Time Warner Cable To Enable Time Shifting... But Without A Fast Forward Feature
from the why-are-you-in-such-a-rush? dept
Back in 2003, Time Warner began work on what it hoped would be a TiVo-killer. It would be a centralized system that would allow people to time shift TV shows like they would with a local DVR, but all the processing and storage would be at Time Warner itself. Of course, even when this plan was first announced, many were skeptical. Other divisions within Time Warner wouldn't be happy about aiding and abetting consumers potentially skipping commercials. In fact, pressure from others eventually forced Time Warner to drastically scale back the plans and release a much simpler service that would let some users "start over" if they happened to pick up a show after it had started. There was no fast forwarding and no commercial skipping. You could just "start over." Of course, perhaps they were just doing that to avoid the inevitable lawsuit. A few years later, Cablevision decided that it would offer a centralized DVR and was quickly sued for doing so. Amazingly, Cablevision lost that case (though, there's still an appeals process).Time Warner, then, is obviously being careful as it expands it's "start over" service. It only took the company three years to morph the start over service into the "look back" service, that will basically let you watch any show that was broadcast earlier in the day. Of course, it only goes back one day, and you can't fast forward through the commercials. Apparently, there are still TV execs out there who think that commercial skipping isn't a key feature of DVRs. Rather than trying to prevent popular features, wouldn't these companies be better off coming up with creative ideas that don't involve pissing off customers?
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Filed Under: commercials, dvrs, fast forward
Companies: cablevision, time warner cable
Reader Comments
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"... my biggest pet peeve is jumping into a show halfway through and not being able to go back to the beginning (since the DVR only recognizes from the time you tune in). This would be great since I could restart the show and see it from the beginning."
This has happened to me too (mostly while channel surfing) and i'm sure it will happen again!
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what a STUPID idea
No thanks, Big Cable. I'll keep my DirecTV with my IN HOME DVR UNIT (that I own so NO one can take it away from me...big advantage of satellite, you CAN buy your own equipment)and keep skipping all the annoying, lame commercials. Hahahaha.
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Re: what a STUPID idea
The other option is to setup your own pvr and then you'll get the best of both worlds!
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OMG. You sound like you work for Time Warner. That's what all the cable companies brainwash you to believe. What you said above is 100% a lie. Back when Satellite TV was new, yes, whenever the weather shifted the signal would go out. That was 10 years ago. Things have changed and technology has gotten better. I've had DTV for 2 1/2 years now. When it rains, I hardly EVER have problems. I have friends who have cable and their TV goes out more often during rain or storms.
I live in WI, where it gets really cold and snows a lot in the winter. Last winter we had a big storm, 15 inches of snow. My dish was completely covered with snow, but somehow it only interrupted my signal for about 10 seconds. My TV was as clear as can be. I am not making this up. The dish can be soaked with rain or covered in snow and I still don't have any blackouts or signal isssues. The longest my service ever cut out for was a minute, and that was during a really BAD thunderstorm. Try using CABLE during a storm...it doesn't work. And you lose your Internet service, too. Lame.
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Re: Re: Re: what a STUPID idea
I don't like Time Warner either! That's why I said a PVR is the best solution. Read the post you jackass.
BTW you sound like a DirectTV spokesman!
Saying your DirectTV never goes out in bad weather is a 100% lie!
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Re: Re: Re: Re: what a STUPID idea
I never said my service NEVER goes out during bad weather. I said it HARDLY ever goes out, and when it DOES, it's only for a minute or two. That is NOT a lie. It's an observation I have made. Too bad your DTV didn't work, but it sounds like you didn't give it a chance to. Perhaps the idiot who installed your dish did it wrong. Did you call DTV to have them send out a tech to troubleshoot, or did you just assume because you got a bad tech and/or faulty dish that it's ALWAYS going to be that way??
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I would sure hope snow or rain doesn't stop it!
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I'm waiting...
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Kinda cool....
I do think they have some ways to go though. Not being able to skip forward is a huge drawback. Not from a commercial skipping standpoint, but generally I skip content I don't want to see (like if I'm looking for a particular news story).
I say kudos though for at least coming out with one useful feature that current DVRs don't have and would be desirable for people.
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Re: Kinda cool....
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Re: Re: Kinda cool....
Or sometimes it's only an episode I haven't seen before. I use my TiVo for shows I know I won't be awake for (so I do use the guide), am working through, or movies. I don't see the point in filling my TiVo up with crap while I'm at home.
My point was this feature is useful, and something TiVo doesn't offer. I know how to use a TiVo, I don't need tips. I am at least open-minded enough to think that being able to flip back to the start of an episode is a desirable thing for some people. Some people just see it as a Big Cable network making a useless feature, but I disagree.
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I wouldn't disagree with that.
Ahhh, so that's what this is all about. Not that anything I wrote was wrong or inaccurate, but it hurt your feelings. Sorry about that.
Again, I would agree.
Which people? Not the poster you replied to.
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I never said the TiVo program guide was a bad thing, someone misconstrued something along the way. I just said it does not help me much while channel surfing.
Ahhh, so that's what this is all about. Not that anything I wrote was wrong or inaccurate, but it hurt your feelings. Sorry about that.
I just get irritated at people who offer up advice about a service that most people already know how to use. Beside your tone was offensive, why should I take that?
Which people? Not the poster you replied to.
That was more of a general comment, but I don't even know who I'm replying to Anonymous Coward.
Still, I agree this service could compliment current DVR systems. I like it and would buy it if offered in my area, or upgrade, or whatever.
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That would make sense if I was a guy. How could me mom catch me "spanking it again" if I don't have it in the first place?
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The TiVo program guide suggestion wasn't in response to his example. So, just how did that his later example make the Tivo program guide into a bad thing to have ever suggested?
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Love technology
It makes me think that that when/if projection technology develops (for glass windshields in cars) to a stage where a car maker could maybe electronically "filter out" billboards ads from your line of vision as you drive, we'll suddenly hear billboard owners screaming about how GM or whoever is stealing ad revenue from them.
I personally could care less. Suck it captive audience ad revenue.
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Thank God for the DVR
O' by the way I too skip the ads. Screw advertising. I may be imagining things but a few years ago when a set of commercials came on there were like three of four commercials and back to the program, but these days it's like six sometimes seven commercials before they return to the program. In a microwave society of today who has the time and patients to sit through another commercial. Not Me...
Viva La DVR..
The Eggster
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"wouldn't these companies be better off coming up with creative ideas that don't involve pissing off customers?"
how is offering a free additional service going to piss off customers? They now have the chance to watch shows they wouldn't otherwise. I'm sure that's really going to piss them off.
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Please explain the additional charge TW is levying for the service.
That's what I thought.
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Uh huh. That's what I thought.
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Simple as that - I'll just not watch it - period :)
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Otherwise, thanks to other new technology - like Video Games, DVD - well to hell with it.
I'm VERY glad I don't have time warner with this news and I refuse to pay for a DVR that I can't fast forward, what kind of moronic approach is that. It's like paying for half a device.
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"I'm VERY glad I don't have time warner with this news and I refuse to pay for a DVR that I can't fast forward, what kind of moronic approach is that. It's like paying for half a device."
Again, it's a free service, halfwit.
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This is what happens when the government
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Yeah, kind of like the "free" car offer above.
I meant relatively free, as in no additional charges, which is why I used quotes. Do you want it absolutely free? Perhaps the government can pay Time Warner to roll out its products... socialized cable. Would that be preferable?
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This service is free. To Time Warner paying customers. You still haven't explained how it isn't free, beyond the obvious fact that Time Warner has the gall to charge for their services at all.
You pay for TW cable, you get this service for free. Seems pretty straightforward for anybody with more than a single-digit IQ.
(In case you're too stupid to tell, yes, there were some insults in there.)
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Just like the car above. To those who pay for the service cantract.
You pay for the service contract, you get the car for free. Seems pretty straightforward for anybody with more than a single-digit IQ, huh? What kind are you going to get?
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Perhaps, but the fact remains. You're a fucking idiot.
You still can't explain why Time Warner offering its customers a free additional service is something for which they deserve scorn.
But that's okay. The world needs idiots, too.
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I guess I can see what you're saying: if you think that Time Warner should charge money for services rendered then you probably rape children. It makes perfect sense.
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You're the first one here to say that and I must say that your thought process is truly scary if that is how you think. If it makes perfect sense to you then please get some "professional" help. Soon. And stay away from kids.
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To use the car analogy, I was "suckered" into getting a "free" car but have to pay a service contract of $55.24 a month to drive the "free" car. (which would be a very good deal, I know). Now someone offers me a newer version of my car, but the new one comes with navigation. It still costs $55.24 a month. Why wouldn't I swap it out? Because it's not free? I don't see the logic
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funny...
if you have a converter, you'll be able to access these features.
just because your too cheap to hook up the cable directly to your 1986 22inch TV, and complain that you cant get them. im sorry for you. these services require the terminal to access them. your tv is basic analog. the converter/terminal is required to access the encrypted data and read the digital signal that comes down the line, in UNICAST with the analog.
before you fucks complain about the technology. research it first, you all look like asses.
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Save the Day.
Secondly, if you had bothered to read the article, it clearly states:
This means it could actually *lower* your monthly bill, if you have their $10 DVR box, and you're happy with just being able to start a show over, you can downgrade to the non-DVR box and get *standard* Look Back feature.
Also, this flame war could have been prevented if, instead of using the word "free" you used the phrase "at no additional charge".
Now, I suggest you all meet at the sandbox after school and settle this like children, but until then, settle down and play nice. Agreed?
PS- The cable versus Dish bickering is almost, but not quite, as pathetic as the PC versus Mac bickering. Use what you want, it doesn't matter at all to me. :)
Have a great day! ;)
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Re: Save the Day.
That's a pretty big "if" and not one I'd think most people would go for. Along the same line of thought of giving up functionality in order to save money, you could just buy a DVR and record a bunch of shows and then cancel your cable entirely and save even more money. "If" you are willing to watch the same recorded shows over and over. Again though, that's a pretty big "if" and not one I'd think most people would go for.
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i don't know why you're cheering them. i'm tryin to give away free cars here but people here just aint biting. in spite of all the posts here defending that idea of "free", no one has signed up for a "free" car yet. who wouldn't want a free car? it's almost like they don't even believe their own arguments. heh, can you believe that? some people.
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Well
of course if I had the option, I'd get the box that allowed me to FF
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