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ABC and Comcast remove Fast Forward from VOD offering

25 February 2008 21:55 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 18 comments

ABC executives have managed to convince themselves that viewers really don't care about fast forwarding, or at least that's the official company line, as voiced by Anne Sweeney, the president of the Disney-ABC television group. She was speaking about a new Video On Demand venture the Disney owned network is initiating with the cooperation of affiliate stations and cable carrier Cox Communications which will disable the fast forward capabilities normally associated with on demand offerings.

Sweeney told the New York Times �You don�t need TiVo if you have fast-forward-disabled video on demand. It gives you the same opportunity to catch up to your favorite shows.� Perhaps no one has told her that Americans would prefer to spend the 25% - 30% of each show's running time that's devoted to commercials doing something more interesting than watching the same commercials over and over.

The cluelessness of the executives who made this decision was summed up well by Ray Cole. He's the president of Citadel Communications, owner of three ABC affiliates, who said �As network and affiliates, we both have an interest in slowing down the explosive growth of DVRs.�

What's even more interesting than the position of ABC and their affiliates is that of Cox. If this new offering doesn't appeal to viewers they'll almost certainly bear the brunt of customer dissatisfaction. If you don't like their cable service you're likely to have other options, such as satellite. If you want to watch the latest episode of 'Desparate Housewives' or 'Ugly Betty' it will still be coming from ABC.

DVRs

Directv R15

DISH Network ViP622 DVR

TiVo Series2 TCD649180

NBC Universal to experiment with sponsor-centric content (22 April 2008)

DirecTV begins beta testing video on demand (13 March 2008)

TiVo beats analysts' predictions (6 March 2008)

Consumers approve of ad-supported streaming (5 March 2008)

DVR manufacturer adjusts focus back to core market (15 January 2008)

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Blackjax (Member) 26 February 2008 0:38
Just another fine example of the executive mentality who couldn't run a paper route properly! I will only say this to those CEO's ....... Eventually you myopic bloodsuckers will learn one thing. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. Just my 6 cents. (It went up because of oil) [ + quote]
ripxrush (Newbie) 26 February 2008 4:10
okay i dont even want to get into the real reasons for this but if i PAY for a PAYPERVIEW or ON DEMAND movie i WANT to be able to fast froward threw oh say i am watching a movie that is good but there is a scene that i don't want my kids to watch i cant FF threw it?! for get about the commercials there are other reasons & this just made there DR USELESS!!! lmfao! [ + quote]
rvlikens (Newbie) 26 February 2008 6:31
Wow.. I was just about to switch from WOW to Comcast. Glad I read this. Even if I do save 7 bucks a month going to CC, I'll stick to Wide Open West. Now, lets see. Hasn't it always been the MASTER PLAN for big television to stop us from getting past those stupid ass comercials? Whatever heard of the feature "commercial skip"? [ + quote]
SProdigy (Member) 26 February 2008 8:43
It's already bad enough that the networks zap banners across the screen AFTER the commercial break, promoting anything from products to the show that comes in 15 minutes. I'm just waiting for every sitcom and reality show personality to wear a shirt that resembles a Club America jersey, and hop into their "NASCAR". [ + quote]
xdgen84 (Junior Member) 26 February 2008 8:56
I was worried when the title said Comcast, but after reading and Finding it was Cox, and not Comcast, I'm a bit reassured. They chose a bad road to go down, I hope it doesn't actually spread to other companies like Comcast, etc. It may be good to note a change in the misleading title, however. [ + quote]
emugamer (Junior Member) 26 February 2008 12:11
*Quote:* �As network and affiliates, we both have an interest in slowing down the explosive growth of DVRs.� Well, that sums up the Corporate mentality. Don't grow with technology. Stunt growth. Slow progress to keep the money filling the pockets. $$$$$$ Capitalism... Corporate America... The Have's vs the Have-Nots... My yacht is bigger than yours... $$$$$$ [ + quote]
ddp (Moderator) 26 February 2008 12:18
title edited [ + quote]
Zippy84 (Junior Member) 26 February 2008 14:31
OK.. the title says Comcast is removing it but the entire article says Cox and nothing about Comcast.... which company is it?? [ + quote]
ddp (Moderator) 26 February 2008 14:41
cox. [ + quote]
drach (Newbie) 26 February 2008 19:56
*Quote:* You don�t need TiVo if you have fast-forward-disabled video on demand. It gives you the same opportunity to catch up to your favorite shows. Is it just me, or is that a very good reason to get a tivo? Why would i want to pay the cable company for commercials? That is just as bad as the bastards that abuse Prohibited User Operations on DVDs for commercials. I am so sick of the constant bombardment of advertisements in any and every imaginable form of media. Whats next, the commercial channel? Pay-Per-View commercials? I think i will stick with broadcast TV, at least they have a reasonable excuse to show ads(you don't pay for it). [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 26 February 2008 22:36
Boy they just keep getting Dumber And Dumber everyday. [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 1 March 2008 12:06
HMMM does ANYONE remember the days when you got cable because IT DID NOT HAVE COMMERCIALS!!!!! Bend over America here comes the corporation! [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 1 March 2008 12:06
HMMM does ANYONE remember the days when you got cable because IT DID NOT HAVE COMMERCIALS!!!!! Bend over America here comes the corporation! [ + quote]
sguss (Newbie) 9 March 2008 0:34
Here around Houston Cox was bought out by Comcast, so they are now one in the same. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 19 April 2008 19:36
Fastforwarding is key thing to have when dealing with online video content. I just wish executives realize this fact that yes we do want this function so that we can fast forward past the crap ads you put before the actualy video that we wanna watch. [ + quote]
rvlikens (Newbie) 25 April 2008 2:59
Well no fast forward.. what's next, not being able to change the channel during a comercial break? Well people, it's time to get our BIG FAT assess off the couch and take a walk around the block. Don't hear anyone bitching about not being able to fast forward DVD's past the FBI warning and some trailers to go right to the menu. Thank god for 1clickcopy. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 25 April 2008 3:00
phobet (Newbie) 13 May 2008 17:29
I could understand them disabling the fast forward function if the video was to be streamed via the Internet. After all, someone has to to pay for bandwidth, and if this is a free service, then it would be a legitimate way to go. But if this is to be a pay service, then the media company execs need to wake up, and get a clue. No one wants to pay for video they are forced to watch. This is akin to putting ads on the DVDs you buy, advertising other movies - and they play before you you even get to the DVD menu(s). The only thing this is used for is for people to get their popcorn ready for the movie they originally bought the DVD for. [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 13 May 2008 18:21
Cheaters. Shame on you !! If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]