriously though, pretty soon they'll have sensors on the TV and be able to determine whether or not you were in the room during the commercial broadcast. Didn't see the commercial? Don't get to watch the show.

 
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