Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (
More info?)
Rich Whalen wrote:
> There was an advertisement for the movie "The Interpreter" during "24"
> this evening. It had a "Thumbs Up" which would provide more
> information and I used the Thumbs up to see the information. Now,
> when I'm fast forwarding or fast rewinding I get an overlay in the
> center of the screen for the movie.
--------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from ZDNet News,
located at
http
/news.zdnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
By Richard Shim
URL:
http/news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-5644197.html
TiVo began testing interactive advertising tools during the weekend as it
looks to appease companies wary of users' ability to skip over ads.
The company confirmed late Monday that it released the first in a series of
advertising features to a random and limited number of subscribers to the
digital-video recorder service. The first test feature--a tag--pops up on the
screen when a viewer is fast-forwarding through an advertisement.
If viewers press the thumbs-up or select button during the half second the tag
is displayed, they will be redirected to a menu that leads to more information
about the advertised product. The tag takes up about 25 percent of the screen,
according to the company. TiVo said it is working with only one advertiser, a
movie studio, on the trial balloon.
TiVo has been developing interactive advertising technology for some time, and
while advertising accounts for just a fraction of TiVo's overall revenue, it
could become more substantial. The interactive features would give advertisers
information on consumer interest and, possibly, better access to couch potatoes.
Interactive advertising was part of TiVo's distribution deal with Comcast
announced earlier this month.
The tools will be tested only on Series2 TiVo owners, but once completed could
be applied to Series 1 and DirecTiVo customers. Subscribers can't opt out of
the feature, but they can ignore the tags.
"Our goal is in no way to interfere with the TiVo experience," TiVo spokesman
David Shane said.
Some viewers initially experienced technical problems with the advertising
tag, according to Web postings, which TiVo confirmed and said only affected a
small group of those involved in the test.
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