TiVo launches banner ads: less obtrusive?
So it looks like TiVo's ads inserted when you fast-forward are officially launched, and they're apparently smaller and less intrusive than they were in beta testing. That's definitely a step in the right direction but jeez, isn't there a point when the lightbulb goes on and advertisers realize we're fast-forwarding the ads because… we don't want to look at ads?
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I do editing and visual effects work for TV commercials and believe me, we are doing everything in our power to make TV commercials look cool enough to the point where you would WANT to watch them. You're not offending ME by fast forwarding through the commercials, because no matter what, there's always going to be a client somewhere that is going to be using television advertising.
Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Well, if everyone is fast-forwarding through the ads, there won't be any incentive for advertisers to pay for ads on TV anymore. If TV ads cease, than most of TV will cease because it will be too expensive to produce. If TV studios lose all of their ad revenue, do you think they're just going to roll over and take the loss? Come on, get with reality.
Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Doesn't this give tradational TV advertisers (and broadcasters) even more reason to hate TiVo? "Not only are viewers able to fast forward through commercials, but now the 3 seconds that my ad is actually on screen it's being shared with some other ad!" I suppose this would drive some advertisers to TiVo.
Vince @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
The corner ad is always for the same product/company as the commercial being shown so there's no issue with "sharing".
Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I much prefer my ReplayTV. Skip the whole thing to start with.
NIk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Why dont you accept the fact that the free tv service that you recieve is paid for by commercials? (Granted cable may not be, but regardless, without commercials you'd be tossing out 11 bucks a month for cartoon network.) Just accept that you will have to see a tiny ad when you fast forward... your still getting past the commercial block. All in all, STOP WHINING.
garit @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I agree with NIk. Stop whining. Commercials pay for the TV that we americans so love to watch. And there are a ton of commercials out there are are just creativly genius works of art.
pspimp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
It would be SO easy for Tivo to screw up and lose their base.
Tivo is the best "company with no possible future" ever, but I
just can't see that they are making any smart decisions.
People are clamoring for downloadable content, HDTV etc and all Tivo
can come up with is freaking ads?
Proof positive that they are running scared
I mean, how much is it to roll your own DVR now? <500 that's fer sure.
Then, no DRM, user repairable, no subscription, etc etc.
The good thing is, for now Tivo is still my little buddy, but I swear,
if they push it and screw it up.
pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
It really boils down to the fact that you don't really "own" a Tivo if they can make changes to its functionality after you bring it home...
Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
"I agree with NIk. Stop whining. Commercials pay for the TV that we americans so love to watch."
Then why am I paying $90 a month to my cable company?
These geniuses don't get to have it both ways. Either I pay for my TV service or commercials pay for it. Not both. One of those revenue streams is going straight into some CEO's pocket. It's not paying for anybody's TV.
If commercials go away, maybe we lose a few of the 200 or so channels we have now - big deal. None of us watch more than 10 or 12 channels on a regular basis anyway, most of what's on TV is garbage. Even if the number of channels drops from 200 to 50, that'll be more than enough. Those channels then work out deals with cable companies for revenue sharing, and in the end the price stays the same or even drops.
Consider the fact that part of my cable bill includes $9 a month for 6 high quality HD channels and not one of them shows a single commercial. Give me a-la-carte commercial free HD cable (where I can pick all my own channels for, say, a buck or two a channel) and I don't see how a single person in the world would complain.
The TV system is totally busted right now and you're all just sitting there letting them gouge you for cable and satellite service and then taking it up the rear when it comes to commercials too. We have zero responsibility to watch commercials - don't act like a network suit and tell us we do.
btw, same goes for TiVo - they charge $15 a month *and* they want to show ads? Sorry, it doesn't work that way. This is one reason why I canceled my service a few months back.
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
i think the media is making a big deal about Tivo and ad's... Big deal, u have a little image now..just don't look at it! Its not like they make the Tivos fastforward slower so u have to look at it longer..
LD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Downward spiral for Tivo. As someone mentioned, people want downloadable content, affordable HDTV. Tivo isn't giving customers that. Instead they are giving customers more ads, the opposite of one of the great benefits of Tivo.
Why are TV show DVD sales so high? Most of those shows are syndicated, can be seen maybe 3 or 4 times everyday on different channels. The reason is people can watch them on their own terms. That's what Tivo used to bring to the table but not anymore.
Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Sure, I FF through the commercials just like everyone else, but if I see an interesting-looking commercial, I do stop to watch it. Note to advertisers: hot chicks in your ad always works for me. ;-)
Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I don't understand why people care about this so much (unless you're saying you want Tivo to work on other services). Why does anyone care whether a small advertising box shows up while you're fast-forwarding? It doesn't compel you to do anything. It doesn't slow down the fast-forwarding.
I don't think most people fast-forward because they don't want to view the ads, they fast-forward because they don't want to take the time to view the ads. As long as that isn't changed, Tivo can fill the entire screen with ads as long as they're gone the second I stop fast-forwarding.
Jason Pratt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Guys: Just use the Select-Play-Select-3-0-Select remote code to make your Tivo jump button skip ahead 30 seconds...MUCH better than ffwding through the ads!
No piddly banner ad can survive a 30-sec skipahead...BWA HA HA HA HA
Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Just enable the 30 second skip already... jeeze!
Nik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
For #9 up there. How much of that 90$ that you pay goes to the individuals providing your content? Furthermore, how much of your 90$ is going towards pay channels? Thats right, the channels that dont have advertising, are channels that get all their money from you. Like I said before, if you dont want to shell out 11 bucks a month for cartoon network, then dont complain about the ads that are displayed. I think that this is a great way to satisfy both parties. The programming sources still get their ad revenue, and you still back to your show faster. I seem to be finishing all my comments the same way now, but a lot of you have turned into whining idiots.
Nik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Sorry, that was for #10, not number 9...
grovberg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
"Even if the number of channels drops from 200 to 50, that'll be more than enough. Those channels then work out deals with cable companies for revenue sharing, and in the end the price stays the same or even drops."
As long as it's the 50 channels YOU watch, right? :-) Seriously, if the number channels doesn't matter to you, why don't you just stick with OTA channels.
pspimp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
#15
I have set up the 30 second skip like 5 times, every time I do a week later it doesn't work again, what is up with that?!?!?
Michael Lomker @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I know it'll never happen, but I wish that cable TV was a metered service just like electricity or natural gas. I could watch what I want and when I want without commercials and would have next to no bill when I am too busy to watch TV.
The On-Demand feature of cable is almost there. I'm hoping that someday everything is available through on-demand and they come up with a billing model that'll work for that kind of service.
Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Jeff,
Don't get your panties all twisted up. If you want on demand television, then you should look into IPTV and stop crying.
Ken Zon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
The problem I have with TiVo ads is the same I have with the ads in NCAA Football (2005 and 2006) on PS2.
I don't mind if the company (in this case, EA) wants to squeeze a little extra dough by pimping Old Spice (seriously) in the game, but the game costs the same now as when they weren't getting money from ads. How about letting a brother share in the booty?
I guess maybe, perhaps, could be the cost of developing the game, licensing the college logos etc. keeps going up, which means the game might cost more year over year (amazing how every game still pretty much costs $50, isn't it) if not for the ad revenue, but I just feel a little sold out after I make that extra point and the recap the drive with an Old Spice tag.
Scott Orchard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I'm sorry, I don't have TiVo, I use a cable DVR provided by the cable company, but I have to say that this whole thing is freaking ridiculous. I record probably a couple of different shows to watch later, then when I want to FF I am served ads during this process? What's the point of me recording the show? Thanks for nothing! You can easily draw the same analogy to internet advertising, I don't want popups, so I have a popup blocker, now someone finds a way around this and I still see popups, again, thanks for nothing. I don't want to watch your ads! If I have to pay out my rear for cable service or TiVo, I believe I should have a choice, and clearly I don't. Why not introduce a modified business model that allows me to pay $5 to $10 extra a month so I don't have to watch any ads ever!
Farhan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I think Tivo made a good move by including advertising. Does anyone know that Tivo has never made a profit in its 7 year existance?? To me that is absolutely ridiculous. Tivo is the greatest invention since as far back as i can remember and will revolutionize the way we watch TV forever. And they are making diddly squat off it. All these cable companies like Comcast and Charter pump out their own generic DVRs becuase they have such deep pockets they can afford to take a loss just to steal Tivo's idea and run them out of business. Good move Tivo, and you people need to stop whining.
Farhan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I think Tivo made a good move by including advertising. Does anyone know that Tivo has never made a profit in its 7 year existance?? To me that is absolutely ridiculous. Tivo is the greatest invention since as far back as i can remember and will revolutionize the way we watch TV forever. And they are making diddly squat off it. All these cable companies like Comcast and Charter pump out their own generic DVRs becuase they have such deep pockets they can afford to take a loss just to steal Tivo's idea and run them out of business. Good move Tivo, and you people need to stop whining.
illwafer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I'll refrain from getting into this and just say that #10 (Jeff) is right and everyone else is wrong.
Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Ok, I may be among the few commenting here that actually own a Tivo and have experienced the banner ad, and I can say these are so inconspicuous that there's really nothing to be bothered about.
If you're watching the ad, a small banner apprears within the "thumbs up to learn more" box that's been around for a long time already.
What's more, this isn't even visible at 3X FF speed, which is what most users skip through commercials at anyways (unless they're 30 sec skipping.)
These in my mind are way less intrusive than the product placements or endorsements creeping into the regular programming of tv shows ("Grab the Saturn ION lifesaver!").
Chris K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
To all the "stop whining" people: I bought a Tivo to skip ads. Now, after owning a Tivo, the company is going to modify my Tivo to show me ads. Do you not see the problem here?
What if you bought a HT receiver that featured DD and DTS, and a couple years later the company disabled DTS on the unit? Would you be upset? Damn right you would!
One of the big reasons I bought my Tivo (two units, and the six units I recommended) was to skip ads. It doesn't skip ads anymore, as Tivo has crippled it. If anything, I should be offered a refund.
mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
irony
Nik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
NO. You bought a Tivo to record tv shows. Not to skip ads, you are using this as a lame attempt to fuel your arguement, just another one of the pro piracy kiddies that thinks there is nothing wrong with downloading movies. I download them too, but at least i know im wrong when i do it. Now, go get a rag to whipe your tears with, and find something more prevalent to cry about than little colored boxes on your screen while you fast forward.
Chris K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
WHAT!? "Piracy"!?!? What are you smoking? If I walk away from my TV during commercials, am I "pirating" TV? If I mute, am I pirating? If I switch radio stations, am I pirating? If I manage to tone out an advertisement as it's being blasted into my ears, am I pirating?
That's crazy.
And yes, I DID buy the Tivo EXPLICITLY to skip ads. I had a VCR to record shows before I bought my Tivo, and while the Tivo does a MUCH better job at that task, one of the PRIMARY reasons I bought my Tivo was because it could fast forward through commercials MUCH faster than my VCR.
My original rationale for buying a Tivo was that it was much more usable to fast forward through commercials than a VCR and it "knew" when to record shows so I didn't have to program it.
Please, get off your high horse.
pspimp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
The whole thing about Tivo is this,
You are not really buying the hardware.
There is better or at least equivalent hardware that can record TV.
You are buying a service, and when the service changes you
stop getting the old service and you start getting the new service.
If you are getting NEW features that are universally beneficial and acceptable
to everyone then great, but if you are losing features or getting crap pushed to you, you are no longer getting what you paid for.
For example,
What if your broadband company suddenly made it (if they could) so that you HAD to use a certain browser?
And then after a while made it so that ads "popped" up when you where using said browser.
Then, maybe they made it so that you couldn't download material that didn't have DRM info.
You would be p-oed wouldn't you?
Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Frankly I've long thought that the solution to this sort of problem was to move to advertising that people are actually interested in watching voluntarily. Look at the series of BMW Driver shorts. Ok, sure they blew a bunch of cash on these, but these are ads that people were willing to buy a DVD of. Same goes for the Seinfeld/Superman American Express ads. They were entertaining and enjoyable and people actually sought them out online.
The end result is to stop making ads that bother and irritate people, making pretty much every piece of music made in the last 30 years unlistenable in the process and focus on creating a product that you don't have to trick or force people into watching. Subtle advertising along these lines are the future.
Frankenstein Black @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
Here, here #5. I also have a Replay TV unit with commercial advance and I HATE watching regular TV. Those breaks in the continuity of programs feel as sleazy as SPAM as far as Im concerned. I dont need to know about Cialis and how you should call a doctor if the effects last longer than 4 hours. Its SPAM plain and simple!!!
Now Im not one to simply pop-off and flame a whole industry (namely advertising) without offering up some sort of suggestion, so here is a suggestion for you ad exec types; the key as I see it is PRODUCT PLACEMENT. Dont all of those characters that we see in TV shows and movies use products (like real people)? After all it would be like Art imitating Life, real life wouldnt it?
Jason Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
I saw that exact same "commercial" last night and said "This is it?" I even tested fast forwarding to see if anything popped up.
I don't mind this at all, it's the huge freaking self-advertising "banners" that take up a third of the screen while I'm watching Full House or something. ESPECIALLY the ones with freaking SOUND!
But these I can stand. Even if it covered more of the screen. As long as it doesn't go onto my show, I'm happy.
Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM
ADVERTISEMENT IS ANNOYING AND ITS EVERYWERE AND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE SICK OF SEEING IT AND TIRED OF HEARING IT. TV COMMERICALS TWICE AS LOUD AS THE PROGRAM YOU WATCH ON TV. WE PAY FOR THE SERVICES OF TIVO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO YOUR STUPID ADVERTISEMENTS. MOST HOMES HAVE A PERSONAL COMPUTER AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING OR IF THERE LOOKING TO BUY A CERTAIN PRODUCT THEY CAN GO ONLINE. AND AS FAR AS YOU PEOPLE IN THE ADVERTISEMENT WORLD WELL YOU KNOW WERE YOU CAN GO.