Cable Companies Betting On Personalized Commercials
from the it's-a-step dept
It looks like cable companies are beginning to recognize that the existing TV commercial format is dying out and are hoping to move to much more personalized TV ads. Of course, what's likely to happen is that the first attempt at this is going to go badly -- just like the first attempts at personalized web ads. They won't be particularly relevant. They'll just be annoying. However, one part of the article suggests that the cable companies really are recognizing that ads are content, and if done well, people will search them out. They're hoping to eventually offer video on demand for commercials -- knowing that the best and most entertaining commercials will get people to seek them out, rather than fast forward through them. This is a very different way of thinking, and it's nice to see that at least a few in the industry are recognizing the shift.
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While we COULD see, LESS ads, tasteful and effective, that's NOT what we'll see. These people have never heard of limits and what I expect to see is more ads, annoying ads.
Why annoying? Think about this: These people will never limit themselves to the kind of info they gather, because they feel they have a right...and they'll never question their interpretations either. Imagine having company over and flipping on your Tivo and being flodded with ads for viagra or penis enlargement creams because you dared to rent that porn for a special weekend with your SO? Or maybe it's the ads for the latest gay dating site (only you're not gay, if you are, imagine getting flodded with ads for the nearest female strip joint).
These ads would not only give away private info about you and your interests (which granted, is not a big deal for MOST people) but I guarantee they'll MISINTERPRET the info they have as well.
Personalized ads is a GREAT idea as long as ANYONE but a marketer controls them.
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