UK study shows DVRs affecting DVD viewing

DVRs have earned the enmity of broadcasters and advertisers alike by enabling viewers to easily skip their least favorite bit of the TV watching experience, commercials. Another group may be moving the DVR further up on its list of disliked technologies in the wake of Ofcom's fourth annual report on the state of the UK's communications market. In the survey, 31 percent of DVR owners said that they are watching fewer DVDs.

Ofcom's "Heavy viewer" DVR owners, those who watch the largest amount of TV, are least likely to watch DVDs. 53 percent of that group now watch fewer DVDs. But the DVR effect isn't Limited to just heavy TV watchers�the rest of Ofcom's three groups (light, medium, and medium-to-heavy) reported watching anywhere from 28 percent to 34 percent fewer DVDs. In contrast, only 9 percent of DVR owners surveyed by Ofcom report watching more DVDs.

Ofcom's figures are another indication of how radically consumer-friendly technologies like the DVR are affecting the entertainment industry. The TV and motion picture industries do have options other than pushing back with content restrictions, however, thanks to the widespread availability of broadband.

Source: Ars Technica

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 27 Aug 2007 5:09

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13 comments

SProdigy

Okay, so it's no surprise that "heavy" DVR users aren't watching DVD's, because they just record the movie and watch it later, rather than rent/buy it!

Concerning commercials, I wish that they would quit crying. Product placement is so heavy in TV and movies these days. Plus, they even advertise on my cable provider's program guide! If anything, they are getting their product across more than ever!

Perhaps TV viewers are just tired of seeing the same commercial four times in an hour TV show!

27.8.2007 05:27 #1

Unfocused

Oh My Gosh! People aren't watching commercials! The world is about to end! What are we going to do?!

This just shows that all theses companies are not all powerful after all. They may have money enough to tie up the courts for years to come, but they can not stop the progress of technology.

All hell was raised upon the release of the VCR, and now it is the same argument with the DVR.

I remember when VHS tapes could take a year or better to be released from when they debuted in the theater. Now, movies come out on DVD while the movie is still in the theater. It only takes a couple of weeks beyond that for the cable channels to pick it up.

This should prove that all the people downloading never had the intention of purchasing in the first place. If I see a movie that I think I might want to watch on TV, I'll DVR it and watch it later. It is very rare that this viewing results in a purchase. However, when a movie comes out that I want to buy, I go buy it.

27.8.2007 05:57 #2

hughjars

What do you expect from those with that kind of anti-consumer exploitation mentality?
This is just the up-dated version of the kind of 'thinking' which wrecked & hobbled PDC on the old VHS video recorders.

As usual with this kind of reptile it's just same sh*t different day.

(PDC was originally intended to allow people to make the most of their VHS video tapes.
It was originally intended to allow people to just record the actual show content by taking a signal to start the recording at the start of the show (which helped greatly with any time delays or over-runs upsetting the timings), signals would allow the video recorder to pause and restart during and after the ad breaks and to finally stop the recording once the program itself was over.
But the ad-idiots went mental about this.
They seriously imagined that if the system was adjusted & the signal was removed to stop the video recorders skipping the ads that anyone using PDC to record programs wouldn't fast-forward & skip the ads.
That's the kind of condescending attitude what we're up against.
We're allowed 'progress' but only so long as it is a tool of commercial exploitation)

As for what I record (and/or back-up) from my PVR/DVR?
By paying my TV licence I contribute to 'the industry' and by paying for my satellite TV package I contribute (handsomely) to 'the industry'.
I even buy the occasional CD, DVD & HD DVD.
If they want any more they can just go & Royally f*ck themselves.

27.8.2007 07:49 #3

Paladore

so whats different than back in the day when i use to fast foward the comercials when i watched a recorded movie or tv show?

27.8.2007 11:58 #4

hughjars

Originally posted by Paladore: so whats different than back in the day when i use to fast foward the comercials when i watched a recorded movie or tv show? - They substitute the words 'DVD', 'PVR', 'DVR' and 'disc recording' for the words 'VHS', 'video recorder', 'tape' and 'tape recording' in their excuses.

Like I said same sh*t different day.

Anyone recall 'home taping is killing music'?

Basically it comes down to the fact that they've been trying to pull the same kind of cr@p for over 30 years.

27.8.2007 12:42 #5

c1c

Product placement is all over, no more need for commercials. They are cutting older television shows even more. The 22 minutes of "three's company" and other older shows are being cut even more. We do get sick of the same commercial over and over again. One thing I noticed is that Mac computers are all over the place on TV shows. These advertisers are simply brainwashing us with repeated commercials. Every halftime report is a "Visa Halftime Report" Not to mention are classic ballparks being replaced by multi billion dollar companies. We still have Fenway though.
England is being shaped into the "New America" as a test country for what the USA will be in the next few years.

27.8.2007 16:11 #6

club42

Quote:As for what I record (and/or back-up) from my PVR/DVR?
By paying my TV licence I contribute to 'the industry' and by paying for my satellite TV package I contribute (handsomely) to 'the industry'.
I even buy the occasional CD, DVD & HD DVD.
If they want any more they can just go & Royally f*ck themselves.
Well said. I assumed paying for those services was enough.

27.8.2007 17:26 #7

ripxrush

When is the last item you saw a Microsoft Windows (what ever version) add on T.V.? Now aren't they One of it not THE Largest company's in the world? So Everyone else STUF! Windows May suxor but Most of us have it & live with it!

27.8.2007 18:02 #8

Unfocused

Originally posted by c1c: Product placement is all overThat is so true. I just came back from New York, and you can't take two steps without seeing a poster for something. Same thing in Tokyo, every square inch they can use for advertising is covered.

Originally posted by c1c: One thing I noticed is that Mac computers are all over the place on TV shows.I noticed this also. I'm a fan of Entourage, and they can't show any shots of Ari or Lloyd at the office without putting them behind their iMacs.

Originally posted by c1c: Not to mention are classic ballparks being replaced by multi billion dollar companies.Same thing with the auditoriums. Been to a concert recently? The Office Depot Center, the Sound Advice Amphitheater, Staples Center, etc. Sooner or later, this corporate branding is going to extend to street names and town names.

27.8.2007 18:15 #9

emugamer

Well, at least I know a few places to go for ED drugs in case I ever need to.

Unless it's the Superbowl, I have no interest in commercials. If I'm watching regular TV, I usually walk away during the commercials to multi-task.

28.8.2007 08:13 #10

fungyo

The guy behind this site [url=http://whyfirefoxisblocked.com/index1.php][/url] believes that if you deliberately block ad's, well you're stealing.
Of course he is talking about ad's on websites and using Firefox add-ons to block them, but what's the fn difference? Just wait for the MPAA scumbags to start speaking the same BS!
Shame on us. Better not take a piss until after you have finished watching TV for the day, certainly don't do it during ad breaks, ya thieving mongrels.

30.8.2007 02:53 #11

EvilDeeds

Product placement is hilarious... if the world was like the product placement guys say it is nobody in the world would own a copy of windows, or have a generic PC... it would be an iBook... nobody would own any other phone than a Nokia or a TMobile Sidekick (Veronica Mars anybody?? She also happened to own an iBook)... we would also only drink Coke or Starbucks.... classy! :)

31.8.2007 07:49 #12

borhan9

This would only affect my DVD viewing due to the fact i woyld watch more DVD's because they are ad free.

2.9.2007 13:54 #13

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