Do you watch shows when they air, or DVR them now?

[vchimpanzee]

Actually, fast forwarding is better for advertisers because you have to pay attention while the commercial goes by.

You must not be in advertising.

If fast-forwarding works in DVR's like it works in my VCR's: (a) there is no sound, (b) the picture is virtually unwatchable for content and (c) you've already seen it 1,000 times and could care less.

I'd say the advertiser is very concerned and is anxiously awaiting the day when commercials cannot be bypassed.

I haven't learned how to literally bypass commercials, but I enjoy them more than most people anyway. Some of the ones I fast-forwarded through on WGN I wish I had watched because I don't believe I ever saw them, unlike most of what I fast-forward through.

 

[sandiegoinexile]

I'm surprised so many people here are still using VCRs, especially since analog TV broadcasting and analog cable tiers shut down. You'd have to use a digital to analog converter and either pre-set the converter to the channel you want or have some way to program the converter to change to the correct channel

Very few cable companies have "shut down" their analog tiers. Yes, a few channels have been moved to the digital tiers, including all the subscription channels (HBO/Showtime). Time Warner in CA and Cox Cable in AZ still has 65+ channels on basic coax lines that can feed into VCRs. Both companies charge upwards of $6-$10 a month to have each additional digital cable boxes. In both CA and AZ, one digital cable box was hooked up. The rest are on basic cable via coax. Eventually, that will go away, but not for a long while.

 

[landtuna]

I'm surprised so many people here are still using VCRs, especially since analog TV broadcasting and analog cable tiers shut down. You'd have to use a digital to analog converter and either pre-set the converter to the channel you want or have some way to program the converter to change to the correct channel (if you want to record more than one show on different channels).

I took advantage of the digital switch to dump satellite and go back to OTA. Bought several really inexpensive VCR's (one for each converter box) and that is what is passing for "DVR" in my house presently. The only person who records anything for time-shifting is my wife and the only time of the year she does that is right now when all the shows are new. That will end in a few weeks when she figures out the few she will follow.

VCR picture quality is decidedly inferior to Tivo

Yes, but for time-shifting it is fine. I should mention we don't have an HDTV (yet).

...(and yes, the picture is watchable during fast-forwarding with many commercials designed to hook viewers during fast-forwarding plus offering other features in commercials for Tivo users).

Note to broadcasters: hooking doesn't work in my house.

 

[MarcB]

I miss my DVR. For 9 months (June 08-March 09) I was renting a room from a co-worker and I had DISH NETWORK with a DVR. I used to record my favorite shows while I was at work or sleeping and watch them when there was nothing else on like on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when there's nothing on but infomerciasl or crappy movies. I have Xfinity where I live. They don't offer DVR if you don't have HD Service and it sucks. I just started working again and I missed The Biggest Loser last Tuesday (and I will miss it again tomorrow) and I missed Undercover Boss last night. And a lot of my favorite shows are on in the middle of the night and I have to miss them because I'm sleeping. I can't even afford to upgrade to an HD TV or HD-cable with a DVR because I'm only making $8.25/Hr and right now only 23 hours/week. (Tho my hours are supposed to go up when the new store opens in a few weeks).

 

[landtuna]

I can't even afford to upgrade to an HD TV or HD-cable with a DVR because I'm only making $8.25/Hr and right now only 23 hours/week.

Good Lord man! Go to the nearest charity resale store and buy a VCR for $5 and record your shows. It may not get them all but it will get some and that's better than nothing.

 

[MattParker]

While we are on the subject, anybody watching shows online?

Although I am a Tivo user, I have lately started watching some shows online (via Clicker.com). At the start of the new season, there were a few occasions when three shows I wanted to record were on at the same time (return shows I liked and new shows I wanted to check out). Tivo can record two shows at once, so I went online to see the third show. I've also gone online and watched shows I didn't schedule to record or shows only available online (like the West Coast version of the 30 Rock live show). Before analog TV was retired, I'd keep the old VCR around for this situation; now with on-demand shows largely available online, the VCR is in the attic. (I have a few old tapes I might want to watch sometime; that's the only thing keeping the VCR away from the Goodwill Store.)

Truth is I have been very satisfied with online viewing. Often there are no commercials or only an upfront commercial. Picture quality is good (not as good as Tivo in HD but better than SD or analog VCRs). I'm not ready to drop my fiber optic cable subscription yet but I can see it happening with everything on-demand.

I also have an app that lets me record on-demand on-line shows on my PC and watch them with all the flexibility I have with Tivo-recorded shows. I am able to play shows from my PC through my HDTV receiver.

 

[landtuna]

Re: While we are on the subject, anybody watching shows online?

Truth is I have been very satisfied with online viewing. Often there are no commercials or only an upfront commercial. Picture quality is good (not as good as Tivo in HD but better than SD or analog VCRs).

Disclaimer: I'm limited to 1.5Mb down speed.

I'm on the opposite end of satisfaction viewing online. After about 18 months of viewing various shows online I find the PQ is generally poor, the reliability is not up to digital TV standards and there are often times when the servers are too overloaded to connect. I'd rate it as "not ready for prime time".

The only big plus is that the number and duration of commercials is more reasonable than on network or cable.

 

[LKellerIII]

Actually, fast forwarding is better for advertisers because you have to pay attention while the commercial goes by.

You must not be in advertising.

If fast-forwarding works in DVR's like it works in my VCR's: (a) there is no sound, (b) the picture is virtually unwatchable for content and (c) you've already seen it 1,000 times and could care less.

I'd say the advertiser is very concerned and is anxiously awaiting the day when commercials cannot be bypassed.

I haven't learned how to literally bypass commercials, but I enjoy them more than most people anyway. Some of the ones I fast-forwarded through on WGN I wish I had watched because I don't believe I ever saw them, unlike most of what I fast-forward through.

I don't doubt that some kind of technology could be developed to prevent the bypassing of commercials, but I can tell you that I would be personally very p**sed off at that development. That would not be beneficial to the consumer, and I can't imagine why the cable and satellite providers would want to go along with it.

Advertising is everywhere now, and as far as I'm concerned, I have the right to take a pass on the commercials when I watch TV, just as I click the button for "skip advertisement" when I'm on the internet, or turn the page when I'm reading a magazine or newspaper.