ABC Set To Announce TiVo- Killer On-Demand Service

[CatWoman]

Looking to strike a blow against the proliferation of digital video recorders, the ABC network, its affiliated broadcast stations, and Cox Communications’ cable systems are establishing an on-demand video service that would allow viewers to watch ABC shows like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” any time they choose.

The catch: It uses a new technology that disables the viewers’ ability to fast-forward through commercials.

The system, which ABC is expected to announce Monday, has been tested over the last several months in homes served by Cox in Orange County, Calif. The programs replayed on this video-on-demand service would include advertising sold by the network as well as by local ABC stations, but the total number of commercials in the shows would be far less than the over-the-air broadcast version of the show.

ABC and Cox executives said that consumer response to the test had been positive. Several executives involved in the project, which ABC plans to offer to other cable systems around the country, said the move was an overt attempt to staunch the use of DVRs like TiVo, which viewers often use to avoid commercials. That activity is increasingly seen as threat to broadcast television, which depends on ad revenue to pay for programs.

“This does counter the DVR,” said Anne Sweeney, the president of the Disney-ABC television group. “You don’t need TiVo if you have fast-forward-disabled video on demand. It gives you the same opportunity to catch up to your favorite shows.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/business/media/25abc.html?_r=1&ex=1361595600&en=1bd7545c4bd80da5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

[hyphenate]

1. Not so big a loss

If most people haven't noticed by now, repeats and syndication often make Tivo-ing obsolete at times. I DO Tivo quite a bit, but my tolerance has gone REALLY low when it comes to the arrogance of some of the studios and networks.

USA and Sci-Fi are the two major networks I record from, and if I end up missing something at one time, chances are it's repeated three hours later for the West Coast feed. It's the only way I get through Fridays, with 6 shows to record.

[tritsofme]

2. Why would I choose to watch the program on demand with advertisements?

When I could still DVR the program and fast forward through them?

I will often DVR a program and view it that same night sans commercials.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. If you wait until it's been on 15 minutes.

you can watch it straight through with no commercials. That's how I watch Keith every night.

[eShirl]

3. you can watch most shows on-demand now online, on the networks' websites

for free

[JackRiddler]

4. If they ever disable the mute button, I'm outta there!

[Book Lover]

5. Some people will say anything when in a focus group

Let's see how this (fails to) fly in the real world.

[high density]

6. TiVo 'killer' but you can't fast foward?

What fucked up (excuse my French) definition of "killer" are they using here?

[supernova]

7. I don't watch ABC

at least not right now.

Honestly there are only two shows on regular broadcast that interest me... Heroes and Moonlight. Heroes runs on Sci Fi later so big whup.

I tivo stuff off the regular cable channels.. and as mentioned previously, if you miss a first run, it's repeated several times.

For me not to have to sit through commercials, it's worth it. I'm becoming a big movie fan anymore because broadcasters are really starting to think of shows as nothing more than frameworks to hang commercials on, whereas I care about the story, not the products. The ratio of story to commercials has gone way down over the years and it annoys me.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

10. I agree. I watch very little network TV

HBO (The Wire), Showtime to a lesser extent (Brotherhood) and now AMC (Mad Men and Breaking Bad) have so much better content, it almost hurts to watch "regular" TV.

We only TiVo a few network shows, Friday Night Lights and The New Adventures of Old Christine. Beyond that, it's non-commercial cable all the way.

[LiberalFighter]

15. I don't watch either but watch Boston Legal

[RevolutionStartsNow]

8. It's not a "Tivo-killer" if you can't skip commercials

That is the second best thing about Tivo (best being able to record and watch whenever, of course).

[Richard Steele]

9. This thing is DOA. No one's gonna buy it if it forces them to watch commercials. nm

[hunter]

11. For me, television is pretty much past the point where it's worth watching.

What next, they come to your house and make you watch the commercials?

[Rex]

12. Watch the commercials, it is what goofy would have wanted.

*sniff*

[Lex]

13. I'll still keep my Tivo & fast-forward thru the commercials.

Thanks anyway.

I guess if I didn't have a Tivo or DVR I might like this service ABC has, but since I do already have one, it offers me nothing really.

[CreekDog]

14. Vegetables taste soooo much better when I'm forced to eat them!

don't they? :shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

16. on-demand (NOT ppv) is the main reason i'm switching back to cable.

that, and i'm sick of directv's bullshit.

[SoCalDem]

17. With my PVR, I CAN watch things any time I want ANd whiz through

the annoying commercials for Cialis & Boing and BP & "clean" coal, and yes, even the new commercial running.. for URANIUM :wtf:

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Fast forwarding through commercials has changed my life

Really :)