[IP] more on Philips device could force TV viewers to watch ads

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "William S. Duncanson" <caesar@starkreality.com>
Date: April 20, 2006 4:30:09 PM EDT
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: RE: [IP] Philips device could force TV viewers to watch ads

Although the public details of this are limited at the present time, one
wonders what would be stopping "broadcasters" from preventing users from
changing channels during the show as well?  Maybe I'm a cynic, but I  
foresee
"broadcasters" using this technology to force viewers to either watch
"Survivor 2015: LAX" or pay up.

--
William S. Duncanson
caesar@starkreality.com

-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber [mailto:dave@farber.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 14:29
To: ip@v2.listbox.com
Subject: [IP] Philips device could force TV viewers to watch ads



Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@warpspeed.com>
Date: April 20, 2006 8:40:30 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@warpspeed.com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Philips device could force TV viewers to watch  
ads
Reply-To: dewayne@warpspeed.com

Philips device could force TV viewers to watch ads

By Candace Lombardi
<http://news.com.com/Philips+device+could+force+TV+viewers+to+watch
+ads/2100-1041_3-6062861.html>

Story last modified Wed Apr 19 13:34:08 PDT 2006

An invention from Royal Philips Electronics prevents TV viewers from
switching the channel during commercials or fast-forwarding past  
commercials
when watching DVR content.

Viewers would be released from the freeze only after paying a fee to the
broadcaster. The freeze would be implemented on a program-by- program  
basis,
giving viewers a choice at the start of each one.

According to a recently published patent, the apparatus could work  
inside a
set-top box. It would use the standard Multimedia Home Platform to  
receive a
first control signal and then respond by taking control of the TV.  
The MHP
would also be capable of sending the payment information that would  
lift the
freeze, as it does when authorizing pay-per-view content.

If implemented, the invention would have a significant impact on  
television
culture.

Many TV viewers are accustomed to the habit of watching two programs  
at once
by flipping back and forth between channels during commercials.  
Philips' own
remote controls currently cater to this habit with a button that
automatically flips back to the last-watched channel.

The proposed apparatus would also aggravate children who use DVRs to zip
through commercials to maximize their weekly TV-watching limits, set by
parents. Some DVR technology even lets viewers watch one channel while
recording another.

So, why then, would a television manufacturer risk angering its consumer
base? Philips says: Don't shoot the inventor.

With this technology, it was the company's intention to develop a new
paradigm for the watching of on-demand television, not to force  
people to
watch commercials, said Caroline Kamerbeek, communications director for
Philips International.

[snip]

Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>



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