[opendtv] TiVo: It's About Time

From: Monty Solomon <monty@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: undisclosed-recipient: ;
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 13:22:49 -0400

News Analysis

TiVo: It's About Time

Thanks to the Digital Video Recorder, viewers can watch their 
favorite shows in almost half the time. But will "speed viewing" 
become a national trend? And, if so, should network programmers 
reduce the length of their shows?

By Phillip Swann

Washington, DC (April 14) -- I just watched 60 Minutes in 42 minutes. 
Earlier today, I watched the 90-minute SportsCenter on ESPN in 70 
minutes. And last night, I watched a 30-minute episode of Malcolm in 
the Middle in 22 minutes.

Have I invented a new time machine that can slow down the clock? 
Well, not quite. But one could argue that TiVo, and other Digital 
Video Recorder services, have. With a DVR, you can watch a recorded 
show in nearly half the time by fast-forwarding through the 
commercials and other "extraneous"material such as the credits.

Here's how it works: Let's say you recorded 60 Minutes on Sunday 
night. When you sit down to watch the recorded version, you simply 
hit the Fast-Forward button on your DVR whenever a commercial break 
begins. The DVR's Fast-Forward feature is so fast that you can sail 
past two minutes of commercials in 3-4 seconds. (EchoStar, the 
satellite TV service, actually has a convenient 30-second skip 
button.)

Then, when the commercials are over, you hit the play button and 
continue to watch. By eliminating the commercials, you can reduce the 
program's time by 25-30 percent. If you also use the Fast-Forward 
button to eliminate other material, such as the credits or opening 
theme songs, the percentage jumps to 35-40 percent or more.

...

http://www.tvpredictions.com/tivo041404.html
 
 
 
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[opendtv] TiVo: It's About Time

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