semyaza

I'll be blunt - since we got our Tivo units about 2 years ago, the wife and I have greatly reduced the number of commercials that we are forced to watch. (For the unitiated, Tivo is a digital VCR that allows you to pause live TV, backup and fast forward, as well as schedule shows for recording.)

Now, on the one hand, I know that the networks basically provide the programming for free, while relying on advertising for income, so in that sense my behavior might be construed as unethical.

On the other hand, there exists no contract between the networks and myself that requires me to watch commercials. So, is it really 'stealing' as one network exec recently argued?

Thoughts?

callmejay

I don't think it's stealing. First of all, nobody that matters (e.g. McDonald's) even knows that you don't watch the commercials, unless you are a Nielson viewer. Second, as you said, you have no contract with them. It is up to them to find a new source of revenue if this one becomes unfeasible. They already are incorporating ads into the programs, and they'll probably have ad-banners underneath or above the show.

dshimel

Stealing? No, not in the traditional sense anyway. Many people walk to the kitchen or bathroom during a commercial. Many people flip channels on the commercials. Heck, my TV has an auto go back button that allows you to guess how long the break will be in 30 second incriments (usually 3-4 minutes for non-sporting events) and automatically go back to the program and the guessed time.

There is no agreement between you and the broadcaster that you will sit and watch the commericals. There is not even an expectation that every viewer will watch every commercial. I'm sure the TV stations don't like it, but there is nothing illegal about it.

Immoral? Probably no more immoral than pulling onto a busy freeway, even though others may have to slow down a bit to let you in. Slightly harmful to others, but expected by all.

tronvillain

No, it is not "stealing" as one network executive recently argued. There is not now, nor has there ever been, any obligation for people to watch television commercials. You could always get up and make yourself a snack, or go to the bathroom, or read, or simply close your eyes and hum during the commericals - that it is suddenly more convenient to avoid commercials changes nothing.

Autonemesis

If it is unethical, then so is visiting the fridge and peeing during commercials.

Turner CEO Jamie Kellner says "I guess there's a certain amount of tolerance for going to the bathroom." Thanks for the vote of confidence in my right to evacuate my bowels when I feel like it, Mr. Kellner!

http://www.eff.org/EFF/Newsletters/E...t15.15.html#II

On a similar vein: "You start losing marginal dollars when people who you thought you were buying are not viewing," said Daniel Jaffe, executive vice president of the Association of National Advertisers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/23/te...IDE.html?8hpib (free reg. or try cyberpunk/cyberpunk)

What (who?), exactly, is being bought and sold, Mr. Jaffe? And who consented to this deal?

So according to some advertising and broadcasting executives, viewers are bought and sold with the understanding among the buyers and sellers that they, the viewers, will behave in a certain way. The implication is that if the viewers do not deliver the product that the broadcasters sold to the advertisers, it is the viewers who are in breach of the contract, not the broadcaster who sold something he didn't own and could not deliver.

Now what was that ethical question you asked?

Mageth

Unethical? Bah! Tivo would be an IPUsend to me.

What is unethical to me is some of the "inappropriate" commercials that the networks allow during "appropriate" daytime and primetime shows that I sometimes watch with my 6-year-old son. Now, for me personally, they're not a problem, but I have to keep the remote in hand so I can flip channels or turn off the TV if a non-age-appropriate commercial comes on in the middle of a show.

A couple of examples:

- Watching Looney Tunes during the daytime with my son on the Cartoon Channel, a rather racy commercial for the movie Amelie (rated R for sexual content) comes on! AARGH! (Most of The Cartoon Network's programming is geared for teens or young adults, but dammit, these were Looney Tunes!)

- Trying to get my son interested in a Sunday afternoon football game (mainly so I could watch it and not have to watch PBS for Kids), a violent commercial for a violent PG-13 or R-rated movie comes on (this one's not as bad as the first, I guess, but Jeez.)

- Watching any "appropriate" network show early in the evening, one is almost certain to be presented with often violent or sexually titillating commercials for the "adult" shows (e.g. CSI) airing later in the evening or on another night. Even if my son's not watching the show, if he's in the room, the loud, flashy, action-intense commercials will grab his attention.

Arrowman

Well that might not be unethical but I find it damned unhygienic

Jackalope

I'm still waiting for Blipverts to start appearing in reality. They'll get slipped in the second or so between where the Tivo stops and the show restarts...

jayh

http://www.2600.com/news/view/article/1113

Article with link to where TV exec actually claims that.

DVDs have the ability to prevent skipping of commercials, not always used.

A while back I saw a web site advertising software to block out pop-up blocker programs. There motto was a very pious "we won't tolerate bandwidth theft"

On a related area, there are some fundie & Mormon video rental chails which will rent you a pre-censored movie. This should be interesting when it hits the courts...


j

99Percent

Whether its unethical is irrelevant. Technology has made commercials archaic, and its only a matter of time that the Tivo catches on to become the mainstream.

The problem is that all the shows produced for this medium actually rely on the revenue from the companies that broadcast commercials in them. But if Tivo or any other technology can make this a non issue, then these same companies will cease to contribute to the very revenue that allows the shows you enjoy to exist.

So eventually Tivo or any other ad busting technology spells the doomsday of such shows.

In short, enjoy it while it lasts.