Another example of controversy regarding technology and publishing... -- In response to a question on why personal video recorders (PVR's) were bad for the industry, Kellner [the Turner Netowrk CEO] responded: "Because of the ad skips.... It's theft. Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial or watch the button you're actually stealing the programming." -- The above snippet came from 2600 magazine Web site at http://www.2600.com/news/display.shtml?id=1113 and the full text of the interview at http://www.inside.com/product/product.asp?entity=CableWorld&pf_ID=7A2ACA71-FAAD-41FC-A100-0B8A11C30373
In the interview, Jamie Kellner the CEO, has this gem of a response to a person video recorder question about minor time shifting: -- CW: What if you have to go to the bathroom or get up to get a Coke? JK: I guess there's a certain amount of tolerance for going to the bathroom. But if you formalize it and you create a device that skips certain second increments, you've got that only for one reason, unless you go to the bathroom for 30 seconds. They've done that just to make it easy for someone to skip a commercial. -- Wow! I am glad that I am not going to be considered a "thief" for walking out of the room to use the loo when the commercials are on. (But the CEO might consider me a "thief" for muting the commercials and talking with my wife. <g> "That guy has to get priorities straight! Doesn't he know that ads are a part of homeland security. They help to support the consumer economy. If you skip ads, you are in league with Osama and his buddies.")
