WATCH THE ADS OR ELSE !

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14517

This just baffles me - are they really that dumb - US firm being sued for allowing users to skip adds on their pre-recorded shows

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18206803

Quote:

US legal row over Dish Network's ad-skipping TV box

A legal row has erupted in the US over a set-top box that lets viewers skip over adverts in recorded TV shows.

Three US TV broadcasters, Fox, NBC and CBS, have sued the maker of the device, Dish Network, in a bid to ensure viewers see ads.

Dish Network has filed a separate lawsuit which asks a court to declare that ad-skipping can go ahead.

The networks fear that if viewers cannot see ads their main source of revenue will dry up.

The Hopper digital video recorder was unveiled in early 2012 by Dish Network. On 10 May it added an "auto hop" feature that allowed viewers to completely skip over adverts that interrupted shows they had recorded.

The lawsuits of the TV networks, which were filed individually, allege that the ad hopping is illegal because it involves the gadget making an unauthorised version of a copyrighted TV show.

In its lawsuit Fox claims showing a programme without ads amounts to re-broadcasting - which violates agreements Dish has with the company.

Fox spokesman Scott Goggin said the ad hopping feature could end up "destroying the fundamental underpinnings of the broadcast television ecosystem".

The large US TV networks depend on cash from ads for survival. Worldwide spending on TV ads looks set to reach $200bn (£128bn) by 2017.

To fend off the claims of the networks, Dish has asked a court to look into the row and declare that the Hopper DVR does not violate copyright.

Media analyst Todd Mitchell at Brean Murray said introducing the ad hopping was a negotiating tactic by Dish which wants to pay less to air shows from large broadcasters.

"This is about programming costs," said Mr Mitchell. "Dish is saying, if you want to charge me up to the wazoo, we will disable commercials. But if you charge us less, we can disable the feature."

Dish Network is the second largest satellite broadcaster in the US and has about 14 million customers.

metalangel · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 15:31

I was reading about that the other day... thing is, all the content providers could just refuse to renew their contracts with Dish and when the current ones expired, Dish would have nothing to show and would go out of business.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 15:37

Christ, I'm not surprised they're trying to nail them to the wall. It's great for the consumer, sure - right up until there are no more TV shows because no-one advertises on TV any more.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

Yep. Personally I'm thrilled that the vast number of people watch adverts because they're paying for the TV that I then watch advert-free.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6608

Grim... wrote:

Christ, I'm not surprised they're trying to nail them to the wall. It's great for the consumer, sure - right up until there are no more TV shows because no-one advertises on TV any more.

Or the adverts get rammed straight into the shows in an intrusive and annoying manner and there is no way to dodge them at all.

myp · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 16:37

Meanwhile...

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 16:51

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Meanwhile...

Its inspired, is it not.A guaranteed way to make me extremely annoyed with yout product and refuse to use it. Akin to an annoying Fat Man with a shit tache singing songs about comparing Goats.

metalangel · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 22:01

Mr Dave wrote:

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Meanwhile...

Its inspired, is it not.A guaranteed way to make me extremely annoyed with yout product and refuse to use it. Akin to an annoying Fat Man with a shit tache singing songs about comparing Goats.

Unfortunately, there's enough grasping, screaming elmos and other assorted fools who simply cannot live without whatever the latest game is, and will jump through these hoops for their fix.

Codewheels and word six on line 3 of page 36 of the manual have nothing on this.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

It would be interesting if they tied it to the price of the game i.e. buy the ad-free version outright for the normal price or get a free/discounted copy of the game of you accept a certain level of advertising. It's a model that a lot of mobile games are running with at the moment so maybe Sony are just keeping their options open. If it's just a case of 'pay full price and get stiffed with advertising anyway' they can get fucked obviously, but I suspect they know that which is why I wonder if they're thinking of doing something different here.

metalangel · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 22:30

Bamba wrote:

If it's just a case of 'pay full price and get stiffed with advertising anyway' they can get fucked obviously, but I suspect they know that which is why I wonder if they're thinking of doing something different here.

Remember the unskippable NFS: Shit 2 commercial at the beginning of NFS: Hot Pursuit?

I've got Diner Dash for iOS. Even though I paid for the full version, I still get ads for their other games popping up from time to time.

They'll stiff us. I'm reminded of an article in the Onion where Coke was only going to sell one size now, a 50 gallon bottle. It would take two men to pour and would go flat in 20 minutes.

"What are people going to do? Stop buying Coke? I think not!" scoffed a Coke exec (in the article).

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