My TiVo is my friend. Not just because it records my shows but because I have control over how I watch TV. The reason DVRs are a media staple is simply because they enable viewers to watch TV their way. Completely ignoring consumer empowerment to profit from the current movement of media companies to micromanagement entertainment, Philips has filed for a patent for some crazy DVR that prevents viewers from skipping commercials without paying an extra fee for the privilege.
Within the patent itself, there is a paragraph recognizing that the feature may anger television viewers. The writer of the patent warns that viewers may become confused by the freeze and blame the set-top box manufacturer employing the device instead of the authorizing broadcaster.
Well, duh. We can blame both the set-top box manufacturer and the broadcaster. This is more crazy talk from an industry becoming so out of touch with their market, they actually think this is a good idea. I can even picture TV executives in a board room smiling at a PowerPoint presentation with the number of "eyeballs" the device will ensure watch the commercials. This will inevitably lead to broadcast companies charging more for commercials because they can guarantee said number of eyeballs.
I'm not denying commercials pay for broadcast TV; the economics are obvious. But for some reason, entertainment companies seem to think that there is no such thing as too much of anything. There are too many bands with crappy music, too many cop shows, too many medical shows, waaaaaaaay too many reality shows, and certainly too many commercials. They just want to pile it on because they own the content and think everybody who watches the content must pay for it by watching commercials. If they could, they would put probably want some kind of surveillance system to completely pause the system while the viewers go to the bathroom during commercials.
Being out of touch is the pastime for those who run companies with old business models. They have no idea how consumers really live. For example, I have DirecTV so I'm paying monthly for TV, including otherwise free broadcast channels. On top of my subscription fee, I pay for my TiVo. So why shouldn't I have control over my content?
Here's an idea. Instead of trying to force commercials down my eyes, how about coming up with new innovative technologies to deliver content in ways I would actually be willing to purchase? The entertainment industry cannot think creatively and is seemingly so married to the old business model they continually choose to insult consumers. All the while they wonder why their consumers continue to download music and movies. This patent application from Philips is more evidence at the industry's clueless business mindset.
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Wretched Human Mirror by Bloodbath