Cox disables ad skipping on ABC and ESPN VOD content

The constant battle between impatient television viewers and disgruntled providers got a shot of adrenaline today, as Walt Disney's two biggest channels have inked a deal with Cox Communications that is sure to simultaneously appease marketers and enrage customers. Reportedly, Cox will now begin to "disable the fast-forward feature that allows viewers to skip ads" in both ABC and ESPN video-on-demand, meaning that users who choose to view older programming via Cox's VOD channels can smash the FF button 'til their heart's content and get nowhere. Of course, users who actually set their DVR to record said content at its normal airing time are still free (for the moment, at least) to blaze right on through those annoying blips commercials, which means that you should probably become a lot more disciplined in your DVR scheduling if you belong to Cox. The worst (or best, depending on perspective) part is the precedent that this sets, as now the door is gaped wide open for more and more providers to grab the reigns of our DVRs and dictate just how far we push the notion of timeshifting. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Via TechMeMe]

[Zorque @ May 9th 2007 2:24AM]

Something already does pay for that programming. It's called a subscription fee, and it's often upwards of $50 a month.

[B @ May 8th 2007 11:06PM]

Yet more evidence that my decision to do ALL my television recording on my PC was the right one. I wouldn't dare let ANYONE, let alone some provider, f*** around with content I paid for.

[Ryan @ May 8th 2007 11:27PM]

It's called "Cocks" for a reason!

[milrtime83 @ May 8th 2007 11:47PM]

I don't completely agree with them being able to prevent fast forwarding but you did leave out part of the story....this sentence is misleading "Cox will now begin to 'disable the fast-forward feature that allows viewers to skip ads'" This is only for the video on demand service that will be available for certain shows the day after they air. You completely ignore the fact that they are offering this new service to customers.

"which means that you should probably become a lot more disciplined in your DVR scheduling if you belong to Cox" this sentence makes little sense, if you aren't disciplined in DVR scheduling now you simply can't watch it unless it is aired again as opposed to being able to watch it but forced to watch commercials.

[Jeramy @ May 9th 2007 12:16AM]

yeah i hate cox. their commercials are on par with taco bell. GOOD TO GO DUDE LAWL!!!

[o29 @ May 9th 2007 4:49AM]

Digital Max is the worst.

[Philip S @ May 9th 2007 12:22AM]

Sounds like time to invest in a CableCard Media Center PC or a Tivo Series 3.

[JK @ May 9th 2007 12:23AM]

I know one cable service I won't be subscribing to. I bet you will see some subscribers cancel over this. If DirecTv implements this they will loose atleast one customer as well. Netflix and OTA hooked up to an HTPC is starting to look better and better.

[Lazarus Dark @ May 9th 2007 6:05AM]

I'm with comcast and I pay like 15 or so extra a month for hddvr + dvr service. If they start crippling my ability to use said dvr, then they had better start giving it away, otherwise I'll be moving to sat. And if the sat company starts with it, then maybe I'll just go with online downloads. I saw a website where a guy was experimenting with getting all of his content from dvd/legal online download.

[Davo @ May 9th 2007 7:27AM]

If you actually read the article you would have noticed the part that says..

"The agreement only applies to programs available on Cox's video-on-demand menu, so it doesn't affect viewers using digital video recorders to fast forward through ads."

This is only going to affect your FF capabilities on 'some' programming from ABC/ESPN on Cox's Video on-Demand service. This does not affect your ability to FF on regular content recorded on your DVR.

[Jeff @ May 9th 2007 7:38AM]

It's just VOD, people. Who the hell watches VOD?

Get a DVR like a normal person.

[Blue @ May 9th 2007 9:50AM]

"It's just TV, people. Who the hell watches TV?

Get a life, like a normal person."

Fixed that one for ya.

[J @ May 10th 2007 12:53AM]

This is in regards to their VOD service. I don't think this will upset anyone as Cox's VOD offering sucks and is horribly slow, hence no one uses it anyway.

[Coyote @ May 10th 2007 8:44AM]

Zorque is right, I pay roughly $120 for my cable/internet and yet I still have to sit through idiotic commercials that have nothing to do with the programming Im watching. Maybe if commercials were specific (tech/travel items on discovery, nike/rebock on ESPN, maxipads on lifetime) but more often a commercial will make me stop what I'm watching and change the channel. Glad I got a multituner DVR so if I like something, I hit record as soon as the first commercial comes on and do something else for 15-20 minutes.

[joseph @ May 14th 2007 7:56PM]

FYI:on-demand is not standard DVR content. On-Demand = Channel 1. it is the new pay-per-view & a way to get back content. i.e HBO's Rome.

In other news ON-Demand loses all of its remaining fans.

I have hated on-demand since day 1. it is sooo slow and lame.

[Jeff @ May 19th 2007 12:38PM]

Yeah, again, I agree..
Every advertising lover or advertising agent on this site is so transparent..
I pay 160/mo for my cable and internet together from comcast.
It's a bit high, but lets say the average is 100 dollars. How many subscribers do they have?
Let me get a calculator out... well, why bother the display is just going to show me that little E...
They can't upstream and support decent programming for the billions they make already? oh, PLEASE.