Fox tries to thwart DVR fast-forwarding

LONDON - Fox is running a 30-second television spot with just one static image in an effort to reach viewers who fast forward through ads using digital video recorders like TiVos.

U.K. advertisements for Fox's new drama, "Brotherhood," which premieres in Britain in October, simply shows an image of Providence, R.I., where the show is set, and the program's logo.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14935685/


I don't know about you, but there is a reason I fast foward through commercials. Perhaps its because I don't want to see them.

And there's a reason why you don't have to pay extra to watch non-premium channels...

Ooooh, and for those of us who watch TV "live," that'll just be a thriller of an ad. A static image with sounds from the show in the background. I'm all tingly.

So even when I couldn't fast forward through them I still got up, cleaned house, did laundry, went to the bathroom and avoided the commercials. Perhaps if they weren't so repetitive and dull we'd watch them!

It also saves time. If you have ever watched TV shows without the commercials, you only spend 42 minutes watching an hour long episode.

When 1/3rd of your TV time is spent watching ads, it's no wonder people seek to avoid them. If the average American spends 3 hours a day watching TV, that's 54 minutes of time watching fast food, cars, feminine products, and other various household items cavort across the screen.

Just angers me. I never buy anything I see on a commercial.

I avoid commercials as much as anyone else, but I cant be angry at their existance since they ultimately are the ones paying for my entertainment.

Personally I worry about the future of non subscriber television in the face of increasing amount of DVR's and downloads, and welcome more and more product placement because its someone else paying who isnt me. (Although tacky product placement is annoying, its still better then me spending money!)

I'd be watching much less tv if I had to watch the commercials.

Perhaps if they weren't so repetitive and dull we'd watch them!Agreed. Thirty second spots with jingles and loud announcers are so 50s. A static scene probably <i>would</i> catch the eye of live viewers, just because it breaks the mold.

There's one commercial that actually repeats itself twice. A local one for our G&E company. You hear that every commercial break and you're ready start hurling flaming cocktails through plate glass windows.

There's one commercial that actually repeats itself twice. A local one for our G&E company. You hear that every commercial break and you're ready start hurling flaming cocktails through plate glass windows.

Yes, but they achieved their goal... you remember the commercial :)

There's a new one about some crap headache treatment where they say 'Apply directly to the forehead' 3 times, without anything else. What sadist comes up with this garbage?

I thought a Hitchcock type Rope inspired chain of commercials would be a great gimmick during Super Bowl Sunday.

Where you have different products which segue into one another.

Or conversely, the same set up or scene for different products but with different directors.

And I always wanted to see the Budweiser horses go for the 2 pointer, instead of the 1.

They turned that bad commercial to their favor.

I saw it yesterday while cooking my lunch in the breakroom.

Headon apply directly to your forehead.

Then on walks a rather grumpy looking lady who says it and says "I hate your commercial, but I love your product."