The Big Think

No, our personal Tivo is working just fine, thanks, but if this article is correct, some of the joy of using Tivo will soon be diminished. To wit:

By March, TiVo viewers will see “billboards,” or small logos, popping up over TV commercials as they fast-forward through them, offering contest entries, giveaways or links to other ads. If a viewer “opts in” to the ad, their contact information will be downloaded to that advertiser — exclusively and by permission only — so even more direct marketing can take place.

And before certain people defend this practice as innocent because it’s opt-in and entirely voluntary, consider this:

Perhaps even more significant is TiVo’s new role in market research. As viewers watch, TiVo records their collective habits — second by second — and sells that information to advertisers and networks.

So where do I go to tell Tivo to lay off selling our viewing habits? Can’t? Oh.
TV-free life is getting closer all the time.