marcopolo

Jamie Kellner, chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting (an AOL Time Warner company), was recently interviewed by [INSIDE] on the future of television (Content's King). In the interview, Mr. Kellner said some very interesting things, including characterizing those who skip television commercials as thieves:

[Ad skips are] theft. Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial or watch the button you're actually stealing the programming.

Are you are programming pirate ? Do you agree ?

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weasel2112

I disagree with her statement. Ads/Commercials pay for air time. How can it be stealing if I also pay to have the service IE: Cable/Satelite.

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Silvy

All those ad-skipping bastards are Terrorists!

/continuing the line of thinking here..

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marcopolo

In the nature of this post I offer this Top Ten :

10. Watching PBS without making a donation.
You know who you are, you cheap ...

9. Changing radio stations in the car when a commercial comes on.
Future radios will prevent listeners from changing channels when a commercial comes on. The RIAA has not yet taken a position on whether it is permissible to switch channels when the listener doesn't like the song.

8. Channel Surfing during commercials, especially with Picture-in-Picture capability.
Similar to radio, skipping through channels, particularly when combined with picture-in-picture (which permits viewers to know precisely when an ad block ends), will be prohibited.

7. Getting into a movie after the previews, but just in time for the main feature.
Theaters will be required to close their doors once the advertising and previews have begun. The MPAA has not yet taken a position on time-in-seat requirements for advertising in the pre-preview slide show or whether audiences should be compelled to watch the credits at the end of the movie.

6. PBS
How can commercially sponsored broadcast networks compete with a government sponsored network?

5. Inviting friends over to watch pay-per-view.
When you call to authorize viewing, you will be required to indicate the number of people present to watch. Compliance will be monitored and viewers must identify themselves.

4. Blocking pop-up ads on the Internet.
Yeah, Mozilla and Opera users, this means you!

3. Not buying things from the advertisers on television shows.
Part of your contract is that not only do you watch the advertisements, but that you subsequently buy from the advertisers. If you don't buy from the advertisers, the whole system breaks down.

2. Watching MTV if you are older than 35 or Matlock reruns if you are younger than 40.
Advertisers buy ads to reach a particular demographic. If you aren't part of that demographic you are, effectively, a thief.

1. Libraries and librarians.
This is why we have the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.

__________________
Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

Czernobog

Marco, you hit the nail right on the head....I was laughing my ass off.

Good Work.

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Embrace the flame

yournamehere

I thought the whole purpose of paying $60/mo. for TV was to get rid of commercials. How convenient for television and advertizers that we seem to have forgotten that, eh?

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It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

rockogre

I believe my avatar states my case in no uncertain terms.

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Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
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Cynthetiq

from the 70's...

who's going to pay for TV when it's free?

Water? why would anyone buy water???

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laconic1

I guess when I read a newspaper or magazine that I bought I'm a thief for skipping past the ads.

spectre

I don't remember signing a contract that said I was required to watch ad spots.

Does being a CEO of a media company require an IQ less than 50?

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No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

Cynthetiq

i have some friends in adsales and affiliate sales.. i need to pose this to them...

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

DownwardSpiral

Pfft, skipping commercials as a crime, what a joke. The hell is Kellner thinking? Saying stupid comments like that. . .

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filtherton

Silly me, I thought that the airwaves belonged to the people.

Cynthetiq

they do, but the content that's in them they don't

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

bundy

so, i´m looking at a pretty long strech in the slammer since i always either mute the ads, or just change channel.

when you mute ads, is that going to be a separate crime? like ´attempted murder´ as oppose to ´murder´.

thanks Marco, that gave me a good laugh.

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Ohayo!!!

Cynthetiq

and if you leave the room to go get a beer, chips, or other refreshments... it's negligence... just a misdemeanor...

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

brandon11983

I couldn't agree more. I pay $65 a month for satellite TV to watch as I fucking please.

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BubblegumTeflon

And blinking gets you a small fine. . .After all you might miss one of the mandatory subliminal messages if you do.