Who has Tivo? - GoFuckYourself.com

FillmoreSlim · 06-02-2003, 12:35 PM

TiVo to sell data on viewing habits of subscribers
DVR SERVICES TRACK WHICH COMMERCIALS ARE WATCHED, SKIPPED
By Sam Diaz
Mercury News

TiVo, the San Jose company known for re-inventing television viewing through digital video recording, will begin selling advertisers data it collects on the viewing habits of its subscribers.

Through a back-end technology of TiVo's DVR service, TiVo executives can see which shows its users are watching live or recording and track when commercials are being watched, re-wound and watched again or zipped past through the DVR's fast-forward feature.

Compiled in a quarterly report -- generic for now, but customizable for specific clients later -- the data looks at how the 700,000 TiVo subscribers across the country are reacting to television commercials.

TiVo boxes download scheduling information over phone lines each night. They also upload a record of what was watched, recorded and skipped.

TiVo says it does not identify individual viewers but will customize the report to track, for example, viewing habits of Silicon Valley subscribers during the Super Bowl, the finale of American Idol or the Academy Awards.

``This is fascinating information,'' said Josh Bernoff, principal television analyst with Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass.

``Privacy is an addressable concern,'' he said. ``Theoretically, TiVo knows a huge amount of information about an individual. But they've sworn not to use it except in aggregate and are adamant about sticking to that pledge,'' said Bernoff, who does not have a business relationship with TiVo. ``As long as TiVo stays and business and maintains that pledge, I don't think it's a problem.''

Ratings tell advertisers which shows people are watching. But TiVo can tell them which shows have the highest rates of commercial skip-throughs or at which point in the commercial break that viewers reach for the fast-forward button.

``We're seeing trends where interest is being lost during certain shows,'' said Marty Yudkovitz, TiVo's new president and a former NBC executive ``This microcosmic data is in class of its own.''

Yudkovitz said he thinks TiVo has a ``gold mine'' of data. ``Once one advertising agency has the information and is using it, I don't know how the next one can live without it. Then come the networks. They'll need the data too,'' he said.

That's good news for TiVo, which has succeeded at building a brand name but has lagged in securing deals with the cable TV industry and it not yet profitable. Last quarter, the company brought in $28.5 million in revenue and reported a net loss of $7.9 million.

TiVo spent $300 million engineering the back-end viewer tracking technology during the development phase. The cost to crunch the numbers to create the reports -- even customized reports for specific clients -- is low compared to its value, Yudkovitz said.

``The margins are very, very high,'' he said.

Still, skeptics wonder how much value can come from the viewing habits of an elite group of users, those who have purchased a still-expensive product and pay a monthly premium.

Richard Fielding, vice president and director of research at Starcom USA in Chicago, thinks ad agencies will want to see the data initially, mostly because no one else is providing it.

``But does that mean that they'll come back quarter after quarter?'' asked Fielding, whose agency works with advertisers and networks to better understand media advertising.

AAnnAArchy · 06-02-2003, 12:40 PM

I have a TiVo and if they want to sell my viewing info, I don't care. If they want to know what commercials I skip, that's pretty easy...all of them. I don't start watching any program until it's already been on for at least 15 minutes, so I can skip all of the commercials. Okay, except for the dancing K-mart dude, I used to stop to watch him.

I love my TiVo. Next to my computer, it's my favorite thing ever.

El Mega · 06-02-2003, 02:17 PM

The modem on my Tivo is Broken.
Im contemplateing getting it fixed, getting another, or getting a differrnt system alltogether.
I hear there's a few other Live Video Reocrders out there.

loverboy · 06-02-2003, 02:20 PM

Penrod · 06-02-2003, 02:22 PM

I hooked my Tivo up and didn't read any instructions. When I first tried to change a channel on my digital cable box there is a delay of a couple of seconds. Then as the days went on the delay became as long as 5 minutes trying to chancge a channel. It is now in a closet because I am to lazy to read the instructions.

FillmoreSlim · 06-02-2003, 02:30 PM

Go with a graphics card-based option. Youll have more fun fucking around with a computer solution

http://www.computingreview.com/Video...2_2704crx.aspx

http://www.ati.com/products/pc/aiw9800pro/index.html

Plus, if you have a PS2, a really cool product is

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/video/5c3b/

http://www.madcatz.com/MadCatz/press...howDetails =1

building your own systems is way more pimp.

pimp.

FillmoreSlim · 06-02-2003, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penrod
I hooked my Tivo up and didn't read any instructions. When I first tried to change a channel on my digital cable box there is a delay of a couple of seconds. Then as the days went on the delay became as long as 5 minutes trying to chancge a channel. It is now in a closet because I am to lazy to read the instructions.

i cant operate a cellular phone.

i am still calling them cellular phones.

neewwman · 06-02-2003, 02:31 PM

Once you have TIVO you almost can't live without it.

I'm so used to it now that when I listen to talk radio I find myself having the impulse to "rewind" something I missed and I get frustrated.

Herb Kornfield · 06-02-2003, 02:51 PM

My digital cable crew here has a really nice and also free Video on Demand for most shows and you can pay for movies.

They are stored up to 60 days with my cable comapny and I just watch as I want to.

See ya Tivo.....

socalcash · 06-02-2003, 03:23 PM

Yeah..

That digital cable from TimeWarner/Tivo is awesome.

Hostedgallery · 06-09-2003, 02:22 PM

I have an UltimateTV, which is similar to TiVo/ReplayTV -- except that it's an integrated DirecTV dolby digital receiver/PVR all in one. Very cool stuff... some like TiVo better, some like UTV better, it's a toss-up.

However, for the Linux savvy geek... one might want to give this a shot:

http://www.mythtv.org

I came across an article yesterday on Wired about building your own homebrew PVR, and I was blown away after looking at some of the screen shots for MythTV.

I'm actually setting up a spare Athlon 1ghz machine right now with RedHat9 to be a dedicated MythTV box. Only about 60% setup so far with all required software, and then I'll have to pick up a TV tuner card or two... but it's an interesting project if I have the dedication to finish it up

The coolest part about this MythTV software is that you're using a PC, which is directly connected to the 'net, and running Linux. So your possibilites are really endless. PLUS... the frontend will interface with your games like MAME and stuff, so now you can play original Pacman on your 60" TV's

IKE · 06-09-2003, 04:01 PM

Should I buy Tivo or replay tv?

06-02-2003, 12:35 PM	#1
FillmoreSlim Confirmed User Join Date: May 2003 Location: streetz Posts: 1,236	Who has Tivo? TiVo to sell data on viewing habits of subscribers DVR SERVICES TRACK WHICH COMMERCIALS ARE WATCHED, SKIPPED By Sam Diaz Mercury News TiVo, the San Jose company known for re-inventing television viewing through digital video recording, will begin selling advertisers data it collects on the viewing habits of its subscribers. Through a back-end technology of TiVo's DVR service, TiVo executives can see which shows its users are watching live or recording and track when commercials are being watched, re-wound and watched again or zipped past through the DVR's fast-forward feature. Compiled in a quarterly report -- generic for now, but customizable for specific clients later -- the data looks at how the 700,000 TiVo subscribers across the country are reacting to television commercials. TiVo boxes download scheduling information over phone lines each night. They also upload a record of what was watched, recorded and skipped. TiVo says it does not identify individual viewers but will customize the report to track, for example, viewing habits of Silicon Valley subscribers during the Super Bowl, the finale of American Idol or the Academy Awards. ``This is fascinating information,'' said Josh Bernoff, principal television analyst with Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass. ``Privacy is an addressable concern,'' he said. ``Theoretically, TiVo knows a huge amount of information about an individual. But they've sworn not to use it except in aggregate and are adamant about sticking to that pledge,'' said Bernoff, who does not have a business relationship with TiVo. ``As long as TiVo stays and business and maintains that pledge, I don't think it's a problem.'' Ratings tell advertisers which shows people are watching. But TiVo can tell them which shows have the highest rates of commercial skip-throughs or at which point in the commercial break that viewers reach for the fast-forward button. ``We're seeing trends where interest is being lost during certain shows,'' said Marty Yudkovitz, TiVo's new president and a former NBC executive ``This microcosmic data is in class of its own.'' Yudkovitz said he thinks TiVo has a ``gold mine'' of data. ``Once one advertising agency has the information and is using it, I don't know how the next one can live without it. Then come the networks. They'll need the data too,'' he said. That's good news for TiVo, which has succeeded at building a brand name but has lagged in securing deals with the cable TV industry and it not yet profitable. Last quarter, the company brought in $28.5 million in revenue and reported a net loss of $7.9 million. TiVo spent $300 million engineering the back-end viewer tracking technology during the development phase. The cost to crunch the numbers to create the reports -- even customized reports for specific clients -- is low compared to its value, Yudkovitz said. ``The margins are very, very high,'' he said. Still, skeptics wonder how much value can come from the viewing habits of an elite group of users, those who have purchased a still-expensive product and pay a monthly premium. Richard Fielding, vice president and director of research at Starcom USA in Chicago, thinks ad agencies will want to see the data initially, mostly because no one else is providing it. ``But does that mean that they'll come back quarter after quarter?'' asked Fielding, whose agency works with advertisers and networks to better understand media advertising. __________________ New and Improved Chameleon Submitter 2.0 - Submit to TGP and MGP sites - GET YOURS TODAY!

06-02-2003, 02:17 PM	#3
El Mega Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: :So Fla: Posts: 1,014	The modem on my Tivo is Broken. Im contemplateing getting it fixed, getting another, or getting a differrnt system alltogether. I hear there's a few other Live Video Reocrders out there. __________________ Dating & Live Cams Offers Big Bucks Revenue Email: [email protected] Skype: MiamiMega

06-02-2003, 02:30 PM	#6
FillmoreSlim Confirmed User Join Date: May 2003 Location: streetz Posts: 1,236	Go with a graphics card-based option. Youll have more fun fucking around with a computer solution http://www.computingreview.com/Video...2_2704crx.aspx http://www.ati.com/products/pc/aiw9800pro/index.html Plus, if you have a PS2, a really cool product is http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/video/5c3b/ http://www.madcatz.com/MadCatz/press...howDetails =1 building your own systems is way more pimp. pimp. __________________ New and Improved Chameleon Submitter 2.0 - Submit to TGP and MGP sites - GET YOURS TODAY!

06-02-2003, 02:31 PM	#8
neewwman Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,737	Once you have TIVO you almost can't live without it. I'm so used to it now that when I listen to talk radio I find myself having the impulse to "rewind" something I missed and I get frustrated. __________________ Porn Wealth Everything the newbie adult webmaster needs to know. Buy it, or sell it through our 50% affiliate program!

06-02-2003, 03:23 PM	#10
socalcash Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 323	Yeah.. That digital cable from TimeWarner/Tivo is awesome. __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, then you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60.

06-02-2003, 12:40 PM	#2
AAnnAArchy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 53	I have a TiVo and if they want to sell my viewing info, I don't care. If they want to know what commercials I skip, that's pretty easy...all of them. I don't start watching any program until it's already been on for at least 15 minutes, so I can skip all of the commercials. Okay, except for the dancing K-mart dude, I used to stop to watch him. I love my TiVo. Next to my computer, it's my favorite thing ever.

06-02-2003, 02:20 PM	#4
loverboy When it rains, it pours Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 20,609

06-02-2003, 02:22 PM	#5
Penrod Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,578	I hooked my Tivo up and didn't read any instructions. When I first tried to change a channel on my digital cable box there is a delay of a couple of seconds. Then as the days went on the delay became as long as 5 minutes trying to chancge a channel. It is now in a closet because I am to lazy to read the instructions.

06-02-2003, 02:51 PM	#9
Herb Kornfield Is on the 1 Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philly Burbs Posts: 4,996	My digital cable crew here has a really nice and also free Video on Demand for most shows and you can pay for movies. They are stored up to 60 days with my cable comapny and I just watch as I want to. See ya Tivo.....

06-09-2003, 02:22 PM	#11
Hostedgallery Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 37	I have an UltimateTV, which is similar to TiVo/ReplayTV -- except that it's an integrated DirecTV dolby digital receiver/PVR all in one. Very cool stuff... some like TiVo better, some like UTV better, it's a toss-up. However, for the Linux savvy geek... one might want to give this a shot: http://www.mythtv.org I came across an article yesterday on Wired about building your own homebrew PVR, and I was blown away after looking at some of the screen shots for MythTV. I'm actually setting up a spare Athlon 1ghz machine right now with RedHat9 to be a dedicated MythTV box. Only about 60% setup so far with all required software, and then I'll have to pick up a TV tuner card or two... but it's an interesting project if I have the dedication to finish it up The coolest part about this MythTV software is that you're using a PC, which is directly connected to the 'net, and running Linux. So your possibilites are really endless. PLUS... the frontend will interface with your games like MAME and stuff, so now you can play original Pacman on your 60" TV's __________________ <a href="http://www.hostedgallery.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.hostedgallery.com/boardimages/1_animated.gif" width="120" height="60"></a> <font face="Verdana" size="2">ICQ: <a href="http://wwp.icq.com/scripts/contact.dll?msgto=333015437">333015437</a> AIM: <a href="aim:goim?screenname=hstdgallery&message=Hell o+There.">hstdgallery</a></font>

06-09-2003, 04:01 PM	#12
IKE Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: seattle wa usa Posts: 358	Should I buy Tivo or replay tv?