Nerve Endings Firing Away

Some facts and figures from ad tech Chicago 2006 TV 2.0 panel [via]:

1. 33 percent want TV-like features of their PCs2. 15 percent want them on their cell phone

3. 46 percent use their DVRs to skip commercials

4. 58 percent use their DVR to record programming

5. 35 percent use their DVR to pause live TV

6. 49 percent use their DVR every day

7. 63 percent use it once a week

8. 55 percent fast forward through commercials

9. Interestingly, 15 percent use thir DVRs to rewind and watch commecials

10. 42 percent use free video on demand

11. 59 percent use the DVR to access free local information

The way we see TV [at least in the United States] is changing. People are growing more impatient and need customization. Sadly, the networks are changing quickly enough and labeling their ‘primary’ consumers [18-34 age group] as ‘pirates’ for bittorrent-ing TV shows. ABC had experimented with streaming TV over the Internet recently. I was pretty impressed with the speed and the service.

I certainly wouldn’t mind sitting through the commercials as long as I am given a choice as to when I want to watch them and which shows I want to watch. Traditional TV doesn’t allow you that flexibility and you had to get home in time to catch that episode of Friends or 24. Of course, you could TiVO it but then you can skip the ads as well which the networks wish you wouldn’t. If TV guides are changing the way they target people, why don’t the networks follow suit? Hosting the shows on a server [updated each week and archived] and let them stream whenever you wish would keep both sides happy.