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TiVo Lets You Respond to Ads 316
WalletBoy writes "TiVo is implementing a new feature in their Series 2 recorders where viewers can choose to have their personal-contact information sent to advertisers when certain commercials air using just their remote control." This is actually exactly how I think advertising should work. If I want more information, I can press thumbs up and have my email address sent to the advertiser. It's opt-in. I'm sure it will work because they use the same concept for letting you record a show by pressing thumbs up when a commercial for it is airing. If only every commercial supported these functions. Now if only MTV would use the same thing to email me song info for videos I like instead of covering the screen in tacky text.
I'd like another button.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:2, Funny)
That'll probably be in Hacking TiVo 2nd Edition. "Chapter 17th The 'Fuck Off' Function"
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'd like another button.. (Score:3, Funny)
Respond to THIS (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:3, Insightful)
But if you've got to choose between Dunkin Donuts and some place you've never heard of before, being familiar with the "variety" and "quality" of Dunkin Donuts products from their commercials, even if you're not a regu
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:5, Funny)
What shows are you watching? I never see those unless my wife is watching "Lifetime" or daytime TV.
Really, you can get an idea for the target audience for a show by watching the ads. Watch late night TV? You must need psychic help so you can decide which work-at-home scheme you want to invest in. At home during the day? You must be an unemployed laborer who was injured on the job and got screwed by the insurance company or you're a homemaker that needs a lot of feminine hygene and cleaning products.
I watch the History channel at night so I am a elderly toothless man, who likes pickup trucks. At least they got the gender right.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
It's an interesting aspect to weigh, but I'd hate for you to pass up one of the rare good shows on tv (if you're going to watch tv) just because the ads don't match you. Isn't that why you have the Tivo anyway... you don't honestly imagine that in 5-10 years many people will no longer skip commercials because they'll be so enthralled.
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
I've gotta comment that the Focus has been a top seller in Europe for years, and that I see more old people driving them now than young people. You probably were thinking of "Scion".
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
But I think my original point still holds up - rarely are ads targetted towards impulse buyers (with the exception of things like: 19.95 for 50 western movies! act now!).
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:3, Interesting)
Would this be a good time to bring up the "My TiVo Thinks I'm Gay!" [slashdot.org] story?
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:4, Insightful)
At which point you will probably grab whatever has a brand name on it you recognize and get the heck out of hte store as quick as you can.
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:5, Funny)
Probably not.
Because you can be sure she'll specify exactly what brand, model and version she wants.
And that's what you'd better get her if you know what's good for you.
So True! (Score:2)
Look at it this way. It tends to indicate that you're at least getting some.
Re:So True! (Score:3, Funny)
As they get older, they tend to find the thought disgusting.
There are a lot of other things they stop doing as they get older, too.
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:3, Funny)
Nope.
She'll specify just enough info that you can't grab a random brand, but not enough info to know which of half a dozen minor variations, so you stand there staring at these things like a dork...
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
To which I'd reply..."What the hell are you calling me for? I'm in a bar with the guys...and won't be home till late. Better get them yourself...
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
Indeed, until that fateful day when your girlfriend's bedridden and needs you to dash out to the supermarket and buy her a giant multipack of tampons. Trust me, you grab the first packet you recognise and high-tail it out of there...
Advertising mission accomplished.
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:2)
Re:Respond to THIS (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, the CSRs and their supervisors probably don't care (and in fact, the last time I called to complain about them putting ads in when I fast foward was met with "tough, it's not of question of if, it's a matter of when.") but I still call to let them know.
Luckily, I was recently blessed with a free DirecTivo and a year of free receiver payments because DirecTV's new scr
Ha, yeah right... (Score:2, Funny)
What I'd rather have is... (Score:5, Interesting)
I like/Don't like this ad. You missed/hit your target audience. This ad was funny/offensive. That's cool/inane. More/no more Purple Pill commercials. That movie looks interesting/boring. Etc...
But of course, I miss most of the ads anyway with TiVo.
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:5, Insightful)
Advertisers don't care if their ads are good. They just want their products name in your head when you need something of that class of item. All else being equal, you'll probably buy the brand thats in your head when you go out to buy that class of item.
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:2)
It's a nifty idea -- by making ad-watching more interactive, they increase the number of people who will do it voluntarily.
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:2)
In terms of innovation in interactivity... they've had years to try interactive ads on the web, and apparently the best way to get the user involved in their ad is to ask you to Punch the Monkey. (no thanks)
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:2)
I've often wondered (Score:2)
I've found plenty of ads that annoy me, and whenever I pas by the store I think "annoying f***ers, ain't gonna see me in your store" and hit the competitors if they are any better.
Re:What I'd rather have is... (Score:2)
To (mis)quote the Royal Canadian Air Farce: I feel so free! Now I can go polevaulting!
I mean, come on. Girls, if you don't know what a tampon is, you'll find out damned quickly.
Potential for abuse... (Score:3, Insightful)
Just imagine someone getting ahold of your remote and the 'fun' they could have with this feature at your expense.
Very good point. They should add a password. (Score:2)
I am going to assume you can choose to disable this feature entirely?
Re:Potential for abuse... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Potential for abuse... (Score:2)
How long till spammers take advantage (Score:4, Funny)
Does it mean... (Score:2)
No thanks.
Re:Does it mean... (Score:2)
Left the TiVo on over night, rolled over the ctrlr (Score:4, Funny)
This also just in. (Score:5, Funny)
I, along with the article submitter, am all in favor of opt-in. I opt to provide the following feedback:
1) Unscrew back of remote.
2) Use X-Acto knife to cut the metal traces on the circuit board (or shave off the conductive traces on the plastic membrane) corresponding to the thumbs-up key.
3) Replace the "thumbs up" key with a picture of my middle finger.
> Now if only MTV would use the same thing to email me song info for videos I like instead of covering the screen in tacky text.
That'd be a cool idea, and might actually return something of useful information to the viewer in exchange for his/her expression of interest in the content. Unfortunately for the poster, MTV last showed a "video" in 1997.
Re:Taco watches MTV, eh? Figures. (Score:3, Funny)
I keep reading this and other comments like it and the sillyness of it keeps annoying me. When you grow up, you are no longer part of their target audience. Of course you'll think it "sucks ass" then, but it's not really the fault of anyone. Just stop watching it and quit whining.
mtv plays music? (Score:3, Insightful)
When I was resting up before flying back home from LSM I was at a hotel [Kyriad rocks btw] with MTV.de and I'd say most of the daytime shows were "pimp my ride" and "newly weds" [genre].
They played some music here and there and showed constantly repetitive SMS ads [e.g. order this ring tone, get this logo, etc].
It's like they forgot that the M stands for Music
Also if I was a parent I'd buy my kids music on the condition they didn't watch that brainwashing bullshit that is "kids oriented television".
Frankly I'd rather a kid watched a porno then the "chocobot powerhour" that is kids programming...
Tom
Re:mtv plays music? (Score:2)
Re:mtv plays music? (Score:2)
Tom
Re:mtv plays music? (Score:2)
Tom
Google should Make a Design for a PVR (Score:2, Interesting)
BBC has an open source video codec availible.
Google could decide the design(much like microsoft makes hardware people adhere) and just let hardware makers use the design for free. Google would just cash in on the ad flow(ad peoples bandwidth), and it would launch podcasting/videocasting to a new level.
Strange efforts for the advertising sector (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Strange efforts for the advertising sector (Score:3, Interesting)
I think for some people there might be a learning curve on a product
Nielsen Ratings (Score:3, Interesting)
I've never heard anyone say, "Oh wait! Don't turn the channel. This is my favorite commercial."
Capture (Score:3, Interesting)
But from my past experience, these interactive features throw a graphic up on the screen. You can clear it (at times only temporarily) from the screen with the Clear button, but the capture is already marred by then. But so far ads that have done this haven't been worth keeping.
All the more reason why micropayments are good (Score:5, Interesting)
The cost of making DVDs is really low now. If they pay only $1/DVD to make and it costs them $2 to make the box and shrink wrap it, a 5 DVD set like Stargate SG1 would cost $7 to make. They could realistically go to $15 before S&H if they were really gung ho about getting a paying fanbase going. Just think, right after you watch the last episode in the series, the TV channel popups up a message saying "Thanks for supporting this series with your micropayments, if you would like to own this series, because of your generous support we'll give you a 70% discount on the boxed set." They'd make a killing doing that for many series.
The problem though, is that regular TV sitcom bullshit would probably be hit hard initially by that. Imagine people having to pay for an episode of Friends or Seinfeld? At any rate, if the Cartoon Network, Comedy Central and Sci Fi Channel offered this, knowing their audiences, it'd work like a charm.
Right (Score:5, Interesting)
Please explain why you won't buy the season on DVD at full price. You're a loyal fan, are you not?
You don't think the "loyal fan[boys]" aren't already ready to give up their 85 bones for the season set? Sadly, they are, so your scheme to get your copy at a cheaper price won't hold water from a balance sheet standpoint.Let me ask you something: why not go in with two friends and swap the disks around your group? That way, you get 69% "off" and you get the use of the whole set.
Re:Right (Score:2)
Please explain why you won't buy the season on DVD at full price. You're a loyal fan, are you not?
Nope, I'm not a loyal fan. Maybe I'm not doing my duty, but I never signed a contract, so screw'em. I like many shows, but I don't feel any obligation to fill their coffers with my hard earned cash unless the cost falls within my targ
Loyalty and repeat sales (Score:2)
The mentioned method isn't all that bad, as the company then has a projected amount of sales before releasing a box-set. From that they could calculate how many units the need to produce and probably save money there...
Re:All the more reason why micropayments are good (Score:2)
Re:All the more reason why micropayments are good (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:All the more reason why micropayments are good (Score:3, Interesting)
So they would need 80000 people to pay their $2. Except of course without those 20 minutes of ads it would be a 40 minute show, so they can fit more in a day (or have more time for shows with ads), 40/60*80000, so about 53000 people be enough.
Of course they all ready do "on demand" programming. I'd damn ho
No way I'm logging into the TV (Score:4, Insightful)
Enable 30-second skip (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Enable 30-second skip (Score:2)
now.. (Score:2, Insightful)
you give the thumbs up to one marketer, and they just sell your information to tons of other ones?
what guarantee do they provide that this is safe?
Re:now.. (Score:2)
Step in the Right Direction (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm all for anything which would improve the system and more direct feedback seems like a good idea.
Advertising: The necessary, but evil gr
great idea (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:great idea (Score:2, Interesting)
Of course, this could be open to abuse by a certain group [parentstv.org].
Re:great idea (Score:2)
Re:great idea (Score:2)
But... (Score:2)
My only question is... can you turn the Telescreen^WTiVo Screen volume all the way off? Or can you just turn it down?
Re:But... (Score:2)
Tom
Re:But... (Score:2)
Re:But... (Score:2)
Yes, you missed the joke [wikipedia.org].
The Telescreen in George Orwell's "1984" was a two-way flatpanel device that was installed in every home, used to broadcast propaganda for the current party in power, as well as watch every citizen, through the use of a two-way video camera. You could turn the sound down, but you could never turn it all the way off
Re:But... (Score:2)
DirecTV had this, and then got rid of it. (Score:3, Insightful)
Not every commercial had this mind you. In fact only one I know of, some SUV commercial did this.
DirecTV has since got rid of it. They had a number of interactive features they since gotten rid of. I used to be able to enter a zip code and get weather. It would also store my favorite cities. One channel, Bloomberg maybe, let me store stock tickers, and it would display the current stock price. So much for interactive TV.
What I really want is a way to vote on commercials. If I give it a thumbs down I don't want to see it again. Or better yet, let me subscribe to a show, for a small fee, and let me watch it commercial free. Stop rehashing the same bad ideas please.
Opt out of adverts (Score:2)
You know what is going to happen... (Score:2)
The kids will click on the button whenever they see a new toy advertised and the smartass babysitter will send your personal information to all the adult diaper commercials on late night television.
I'll stick with MythTV, thanks, and have all my commercials clipped out.
What does the M stand for? (Score:2)
Re:What does the M stand for? (Score:2)
Slippery slope... (Score:2)
Seriously, folks. Those of you who think this is a good idea aren't thinking about how badly this whole system can be abused.
This isn't new (Score:4, Informative)
Pressing thumbs up pauses the material and takes you to a special showcase where they can have an extended video segment or pages of text or, yes, a "Please send me more info" screen where you can have them send more info.
Chevy did a big promotion a while back using this, and most of the Chevy commercials you saw on the screen took you to this showcase. There was a video of various cars doing speedway tests or something, and selecting the more info thing got them to mail you a packet of material. You could even request to have a dealer call you, which I did not try.
Some of the showcase material is quite cool, other times it's not as cool. Regardless, you don't have to see the ad to see the material, these extended showcases are shown on the normal "Showcases" screen as well. There's usually one or two available at any given time.
Videos??? (Score:2)
MTV? Play videos? Surely you jest?
What if I hit thumbs down? (Score:2)
Starship Troopers, anyone? (Score:3, Interesting)
I want my MTV (Score:2)
Now if only MTV played videos...
Wink! (Score:2)
http://www.business.com/directory/media_and_enter t ainment/television/digital_tv/interactive/wink_com munications/profile/ [business.com]
http://www.wink.com/ [wink.com]
As an aside, we had one old lady constantly calling us
File under "Hole in the head, need this like a" (Score:2, Insightful)
Entertaining for a moment the fiction that, in some parallel universe, I might actually want TV advertisers to have my contact details, I can still see some major problems with this.
The Yahoo! article speaks about sending your 'contact details' to an advertiser: the Slashdot poster interprets this as meaning 'email address'. The question is, "which email address?". I currently only use tagged disposable addresses (of the kind supported by SneakEmail [sneakemail.com], for instance) for communication with companies. This al
OMGWTFBBQ videos on MTV? roflcopter!!!11`` (Score:2)
But my observation is actually not about MTV, because they actually do show videos on MTV2.
On top of these videos, though, they plaster the following:
Never forget: you are a CONSUMER (Score:2)
To an advertiser, a consumer is not a person: a consumer is a pair of eyeballs and ears to hear ads, a gullet to consume product, and an anus that craps cash.
You may notice the absence of a brain, taste, or discernment in that description.
You are not the customer for the media companies. You never were. You don't pay them squat. You may think
Who, Me? (Score:2)
Now for the open source version (Score:3, Interesting)
"Thumbs up" and "Thumbs down" info can also be aggregated, to provide ratings others can use. This drives a blog system, so you can go on and discuss what's good and what sucked. That's also useful as a way to make consensus corrections to the TV schedule, since the free sources of that info can be a little off.
The fastest and most accurate commercial-button pushers get listed on a web site as high scorers.
not a bad thing ( but I bet they screw it up ) (Score:2)
I have a series 2 tivo currently in the rotation and will see if I was one of the "lucky" ones.
There's previously had this functionality where you'd give the thumbs up during certain commercials and then it would take you to another screen where you could request additional information. Unfortunately the turn around time was pretty pathetic... 6 months
Re:errr.... (Score:2)
Time-shifting, season passes, pausing live TV, AND
Re:errr.... (Score:4, Funny)
Where can I get a refund for the hours of commercials I've watched for shit TV?
Re:errr.... (Score:2)
Ads on channels you pay for are wrong. Completely. We pay for the BBC through the Licence Fee, and all they do is let us know about other shows they're offering that we may be interested in. These take the form of the 30 second gaps whilst the next show is lined up properly. I'm not too familiar with TV in the states, but from what I've seen when I've been over there is that it takes the format of 20 minutes of a show, followed by 15 minutes of advertising. Is this tr
Re:MTV plays videos? (Score:2, Interesting)