It's theft. Your contract with the network... is you're going to watch the [ads].... Any time you skip a commercial... you're actually stealing the programming. " -- TBS Chairman Jamie Kellner
According to the Chairman of Turner Broadcasting, using a Tivo or other PVR to skip commercials (or a VCR, I suppose), amounts to stealing from the networks. Apparently, when watching TV you're supposed to sit still and not take your eyes off the television from the opening credits until the next time slot begins.
It's obvious sometimes why network executives have a hard time understanding the impact of new technologies -- often, they don't even have a grip on the behavior of their customers to start with. Hardly anyone sits there and attentively watches the commercials, unless there's nothing else to do. That includes staring at the carpet, going to the bathroom, thinking about going to bathroom, and (gasp!) flipping to other channels for a moment to see if perhaps there isn't something better on.
I could tell you this fight for the networks was a losing battle the day after I introduced a Tivo into my family's house -- my sister had already started making the "bah-doop" sound as she zipped through the commercial breaks. (I did point out that the Tivo even makes the sound for you.) Trust me, even if it was stealing, you're not going to get her to give up commercial skipping out of sympathy for your network. For some of us, the concept that skipping commercials is "outlaw" is even appealling... I didn't know I could be "anti-establishment" while watching Blind Date, but it seems I was wrong. Bah-doop!
Mr. Jamie C. Kellner
Chief executive of Turner Broadcasting
jck@turner.com
Dear sir:
This is not about taking a leak. You are allowed to go and return to read this message.
On page 18, Time Magazine published June 03/2002, appears your statement " If you don't watch the commercials, someone's going to have to pay for television, and it's going to be you. "
It is interesting a person in your position still does not wake-up to the reality that the public is who has been already paying for the commercials since day one of commercial television. That includes people that does not watch commercials or even do not watch television at all.
A television advertisement for any product or service is not paid by the owner of the business promoting it. And has never been.
The business owners do not reach into their pockets to pay for the commercials. They just raise the price paid by the consumer.
The consumer is who has been sustaining television existence and your personnel fat salaries.
Respectfully,
Miguel
A plain television watching person.