Advertising

How has the advent of devices such as Tivo or DVR recorders affected your trade?

Are you doing anything to combat them?

Lately I’ve noticed pop-up ads during my shows which is rather annoying.

I can’t remember the last time I watched a television commercial and I couldn’t be happier with my television viewing experience lately.

I’m sure advertisers don’t care for consumers like myself but I save so much time it’s ridiculous.

I work in local broadcast TV. I scan articles now & then, but don’t track it; so this is from memory:

DVRs have not yet made the impact that everyone predicted, for 2 reasons:

1. The majority of time-shifted programming is NEVER watched, anyway! Last I heard, the figure was around 75%. So, most people who weren’t in front of their TVs when the program (& commercials) were live, still didn’t see it, just like they wouldn’t have if time-shifting didn’t exist.

2. Some 60% of DVR viewers DON’T skip most commercials, even though they have the technology. Plus, some will REWIND and watch a commercial that catches their eye!

So, you are currently the exception. Not to mention, there are still plenty of people viewing programs (and commercials) in real time; enough to subsidize your time-shifted, commercial-free viewing. That doesn’t mean nobody is thinking about the future: Phillips recently unveiled a system that would allow viewers to pay to skip commercials on their TV (no pay, no skip!) I know there are stories about it out there, but I haven’t bothered to read up on it yet; because I’m not convinced that’s the way to go.