http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/02/25/abcs-radical-new-plan-for-video-on-demand/

but at least we'll still be able to FF our DVR recordings...for now.

That's just a bad precedent.

And should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

And should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

....as long as they don't find some devious way to disable the "mute" button...it will be OK. :)

i don't know if disabling VOD functions is easy to do but i wonder if they (cable providers) could use it to make us watch previews before VOD movies?

Why don't we just stop watching TV?

^^^ Oh no you didn't! :eek: :rolleyes: :)

Why don't we just stop watching TV?

Funny you should say that, because I watch less and less. Mostly because the bugs and popup advertisments are getting to be so annoying I can't stand it (I swear they're twice as big as they were last year).

Anyways I have noticed that it's been quite awhile since I started watching a "new" show simply because I find it so annoying. Basically they are just pushing me away. Not that they care since I'm not a Nielson family, I guess.

I watch more and more movies and play more videogames to ease my pain and keep my couch-potatoe build.

Funny you should say that, because I watch less and less. Mostly because the bugs and popup advertisments are getting to be so annoying I can't stand it (I swear they're twice as big as they were last year).



I'm with you. I'm watching less and less. There are only about 3 network series I watch. I gave up on Universal HD because of the commercials and persistent logo. I'm watching more movies on DVD, both HD (BD and HD DVD) and SD DVD. And I'm spending more time on my hobbies (to me, watching TV is not a hobby). It feels great to no longer have any desire to watch something simply because it's in HD.

Screw ABC that is all there is to it don't watch. I agree Network TV is getting very annoying with all the crap that is on my screen. The writers strike was actually a good thing because now I am watching mor shows on Discovery and Natl Geographic channels

Screw ABC that is all there is to it don't watch. I agree Network TV is getting very annoying with all the crap that is on my screen. The writers strike was actually a good thing because now I am watching mor shows on Discovery and Natl Geographic channels

When I watch TV all I watch these days are Discovery, Natgeo, TLC stuff...the only network shows I watch are Jericho and BSG...and might watch the new KNight Rider (need something mindless and fun these days) if it turns into a series. The rest of the crap on network TV and some of the other cable channels is just that crap. Ive gotten to the point where i feel I should skip thru the show and just watch the commercials since they are more entertaining.

I cannot recall the last time I tuned into ABC.

Hmmm, how does one even access ABC VOD? Besides the internet.... It's definitely not one of my on-demand channels with Time Warner.

Is content provided in HD?

So how long until ABC decides that they should charge more to the local affiliates if they don't disable the FF option in the regular airing or recordings?

Honestly, I didn't even know this was something that could be disabled. I just assumed it was a built-in-function of the DVR but I guess it's just software. D'oh!

When I watch TV all I watch these days are Discovery, Natgeo, TLC stuff...the only network shows I watch are Jericho and BSG...and might watch the new KNight Rider (need something mindless and fun these days) if it turns into a series. The rest of the crap on network TV and some of the other cable channels is just that crap. Ive gotten to the point where i feel I should skip thru the show and just watch the commercials since they are more entertaining.

I cannot recall the last time I tuned into ABC.

I only like three network shows(all monday night on cbs).
I agree the rest is crap.
Thank goodness for sports and movies.

Hmmm, how does one even access ABC VOD? Besides the internet.... It's definitely not one of my on-demand channels with Time Warner.

Is content provided in HD?

Has been available to some Comcast markets for a while.

When I had Comcast service, I used OnDemand for CBS (original CSI & JERICHO in HD) & ABC (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES -also HD) to save DVR space & the old Thursday tuner conflict (CSI, OFFICE, GREYS - all on @ the same time).


Miss these since going w/ DirecTv. They need some VOD network stuff PRONTO!!

As far as FF-ing VOD, when I watched CBS OnDemand via Comcast you got 2-3 30-45 second spots (usually either a single advertiser or CBS promos) that, due to the old buggy Motorola box Comcast supplied were impossible to precisely FF--always ended up going too far.

Got used to them & honestly, hour long shows still ended up under 45 minutes total viewing time.

i think an issue here is not so much that ABC specifically will be messing with their shows, but that content providers in general are now beginning to try to milk ad money from VOD. VOD is/was a promising option for getting HD content (in addition to HDM and legal downloads), but becomes a much less attractive option with these types of restrictions.

this is why I am considered a "Pirate"

because I want to watch my shows without interruptions

thanks for turning me into a "Pirate" Network TV

this is why I am considered a "Pirate"

because I want to watch my shows without interruptions

thanks for turning me into a "Pirate" Network TV

I'm an even worse offender. I choose to interrupt shows whenever I want. I can easily watch the "two full hours" of American Idol in 30 minutes. "I'm your host, Ryan Seacrest..." <click>. "Let's meet our judges..." <click>. "Remember last week..." <click>. "When we first met her back in..." <click>. "Coming up..." <click>.

I couldn't stand to watch the show any other way.

So how long until ABC decides that they should charge more to the local affiliates if they don't disable the FF option in the regular airing or recordings?
The local affiliates don't have the power to do that.

I only like three network shows(all monday night on cbs).
I agree the rest is crap.
Thank goodness for sports and movies.

Then one of those must be 'Jericho'...! God bless you. And He says that goes double if you're a Nielsen family. :D

I'm an even worse offender. I choose to interrupt shows whenever I want. I can easily watch the "two full hours" of American Idol in 30 minutes. "I'm your host, Ryan Seacrest..." <click>. "Let's meet our judges..." <click>. "Remember last week..." <click>. "When we first met her back in..." <click>. "Coming up..." <click>.

I couldn't stand to watch the show any other way.
Me, either! I just posted in the American Idol thread that I would never watch the show without a DVR. Without the ability to fast forward through the banal chitchat and (many) bad performances it would be unwatchable, it seems to me. With a DVR you can also immediately back up to take a second look at a particularly good performance. Thanks, TiVo! :)

I'm an even worse offender. I choose to interrupt shows whenever I want. I can easily watch the "two full hours" of American Idol in 30 minutes. "I'm your host, Ryan Seacrest..." <click>. "Let's meet our judges..." <click>. "Remember last week..." <click>. "When we first met her back in..." <click>. "Coming up..." <click>.

I couldn't stand to watch the show any other way.
Same here - except for the watching AI part. I'm so glad the 30 second skip forward is finally working on my DVR with the latest upgrade. I actually used that function to watch only the short movies in the "On the Lot" show that aired last season. I couldn't have cared less about the competition or voting - I just was interested in the short films. I buzzed through the show in about 20 minutes.

On topic: I personally wouldn't be horrified if the VOD stuff had one or two 30 second ads in them and had to actually watch them, but anything more than that would be inexcusable. The online episodes of shows have pretty much hit that happy medium between enough advertising to provide revenue, but not enough to be annoying. In addition, I wouldn't pay extra to see anything with ads in it. I'm already paying to receive the channels I do. I'm not going to pay extra on top of that and have to watch even more ads.

If you want me to view ads, the content has to be free to me. Otherwise, forget it.

I don't mind the commercials, it's a perfect opportunity to stretch my legs, to to the bathroom, get snacks/food/drinks, etc..

If people want to stay glued to the screen for 42 mins it's also their choice.. LOL

I don't mind the commercials, it's a perfect opportunity to stretch my legs, to to the bathroom, get snacks/food/drinks, etc..

If people want to stay glued to the screen for 42 mins it's also their choice.. LOL

That is what I use the pause button for I hate commercials they invade my quiet time

That is what I use the pause button for I hate commercials they invade my quiet time
exactly....I break when I want to break...not when ABC tells me too

While the network bosses would love to turn back time and kill the inventors of the DVR, much like John Connor would like to kill the guys who created Skynet, it's never going to happen. Every day DVR penetration grows, and those who have them quickly learn to love them. If FF was somehow disabled, the outcry would be deafening. It's too late for that. Now, that said, if they want to throw in a couple of ads in VOD offerings, go ahead, let 'em knock themselves out. Anybody that uses that service likely doesn't have a DVR anyway, and if I decide to use it because I missed an episode, so be it.

But don't even THINK of messing with our beloved DVR's and their equally beloved FF buttons, you evil network executives. It's a new age and you'll just have to rise to the challenge of funding your business model in new and different ways.

I'm considering dropping "live" TV. I haven't been to the theater since HP5 (except for a relapse with Rambo, but I digress) so now I have tons of brand new movies to rent and more money in my pocket. If I dropped cable that would be another $100/mo saved and I could just rent DVD/BR sets of the shows I find interesting. I already do this for HBO and Shotime, wouldn't be hard to do it for networks.

If only there was a cheap HD tier with only the Discovery Channel and Food network, channels with minimal rental DVDs, plus Lifetime and E! so the wife wouldn't suffer from the DTs, then I could do it :)

With the growing market on DVRs, expect more product placement and screen clutter on many shows in the future, not even the very best DVR will be able to avoid that..

With the growing market on DVRs, expect more product placement and screen clutter on many shows in the future, not even the very best DVR will be able to avoid that..

True, but I think that's just the price we're going to have to pay for "free" TV in the post-DVR age. The familiar 30 second commercial spot will become more of an endangered species as time marches on.

Personally, I think this idea of disabling fast forwarding will fly about as far as Divx discs and copy protected CDs did.

Or perhaps as far as CCI flags on HDTV programs, PINs for ATM chards did.

Or perhaps as far as CCI flags on HDTV programs, PINs for ATM chards did.
Oh, now give me a break. Those things designed to either protect the consumer or help them. CCI flags don't limit peoples ability to watch TV. PINs on ATM cards make it harder for people to steal your money if your card is stolen.

Not allowing people to fast forward, not allowing people to copy their CDs (in violation of software user agreements) or having a disc with a time limit on it is designed to limit consumer rights, not improve them.

Surely you can see the difference.

Now, if you brought up automobile "black boxes", then you'd have have something. We, as consumers, have all but lost the battle to have our cars not rat us out.

Oh, now give me a break. Those things designed to either protect the consumer or help them.Who things help don't determine whether or not something is worthwhile. As long as someone benefits, there is a foundation for something being long-lasting. And CCI flags benefit content owners.

Oh, now give me a break. Those things designed to either protect the consumer or help them. CCI flags don't limit peoples ability to watch TV. PINs on ATM cards make it harder for people to steal your money if your card is stolen.

Not allowing people to fast forward, not allowing people to copy their CDs (in violation of software user agreements) or having a disc with a time limit on it is designed to limit consumer rights, not improve them.

Surely you can see the difference.

Now, if you brought up automobile "black boxes", then you'd have have something. We, as consumers, have all but lost the battle to have our cars not rat us out.

Honestly, I understand your argument. But, do you believe this content should be made available for free with no guarantee of getting financial returns? How do you convince someone that they should offer this content at an added expense to them with no return on those expenses? The commercial load for this free VOD you can't FF is probably going to be 3 minutes for the whole program. You can't sit (or stretch, walk away, drink juice) for 3 minutes in exchange for the pleasure of viewing whenever you want?

Honestly, I understand your argument. But, do you believe this content should be made available for free with no guarantee of getting financial returns? How do you convince someone that they should offer this content at an added expense to them with no return on those expenses? The commercial load for this free VOD you can't FF is probably going to be 3 minutes for the whole program. You can't sit (or stretch, walk away, drink juice) for 3 minutes in exchange for the pleasure of viewing whenever you want?
Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying ABC can't try this. I'm saying the public won't accept it.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying ABC can't try this. I'm saying the public won't accept it.

Actually the trial Cox market says otherwise. It must of went pretty well to ramp up from a trial.

Actually the trial Cox market says otherwise. It must of went pretty well to ramp up from a trial.
It depends on how many commercials they expect people to watch. If it's just 30 seconds or so each break or a couple of commercials at the beginning, it's no worse than the online stuff - and more convienent. However, if they throw in full break times and expect people who are used to skipping commercials to sit through them, I'll bet it won't be popular. Test markets are one thing: reality in the marketplace is another.

I see ZERO issues with ABC doing this. It's their programming, and they can distribute it most anyway they choose.

Frankly, I wish all the nets had stuff in my ondemand section.

I suppose since it is ABC's content they have the right to distribute it any way they want, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to re-name the channel "Video when we say you've earned it" since it really will no longer be "on-demand".

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying ABC can't try this. I'm saying the public won't accept it.Well, what are the latest numbers regarding percentage of people who skip commercials? It is still less than 50%. So as an alternative to sitting through the commercials when they say you have to (8PM-9PM), being able to watch the show, commercials and all on your own time (2:15PM-4:40PM with pauses for stirring the pot) is a big improvement.

And remember, there is absolutely no reason why advertisers (the folks who, in the end, determine what gets produced and presented) should care about people who skip commercials. All that you might be pointing out is that this might bring about a long-needed change in the ratings system, where the ratings are focused on which commercials are watched by how many. That's really what advertisers want to know, and the ratings are for them. And with those metrics, a plan like the one being discussed in this thread would likely be more accepted by the viewers who matter, not less.

...Anybody that uses that service likely doesn't have a DVR anyway, and if I decide to use it because I missed an episode, so be it.

Many use it to record the third-best show in a timeslot. For all the DirecTV customers, a DVR is required for VOD.

In my opinion, the networks missed huge opportunities to leverage VOD during the writers' strike. They could have come out of the strike with support for a lot of the newer shows that people could have started watching while their favorites were out of production.

True, but I think that's just the price we're going to have to pay for "free" TV in the post-DVR age. The familiar 30 second commercial spot will become more of an endangered species as time marches on.

I can deal with this on commercial television, but not on pay TV. Showtime has good content, but their overlay promos are very distracting. :(

Art