Some Cablevision users in our forums are complaining that the cable operator has started injecting ads on top of non-Cablevision website content. The ads, an image of which appear below, seem to be injected on top of any page a user visits. As it stands, the ads (for now) simply direct users to Cablevision's redesigned Internet portal, though they don't pop up all the time, and not all Cablevision customers appear to be seeing them.

Traditionally such over the top ad injection is frowned upon, and companies that engage in it wind up having to make a quick about face (or a series of stark denials) when their traffic fiddling comes to the public attention (and the attention of companies that might not appreciate Cablevision ads slathered on their content).

This user in our forums points out that Cablevision's TOS (as all such agreements do), allows the ISP to do pretty much whatever they'd like in this regard:

quote:

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32. Watermarking:

Subscriber understands and agrees that Cablevision may use "watermarking" techniques to message you about your account, Optimum services or for other communication purposes while using the Optimum Online Service. These "watermarks" may appear superimposed from time to time over portions of website pages you visit while using the Optimum Online Service, however, you understand and agree that this in no way indicates Cablevision's approval of or responsibility for the content of such websites, which are solely the responsibility of the website operators and/or content providers. You further agree that you will not seek to hold Cablevision responsible in any way for any third party website content or the operation of any third party website accessed via the Optimum Online Service, or for the appearance of an Optimum "watermark" over a portion of any website.

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"We pay enough for our home service not to be subjected to Optimum ads," complains Broadband Reports user n2jtx .