Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Posts: 170

From News.com: Ads key to AOL set-top plans

quote:

---

AOL Time Warner will not include ad-skipping features in future versions of its cable set-top boxes, a company spokesman said Monday.

Like popular personal video recorder (PVR) devices such as TiVo and ReplayTV, Time Warner Cable's upcoming set-tops will let consumers pause and play back TV programming while it's being broadcast. People will also be able to record shows automatically based on personal interests. But unlike ReplayTV, which gives viewers controls to manually jump over 30-second commercials, Time Warner Cable's unit will be designed to ensure advertisers are seen and heard, at least partially...

...The decision to drop ad-skipping features came to light after May 1, when AOL Time Warner and TiVo restructured a deal that included jointly producing an interactive TV box...

---

__________________
W Auggie H

Humax DRT800 DVD-R/TiVo(80hr) - networked w/ D-Link DUB-E100 (Ethernet)
TiVo Series2(80hr) - networked w/ D-Link DUB-E100 (Ethernet)
Philips 30PW850H 30" Widescreen HDTV

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 2408

I'm not positive, but I think it's only the 30-second skip they object to, not fast-forward. I probably watch about 10% of the commercials that run by backing up when I FF over them and they catch my eye. That's better than hearing them from the bathroom

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Drexel Hill, PA
Posts: 332

It sounds like they won't have 30 second skip (for the same reasons TiVo does not officially have it). I'm sure they'll have FF or no one would want it.

Edit - Doh! Beaten to the punch again.

__________________
"Woman is the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man."

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Posts: 170

30 sec skip does sound like their biggest gripe but it seem to be a fine line. Maybe their plan is to create commercials in slow-mo so that when I FF through them it would seem like like it was moving in real time or close to it.

__________________
W Auggie H

Humax DRT800 DVD-R/TiVo(80hr) - networked w/ D-Link DUB-E100 (Ethernet)
TiVo Series2(80hr) - networked w/ D-Link DUB-E100 (Ethernet)
Philips 30PW850H 30" Widescreen HDTV

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Van Down By the River
Posts: 143

Ditto here. That sounds like they'll use the same format as TiVo -- that is FF'g but not skipping -- (will they license TiVo technology?) since they stated "will be designed to ensure advertisers are seen and heard, at least partially..."

__________________
NFLnut

- Private First Class, TiVo Marine Corps


(2) Philips DSR6000R (1 x 149 hrs, 1 x 108 hrs)
(1) Philips HDR31201 (1 x 30 hrs)


HTTR!

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Toronto
Posts: 953

While the clip isn't clear, their biggest gripe is Replay's current ability to skip ads altogether ... this is much more significant than the 30 second skip. The article makes it clear that fast forwarding and rewinding would be retained in such set tops.

...Dale

POST #6 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2002
Location:
Posts: 11

If they use commerical skip technology they could disable FF/30 sec skip during commercials but leave it available during the program...

POST #7 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 123

Content viewers are not afraid of such devices and welcome the ability to skip annoying ads. Content viewers are also aware that their cable bill keeps going up much to the delight of monopoly cable companies and content owners.

'"Content owners are afraid of such devices and reluctant to license their programming to cable operators for fear that their financial models will be eroded by consumers' ability to skip ads."

__________________
HDR31204 185 Hours & SD-DVR40 DTiVo 35 Hours
C/Ku BUD-Lite/4DTV & DVB & Sirius Satellite Radio
ChannelPlus Video Distribution & RCA IR Extenders

POST #8 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 13

Even AOL/TW can't be stupid enough to completely remove or cripple FF. A PVR device with those limitations would set a new world's record for colossal failure - even the completely idiotic DIVX would look successful in comparison.

__________________
Patrick Callahan
112@14hr, 112@45hr, 312@45hr, 312@30hr
www.themothership.net - Domain Registration and Discount Web Hosting for the Music Industry

POST #9 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 117

quote:

---

Originally posted by soundguy
Even AOL/TW can't be stupid enough to completely remove or cripple FF. A PVR device with those limitations would set a new world's record for colossal failure - even the completely idiotic DIVX would look successful in comparison.

---

POST #10 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged