Time Warner, Dewar's Force Ad Views On DVR

1984_orwell.jpg

Apparently, Dewar's and Time Warner Cable are in cahoots and have made a currently running Dewar's ad unskipable during playback. Several Radar Online employees have reported their Time Warner CVRs simply refuse to fast forward through the ad. The unit will fast forward through anything else but not the Dewar's ad. Can anyone say "1984 by George Orwell?"

UPDATE: Despite it occurring over and over among many peole, it's just a technical glitch that has to do with fixed text on he screen for an extended length of time as in the Dewar's commercial.

by Steve Hall    Nov-15-06   Click to Comment   
Topic: Cable, Worst   

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Comments



Comments

Actually, I haven't seen the spot but am having this problem in other situations. My TWC DVR seems to have had a mysterious software update that makes fast forwarding (ONLY FF) "sensitive" to black and white solid frames. Whenever there is a slightly long gap between commericals or there are solid black/white frames with very little text my DVR freezes and I have to do normal playback through them.

Anyone else noticing this? As much as this seems like conspiracy theory I would not be surprised if there was collusion (or coercion) by media to make this happen

Posted by: Nick on November 15, 2006 1:58 PM

I've been having the same problem with any solid color frame, but mostly black. I don't think it's a Dewar's problem, it's a crappy software problem. However, it does happen most often during commercials, since there;s a opportunity to have black frames there. Maybe it's a system weakness that's being exploited. Or maybe, and much more likely, it's Time Warner giving it's paying customers a crappy product.
TW's version of the operating system for its DVR's is several generations back. People in the rest of the country who have the same machines enjoy many more features than us here in NY. Can't wait to ditch Time Warner.

Posted by: Seldin on November 15, 2006 2:54 PM

We read Jaffe's book and we're onto you TIVO freaks.

Posted by: All media on November 15, 2006 2:56 PM

I have the same problem. My TWC DVR freezes during ads all the time. Seems to be on the logo of the ad that it always stops on. I think they are trying to make us watch the ads and they pay more to have the DVR freeze.

Posted by: Mike on March 11, 2008 3:06 PM