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TiVo to Launch Advertisement Search

MONDAY NOVEMBER 28 2005 3:00 PM

Submitted by WilWheaton. Edited By WilWheaton.

No, it's not opposite day, and yes, you read that correctly. Someone at TiVo thinks that consumers really love commercials so much, they want to be able to search through their recorded content just to find them.

[TiVo] on Monday said it is working on technology that lets viewers search for specific advertisements.

The technology, which is expected to launch in early 2006, is the latest sign of the advertising industry's efforts to reach consumers who are taking advantage of high-tech products to escape the traditional ad pitch.

[. . .]

The advertising service will let subscribers search for a product by category or keyword, then TiVo would deliver matching commercials to the consumer's set-top box.

Soooo . . . TiVo users complain by the tens of thousands that they want to be able to skip commercials, and TiVo gives them the ability to search for specific commercials?! Uh, okay.

TiVo must have done some market research for this feature, which leads me to wonder, who are the idiots claiming to be technology enthusiasts that TiVo talked to? I can understand using this exciting new feature to search for the Twins, or Maria Sharapova . . . but the Dell dude? Or those annoying Rockr commercials? If this technology works, I hope TiVo quickly opens it to all of their programming, so we can instantly search for that episode of Diff'rent Strokes where Arnold beats up the Gooch.

9 Comments

capitalistfig

Los Angeles, CA

November 2004

NOV 28, 2005 03:09 PM

I actually just record the commercials on television. That way I can do a home version of I ♥ 2005. I'm way ahead of my time though.

Remember the air freshener that shot out puffs of gas? *cut to hilarious clip of commercial*

skeptik

New Orleans, LA

February 2004

NOV 28, 2005 03:25 PM

Well, considering the popularity of those "World's Greatest Commercials" specials, I'm not too surprised at this.
After all, the problem I have with commercials isn't just that I hate them, it's that I don't have a choice about watching them (on regular TV). And isn't TiVo all about choice?

Hati

North Hollywood, CA

December 2003

NOV 28, 2005 05:31 PM

This is a very good thing in my fantasy world, because it will encourage people to actually make good interesting commericals, that people will want to watch. Of course, in some markets, that's pretty much impossible, but, it could help at least.

hadees

Austin, TX

December 2003

NOV 28, 2005 05:39 PM

And this is why I use MythTV. Don't have to pay for Tivo's service and I get amazing commercial skiping ability.

The only down side is most people aren't really tech savy enough to build their own MythTV box.

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN

July 2003

NOV 28, 2005 09:46 PM

There are some commercials in European countries I wouldn't mind searching for. I'd just as soon skip all the ones I've seen in the US.

Pwndcake

Portland, OR

October 2004

NOV 28, 2005 10:40 PM

Thank god. I just can't get enough of those Enzyte commericals, but they never seem to be on when I watch tv. My prayers have been answered.

Bastardo

Boston, MA

January 2005

NOV 29, 2005 03:15 AM

I wouldn't mind seeing this one on TiVo. If I had a TiVo. Which I don't.

PS The gooch, hahahahahahahaha

dem_z

United Kingdom

June 2004

NOV 29, 2005 05:08 AM

My mother records UK tv for my sister who lives in the US. They started watching the last tape my mum sent over. It started with a car ad. Then there was another one. And a third car ad. "These are all really good car ads," thought my sister, "perhaps this is a car show?" and then they realised that no, ma had just recorded the car ads. About half an hour of them.

Kind of worrying when your parents get that old.

hellomrworld

Westbrook, ME

December 2003

NOV 29, 2005 07:17 AM

i could see the Maria Sharapova search or something .. or perhaps looking for a director ... guys like Gondry and Spike Lee started in commercials ...

TiVo is trying to figure out how to get add money I guess