Re: TiVO selling viewing data

[Dave Tavres]

I can understand your frustration, but I've always been in favor of Tivo
collecting my data... I'd be happy to have advertisers know WHICH
commercials I did and did NOT skip...

Furthermore, I'd like Tivo to sell the data to the networks, and use THAT to
decide which shows to pull off the air, or which to keep going. I'm sure
they can see if I actually WATCH a show, or just record it and delete it...
So if I watch the same Simpsons episode 5 times over a year, that should say
something about my viewing habits, and my likes... On the other hand, if I
get a season pass for a show, and watch it all the way through the first 3
times, then delete the season pass - that probably means that I didn't like
the show, and they need to do something to it, or take it off the air...

So - I'm in favor. Though it would be good of Tivo to actually ask you do
check a box or something to allow it. And at the same time, let me
organize/categorize/file shows by user profile... but that's for another
post

Am I the only one that feels this way?

--
==================
Dave Tavres
www.Bodie.com




"Poop Dogg" <NDIC.Contacts@usdoj.gov> wrote in message
news:JPicndx_KuSGzUOjXTWcpA@bravo.net...
> I just heard that the TiVO digital recording system has begun
> selling customer viewing data to advertisers. I've always
> been skeptical of TiVO since I knew it collected the data from
> the beginning for its own use. Now it betrays its customers
> by giving the data to advertisers who will carefully scrutinize
> the information to develop even more ways to inflict unwanted
> advertising on consumers.
>
> There doesn't seem to be any obvious way to avoid having your
> personal viewing data collected and sold. TiVO requires that
> the box be connected to a phone line which allows the program
> menu to be downloaded and your viewing data to be uploaded.
> Unplug the phone line and the box is worthless. I am cross-
> posting this to alt.2600 in hopes that someone there will
> know of a hack that can disable the data upload function.
>
> I should add that although I don't have TiVO, I subscribe to
> DirecTV and previously had DishNetwork. Both companies
> strongly "encourage" subscribers to keep their boxes connected
> to a phone line at all times. They claim this is so users
> can conveniently order PPV movies. But I never use PPV, so I
> make sure my box is disconnected. I strongly suspect that
> the receiver boxes also collect viewing data and secretly
> upload the info to the companies.
>
>

[publicstuff]

"Dave Tavres" <david@bodie.net> wrote in
news:tObNa.88065$%42.17924@fed1read06:

> I can understand your frustration, but I've always been in favor of
> Tivo collecting my data... I'd be happy to have advertisers know WHICH
> commercials I did and did NOT skip...
>
> Furthermore, I'd like Tivo to sell the data to the networks, and use
> THAT to decide which shows to pull off the air, or which to keep
> going. I'm sure they can see if I actually WATCH a show, or just
> record it and delete it... So if I watch the same Simpsons episode 5
> times over a year, that should say something about my viewing habits,
> and my likes... On the other hand, if I get a season pass for a show,
> and watch it all the way through the first 3 times, then delete the
> season pass - that probably means that I didn't like the show, and
> they need to do something to it, or take it off the air...
>
> So - I'm in favor. Though it would be good of Tivo to actually ask
> you do check a box or something to allow it. And at the same time,
> let me organize/categorize/file shows by user profile... but that's
> for another post
>
> Am I the only one that feels this way?
>

You definitely aren't the only one. In fact Nielsen does a very good
business trying to figure that info out, but their "Nielsen Ratings
System"(tm?) isnt as detailed as tivo can get (oops i am not an expert on
the details Nielsen can get, so thats just a guess). The difference is the
classic "opt-in" debate. Nielsen has a 100% opt-in system. TIVO doesn't
want to give its subscribers a choice. Tivo could probably save itself a
lot of bad press, and gain more subscribers if it gave their customers a
choice. It is the only reason i still program my vcr.