TiVo : Adverts on the Pause Bar

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by steveqpr

It's not the 'exact same principal' [sic] at all. You paid for the magazine subscription knowing that the accompanying advertisements would be present - we didn't do that with our current Virgin service.

For heaven's sake, what are we going to moan about next? Talk about a storm in a teacup!

[colin25]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

For heaven's sake, what are we going to moan about next? Talk about a storm in a teacup!

a storm in a pause bar

[Chad]

Originally Posted by andy_m

In the same way a pvr such as TiVo allows you to skip adverts on recorded shows, so I certainly don't feel like I have adverts forced on me.

Virgin don't make it clear that they will show these adverts, although I had a TiVo before they started, so that may have changed. I wonder if a better question is, if they did were up front about it, would it actually put anybody off? And how, exactly, should they describe it?

Maybe Virgin could consider the Spotify approach.

A TiVo service that is heavily laced with adverts but doesn't cost the subscriber anything extra per month. Alternatively pay a monthly subscription for TiVo and get an ad free version.

[andy_m]

How does spotify work - ie. when do you see (hear!) the adverts?

I would imagine a few ads on the pause bar are a clever, unobtrusive, revenue stream, but wouldn't bring enough to allow subscription free TV??

[Chad]

Originally Posted by andy_m

How does spotify work - ie. when do you see (hear!) the adverts?

I would imagine a few ads on the pause bar are a clever, unobtrusive, revenue stream, but wouldn't bring enough to allow subscription free TV??

Here are the methods used by Spotify:

https://www.spotify.com/uk/about-us/...fy-ad-formats/

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Chad

If Virgin plan to use TiVo to generate revenue from advertisers, they should drop the monthly fee for the box that customers are paying.

Do you also think Sky should give away their ad-infested channels for free?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Do you also think Sky should give away their ad-infested channels for free?

Yes, I was far more surprised at the number of ads on the Sky premium channels!

[Chad]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Do you also think Sky should give away their ad-infested channels for free?

Maybe not free, but cheaper would be good

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:28 ----------

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, I was far more surprised at the number of ads on the Sky premium channels!

Your easily surprised then

[steveqpr]

Originally Posted by ocav

Well make a complaint and cancel.

You’re missing the point. As is mentioned by others, it’s the principle that is annoying.

Without wanting to sound like a stuck record, Virgin are generating revenue from their customers and then exploiting us by further generating money from those advertising with them. It’s a double whammy based purely on greed (unless anyone else can offer a reason for it) that grates.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

For heaven's sake, what are we going to moan about next? Talk about a storm in a teacup!

I’ll ‘moan’ about your irrelevant input into a valid thread if you wish?

Originally Posted by andy_m

In the same way a pvr such as TiVo allows you to skip adverts on recorded shows, so I certainly don't feel like I have adverts forced on me.

These adverts are ‘forced’ on you though aren’t they? Not in a Clockwork Orange ‘pin you down and open your eyes wide’ style, it’s subtly done but you have no choice in the matter.

Originally Posted by andy_m

Virgin don't make it clear that they will show these adverts, although I had a TiVo before they started, so that may have changed. I wonder if a better question is, if they did were up front about it, would it actually put anybody off? And how, exactly, should they describe it?

If they were up front about it then this thread wouldn’t exist and we’d all be carrying along merrily I would imagine – it’s not a deal breaker.

As for describing it, it’s pretty easy to say something along the lines of ‘Whilst viewing TiVo you may be subject to advertisements from some of our chosen partners and/or supporters’ (or something along those lines).

Again, it’s probably already been done and nestling somewhere in the T&C’s anyway.

[andy_m]

They are forced on you, I accept that. My point was more that because it's a pvr I'm now watching a lot fewer adverts than I ever did before I first got Sky + so I don't feel inundated with messages, and as a result I'm perhaps much happier to put up with this opportunism than I might have otherwise been. We're not, as a rule, a nation that has to contend with rampant commercialism - in my opinion, at least. I was watching an episode of Breaking Bad last night and in it two men were sat on a garish bench, the entire back board of which was given over to an advert for a local lawyer. It was eye catching in as much as a bench local to me is more likely to have a little plaque in memory of somebody on it. TiVo is an American system. Perhaps if we were more used to being subjected to advertising this would be less of an issue?

As an aside, Clockwork Orange is an awesome film!

From my personal viewpoint, the programme is usually on pause because I am doing something else, and not looking at the screen, so I can't say I have even noticed these ads......

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Chad

Your easily surprised then

Yes, it was in the early days of Sky, before I was an old boy!

---------- Post added at 18:52 ---------- Previous post was at 18:48 ----------

Originally Posted by steveqpr

You’re missing the point. As is mentioned by others, it’s the principle that is annoying.

Without wanting to sound like a stuck record, Virgin are generating revenue from their customers and then exploiting us by further generating money from those advertising with them. It’s a double whammy based purely on greed (unless anyone else can offer a reason for it) that grates.

I’ll ‘moan’ about your irrelevant input into a valid thread if you wish?

These adverts are ‘forced’ on you though aren’t they? Not in a Clockwork Orange ‘pin you down and open your eyes wide’ style, it’s subtly done but you have no choice in the matter.

I really don't see your point. Four tiny ads are displayed when you press the pause bar, and they disappear again as soon as you press play.

I have absolutely no problem with this, and nor do most people. If it helps to keep subscriber costs down, then good on Virgin.

To be honest, there are adverts almost wherever you look these days, I'm surprised you think this is such a big deal.

I think you should get out more. Try to ignore those adverts on the side of the buses, now. I know they didn't ask you first...

---------- Post added at 18:56 ---------- Previous post was at 18:52 ----------

Originally Posted by andy_m

They are forced on you, I accept that. My point was more that because it's a pvr I'm now watching a lot fewer adverts than I ever did before I first got Sky + so I don't feel inundated with messages, and as a result I'm perhaps much happier to put up with this opportunism than I might have otherwise been.

Actually I welcome this because I want much more choice in the On Demand system, and without ads on there, they must have difficulty in making this pay.

If the price of getting a much better library of on demand stuff was ads on the index pages and right at the beginning of any video of half an hour or more, I wouldn't complain, frankly.

---------- Post added at 18:56 ---------- Previous post was at 18:56 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

From my personal viewpoint, the programme is usually on pause because I am doing something else, and not looking at the screen, so I can't say I have even noticed these ads......

Quite!

[steveqpr]

Andy, whilst I can accept your perspective (and understanding) on the matter, I’m afraid I’m unwilling to accept the fact that Virgin appear to be exploiting its' customer base for their own personal gain. It says a lot about how we as customers are perceived by Virgin if that is the case which is a shame.

And yeah, ‘A Clockwork Orange’ is superb

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I really don't see your point. Four tiny ads are displayed when you press the pause bar, and they disappear again as soon as you press play.

My point is plastered all over this thread; if you can't see it then you're not reading my posts properly. It's not about size, placement or whatever else you're trying to conjure up, it's about principle.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I have absolutely no problem with this, and nor do most people. If it helps to keep subscriber costs down, then good on Virgin.

So, you believe that Virgin are using the advertiser's revenue to offset any increase in price that the provision of TiVo costs them and subsequently passing that 'saving' onto us? That's somewhat naive I would suggest.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think you should get out more...

Your vain attempt at garnishing a retort with this remark only serves to diminish your comments - I stopped reading after it.

[Skie]

Anyone got a picture of these?

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Skie

Anyone got a picture of these?

Here's one Lew prepared earlier
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post1283.html