The box that skips ads

[alwaysabear]

I thought there may be some who might be interested in this story on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18206803

[Maggy J]

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

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.

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.

I can see their point as it is the income from the ads that sponsors the shows.On the other hand American shows sometimes seem like ads interrupted by shows..



---------- Post added at 20:38 ---------- Previous post was at 20:35 ----------

Threads merged

[Sirius]

I wondered how long it would take before the rights owners saw a pay check from this.

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.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

I thought there may be some who might be interested in this story on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18206803

Trust the yanks to try to stop it .If it is allowed all we will see is more blatant product placement .
Maybe Newton & Ridley will be replaced by the highest bidding brewer with their name placed over the Rovers front door and Betty's hot pot replaced by Birds Eye ready meals

[colin25]

I use the fastforward button..fast forward x30..slow to x12..start it right at point of programme

Only ad i see is the final seconds of the last ad during the break...eg Joop for men...guessing that is about purple gook..

[Rob]

Many of us might well record and fast forward, or at least use a time slip mode to do the same. But even if we do FWD over ads we still get some small glimpses as the screens flash up else we don't know when to stop.

You can see the problem though. Advertising funds most programme creation, as even the TV stations that import have to fund that import, unless they are one of the fortunate government financed public service broadcasters like BBC. There may be a small income from DVD type sales. We know the iplayer model has yet to generate income and infact probably costs as there is very little adverts that we can all skip through.

Some suppliers use the SKY model and charge high subscription fees to customers or transmission fees to providers like Virgin Media to fund their channels, but even then supplement with some advertising. It seems the transmission cost model is the one being most challenged here, but if advertising income, already dissipated by the wider choice of digital is weakened then one has to wonder how anyone can afford to make programmes unless we start directly allowing adverts to be overtly scripted into programmes with overt product placement and such like.

[nodrogd]

A new set top satellite box that allows US TV viewers skip ad breaks in recorded programmes automatically has ended up in the US law courts. TV companies are claiming that the PVR is making an unauthorized version of a copyrighted show by removing it's internal advertising.

BBC News article Here

Should a programme maker be able to claim that adverts are an integral part of a programme?

[Hugh]

Whilst I am uncomfortable with the suit being brought, if there are no ads to pay for the programme, there will be no programmes.

[Maggy J]

Threads merged.

Please check before posting a new topic that there isn't already a thread about the subject..you may need to check in more than one forum.

[Sirius]

There has been a result in this case

A bid to block a TV service that allows viewers to automatically skip adverts on recorded shows has been rejected.

Fox had called for a preliminary injunction on Dish Network's Autohop ahead of a copyright ruling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20251723