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story category Time Warner's Network DVR Service Expands
18 markets by the end of the year...
(old news - 09:36AM Tuesday Jan 30 2007)
tags: Video · cable · content · networking
Time Warner Cable's original network DVR service "Mystro" received rave reviews from trial participants, but the company scratched the system because of legal threats from the broadcast industry. Networked DVRs, which store your content at the network head-end, scare copyright holders and broadcasters, who believe they violate existing laws and threaten their control of their content. Cablevision recently scuttled a similar effort for the same reasons.

Time Warner Cable then revamped (read: scaled down) the project, recently trial launching a new service dubbed "start-over" in portions of six markets. As the name indicates, the service only lets you start programs over - while content is still stored remotely. One major problem: the "DVR-lite" service won't let you fast forward through ads. It also only works for "selected" shows and channels, according to Time Warner, though that lineup is ever growing.

Cable Digital News notes that the project is set to expand; it should be available in 18 markets by the end of the year. In addition to the fact that you can't skip ads, the report states TWC is "weighing whether to start selling sponsorships to advertisers on Start Over."

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Forums » Time Warner's Network DVR Service Expands
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texans20
Weapons of Masturbation
Premium
join:2002-09-28
Texas!
clubs:

Good for broadcasters

If one central source is controlling the DVR, it will be much easier for them to control the content. No fast forwarding through commercials, only being able to view a show for one week after airing or say two times before it's automatically deleted.

Who needs a broadcast flag anymore?
cornflakeguy

join:2001-03-25
Carrollton, TX

Re: Good for broadcasters

Will this be the case with HD content as well?

If they start limitign their own DVRs, Tivo Series 3 might have a chance after all.

Jafo232
You Can't Spell Democrat Without Rat.
Premium
join:2002-10-17
Boonville, NY
·RoadRunner Cable


1 edit

Re: Good for broadcasters

Not to do the business model work for them, but here is an idea:

Charge people $x.xx/mo. for a DVR with commercial skipping capabilities. Charge advertisers less money to run ads. Use the earnings from the DVR charge to offset any loss in advertising revenue. Problem solved.
--
'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached'

MikeInGA

@rr.com
This is not a DVR!!! That would explain why you are not able to fast forward. Also keeep in mind that since the content providers have issues with "network DVRs" they might be required some restrictions in allowing the service to be used.

phattieg

join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL
·Verizon Wireless B..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..

Re: Good for broadcasters

Is this like the SA 8300 multiroom DVR, where one box shares the DVR contents to the other digital boxes in the house? Doesn't sound like it, which means "big deal".
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast

Why Bother?

quote:
One major problem: the "DVR-lite" service won't let you fast-forward through ads. It also only works for "selected" shows and channels
So in other words, it is useless!
--
Only SHATNER is Kirk.
Tikker_LoS

join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK

Re: Why Bother?

not really

depending on costs, it'd be a pretty nice service to be able to watch any prime time show on demand, even if you then have to put up with commercials

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast

Re: Why Bother?

said by Tikker_LoS See Profile :

it'd be a pretty nice service to be able to watch any prime time show on demand, even if you then have to put up with commercials
Fortunately there are other DVR options, especially involving off-air HDTV, which allow for fast forwarding through commercials. We've even gotten used to watching DVR-ed programs 15 minutes into the show so we can skip the commercials.

Cable and satellite companies need to understand that commercial skipping is a must in any DVR. We as subscribers are paying to watch these ads, and as a result, we should be able to fast forward through them like any other content.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.

TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

said by pnh102 See Profile :

quote:
One major problem: the "DVR-lite" service won't let you fast-forward through ads. It also only works for "selected" shows and channels
So in other words, it is useless!
Not worth much, I agree. But it is free and it has one use I can think of.

If you came home for example at 8:15 and don't have a DVR or if you do have a DVR and haven't set up a recording, you can start watching that 8:00 PM show from the beginning and not miss the beginning of the show.
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AmnChode
Premium
join:2001-03-27
San Antonio, TX

Re: Why Bother?

Exactly. I have this and was kinda surprised with it. I just happen to come home, turn on the TV, change the channel, and saw it prompted if I wanted to start over. I got froggy and selected it and it started playing from the beginning. I was a little annoyed at first that I couldn't fast forward, but I have since, got over that. It has come in handy a few time when flipping through the channels and hit a show I'd like to watch from the beginning instead of 15-30 mins into it. And being I have regular DVR service through them, it comes as a real nice added bonus for shows that I don't wanna dedicate disc space for.

But it is annoying that I don't have it on every channel and/or show. But definitely has prospects...And if you don't have it, I wouldn't dog it just yet...

Jmartz

join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Re: Why Bother?

Free is good... at least TimeWarner is attempting to do new technology... Cablevision isn't doing crap... they scrap their plans for the network DVR that can fast forward and nothing else has been heard since... it's "Their way or no way"... I hope FIOS gets here quick.
Tikker_LoS

join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK
·SaskTel Saskatchewan

Re: Why Bother?

said by Jmartz See Profile :

Free is good... at least TimeWarner is attempting to do new technology... Cablevision isn't doing crap... they scrap their plans for the network DVR that can fast forward and nothing else has been heard since... it's "Their way or no way"... I hope FIOS gets here quick.
I know our company was looking into the network DVR as well, and got enough crap from the content providers that we stopped even looking into it (and moved focus to DVR set top boxes)

Jmartz

join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Re: Why Bother?

said by Tikker_LoS See Profile :

said by Jmartz See Profile :

Free is good... at least TimeWarner is attempting to do new technology... Cablevision isn't doing crap... they scrap their plans for the network DVR that can fast forward and nothing else has been heard since... it's "Their way or no way"... I hope FIOS gets here quick.
I know our company was looking into the network DVR as well, and got enough crap from the content providers that we stopped even looking into it (and moved focus to DVR set top boxes)
Cablevision hasnt even put much effort into their DVR set top boxes. They have done the bare minimum to get it working. It does... but they need to do something "cutting edge"... instead of following the leader.
ackman

join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA

Free is still crap if you have to waste time sitting through commercials. I don't have time to sit through 20 minutes of commercials in a one hour program. Given the choice, I'll not use a DVR, I'll miss the entire show, and I'll certainly miss the commercials. So, in the end, how does disabling the commercial-skip help the advertisers in my case? Doesn't. Hopefully others will govern their decisions similarly when it comes to the cable company controlling what you watch in your own home.

Jmartz

join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Re: Why Bother?

said by ackman See Profile :

Free is still crap if you have to waste time sitting through commercials. I don't have time to sit through 20 minutes of commercials in a one hour program. Given the choice, I'll not use a DVR, I'll miss the entire show, and I'll certainly miss the commercials. So, in the end, how does disabling the commercial-skip help the advertisers in my case? Doesn't. Hopefully others will govern their decisions similarly when it comes to the cable company controlling what you watch in your own home.
Well, you need to compromise...
ackman

join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA

Re: Why Bother?

said by Jmartz See Profile :

said by ackman See Profile :

Free is still crap if you have to waste time sitting through commercials. I don't have time to sit through 20 minutes of commercials in a one hour program. Given the choice, I'll not use a DVR, I'll miss the entire show, and I'll certainly miss the commercials. So, in the end, how does disabling the commercial-skip help the advertisers in my case? Doesn't. Hopefully others will govern their decisions similarly when it comes to the cable company controlling what you watch in your own home.
Well, you need to compromise...
I compromised when I bought the Tivo and when I paid for the Tivo service.
Tikker_LoS

join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK
·SaskTel Saskatchewan

said by ackman See Profile :

Given the choice, I'll not use a DVR, I'll miss the entire show, and I'll certainly miss the commercials.
so rather than have the ability to watch a show that you missed, you'd rather just not watch it at all?

brooklynman4

join:2004-09-07
Brooklyn, NY

Re: Why Bother?

Look at dish they went to court even when tivo sued them and they still kicking with them dvrs now the new recievers record hd so what is the problem with a little risk lol.
lonewoolf47

join:2001-04-20
Denver, CO

Re: Why Bother?

said by brooklynman4 See Profile :

Look at dish they went to court even when tivo sued them and they still kicking with them dvrs now the new recievers record hd so what is the problem with a little risk lol.
The answer to your reply is Spell Check and a sixth grade education.
ackman

join:2000-10-04
Acworth, GA

said by Tikker_LoS See Profile :

said by ackman See Profile :

Given the choice, I'll not use a DVR, I'll miss the entire show, and I'll certainly miss the commercials.
so rather than have the ability to watch a show that you missed, you'd rather just not watch it at all?
Yep, you understood correctly. TV just isn't that important to my life, and there are tons of other more compelling activities to garner my attention. The thought of having to waste 30% of my time sitting through mind-numbing commercials isn't high on my short list of things to fill my time.

thender2
Glamour Profession
Premium
join:2004-05-16
Staten Island, NY


1 edit
said by pnh102 See Profile :

quote:
One major problem: the "DVR-lite" service won't let you fast-forward through ads. It also only works for "selected" shows and channels
So in other words, it is useless!
This is why analog kicks ass.

My tape machine doesn't differ commercials from the show. It sees video, and audio, and doesn't discriminate.

The day I can't fast forward through ads in a show I recorded, when I'm PAYING for cable is the day I'd stop paying for cable..

edit: I just noticed I was a bit unfair discrediting digital media so abrubtly. Online video "piracy" is of similar quality without the above restraints, and looks better than analog tape as well.
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Nice and free

We've had this for a while and it's pretty neat.

You turn to a channel a get a pop-up asking you to press select to start the program from the beginning, or "Press SEL to Start Over".
--
Use the OS tool for the job.
rmckofke

join:2001-05-15
Staten Island, NY

if TWC tries to force this on me...

then I'll switch to TiVo. The main reason I didn't 2 years ago was because I couldn't record HD with a TiVo - and now I can, albeit with a high cost...but I should totally have the right to not only FF through commercials, but be able to pause a program anywhere & pick it up from that spot later - NOT having to start from the beginning!

It seems to me that they want to charge you to allow you to do less with their product - no thanks.
Forums » Time Warner's Network DVR Service Expands


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