TiVo is doing their own market research, and of course everyone is in cahoots with Microsoft. As a mother to three TiVos, I would not steer you wrong. Alternative media? Guess what, it's existed for a really long time now. As has "indy" media, blah blah blah. All visual communications tools are bridging together, and someone still has to pay for all that technology... doncha think? Go on with your alternative media exploits, playa.

Maybe you misunderstood me about black market cable descramblers. The money spent on those does not go to the cable company (as you seem to imply below). Neither does the money spent on TiVo go to the networks or cable companies that pay for the programming that TiVo profits from. See my point?

While networks are attempting to combat TiVo by incorporating commercials within the program (product placement), the independent and local stations don’t really have that option. I suppose they could make deals with the car manufacturers to pay for car chase coverage on local news programs (would be very profitable in LA). The reporters could then comment on that Dodge HEMI while they wait for the police to attempt the PIT Maneuver or the car thief slams into something or until he stops the car in front of his house and attempts to outrun the dogs (which ever comes first). The helicopter was made for this footage.

All the same, people are free to ignore sucky ads. But what TiVo is doing is hijacking other companies’ programming. That’s theft.

That is retro stuff. The proctor and gamble soap operas were orginally non commercials to get people to buy the product. And the variety hours were presented by so and so. Perhaps it is simply a swing back. There are some commercials I like the ones with cave men in them.

My mom has taped Days of Our Lives every single day for the past 20 years. And burned through about 10 VCRs in the process. She frequently tapes shows so she can skip commercials. Anyhow, I guess it all depends if you feel that you need to pay for public television by watching commercials. Really, should should pay for it by being a good consumer and going out and buying things. Just watching a spot doesn't make an advertiser any money. Comparing it to a TV descrambler is different--people pay actual dollars to a cable company. A public network is done on spec, with the hope that people will watch. TiVo is a high tech way of going to the bathroom, getting snacks. Again, in my opinion it's the challenge of the advertiser to create content that people actually want to watch. Match.com and Monster.com are expermenting with mini-soap operas that aren't ads. Other sponsors are "presenting" shows with no commercial interruption. TiVo is an example of how culture is showing advertisers that their spots are not working. If every spot was a Sportscenter ad, a Little Caesars or Quiznos commercial I'd never hit the skip button.

I believe most people use VCRs and DVD players to watch rented or purchased programming, while relatively few people use VCRs to record TV shows. TiVo’s sole purpose is to allow people to skip commercials on programming that’s paid for by advertisers. This function is not unlike illegal, cable TV descramblers. Both allow people to watch programs without paying the provider. Black market, cable TV descramblers siphon money away from the cable companies. TiVo siphons viewers away from the commercials that pay for the programs in the first place. It’s not a sustainable enterprise. TiVo should compensate the TV networks and cable companies for devaluing their product.

I love tivo. Things like Cop Rock is on everynight this week on trios flops. I need to have that in case I am in the mood for I need a cop who doesnt shoot blanks. Or the tv seiries of planet of the apes is on which is more like starsky and hutch on acid because they are in some brick city instead of apeland. I need to have this stuff. It defines me as a person and calms my soul. I can't stop working and watch it but I know it is there. Like a junky with a stash. That being said you are on the right track in being alternative.

TiVo is just a real-time higher tech version of a VCR, which people used to tape and then skip commercials. It's nothing new, it just makes it easier. Rather, if clients lived up to the challenge of making commercials people WANT to see, people would think twice about hitting that skip button. You have the opportunity to skip commercials when you go to a website, and this practice is allowed, why not be allowed to skip it on TV too?

Marc, I disagree. I think TiVo has finally begun to redeem itself. See current new story. However, do you think TiVo (if it doesn’t already) should pay the networks and cable companies a fee for devaluing the commercials that pay for the programming that makes TiVo possible in the first place? Why should TiVo get a free ride? How is TiVo different from an illegal cable descrambler box? Best always, Rob