"New Technology May Force TV Ad Viewing"
TiVo could tell you - 'cause you know they track what we watch and record - that often I don't zip through adverts and occasionally rewind to watch them. For the most part, though, I really don't watch the buggers at any speed. As while writing this post, adverts are merrily passing by during my recorded episode of Mythbusters.
Apparently this isn't good enough for some advertisers. "A patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office says researchers of the Netherland-based consumer electronics company have created a technology that could let broadcasters freeze a channel during a commercial, so viewers wouldn't be able to avoid it" (Yahoo! News).
If this works on live TV then we are in trouble. Isn't that when you usually change channels? Then there is the question if this is legal. I'd attack that question from the idea of suitability for use. If I pay for my cable connection, for example, would it still suit my use if I cannot change the channel at will? Over the air programming would be acceptable fodder for the such disruption as no promise of usability if made.
On the whole, adverts aren't really that objectionable, rather other factors make theme objectionable. For example, anyone who watches the FX network with any frequency will tell you the same commercials are run over and over again, often with the same spot showing up in 4 out of 5 breaks within the same hour. Related to this is the incessant self-promotion that networks indulge in. Same goes for my cable provider.
Most annoying are the banner and corner teasers networks use to promote programming. Again, the FX network comes to mind as a prime offender but this is a common practice. These mini-adverts distract from the primary content with motion and sound.
If the public doesn't complain then we are either complicit or complacent. Either way the advert annoyances will continue. At least until something more annoying comes along.
