[mbernste]

So, I just started getting pre-roll ads on my new TiVo Mini Vox (but not on my Roamio Pro). While I do not know if there is a connection, I suspect the pre-roll ads are somehow connected to getting TiVo+ (which I do not have on the Roamio).

So here's the thing, other than the occasional freeze (the two arrow screen) when I want to watch a show, I don't mind them one little bit. You just press the forward button and bam!, you are watching your show. I know there is all kinds of hemming and hawing about dropping TiVo, class action lawsuits, calling customer service to get rid of them, etc. I think it's all just people making a mountain out of a molehill. I find the YouTube ads when watching something on that platform to be way more intrusive than this.

Come one folks, it's a pre-roll ad. Just chill. TiVo needs to stay in business or we all will have multi-thousand dollar paperweights. This is a very first world "problem." I grew up before the VCR, nevermind the DVR. I watched shows when they were on or I had to wait for a rerun. I watched the ads or used it as a break to get something to eat or go to the bathroom. Use your energy to get worked up over something of true importance. In my opinion, this is not of any real importance.

 

[TonyD79]

Are you a plant????

 

[El Maestro]

Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and your points aren't all that unreasonable, but the crux of the issue, for me at least, is that the ads are a significant change in the user experience. Many, including me, purchased our Tivos for a particular experience that allowed us maximum (or at least more) control over the marketing we are subject to, and to allow us to store and experience the content we pay for on our own terms. These ads are inserted before our recordings—the foundational feature of a DVR—after decades of that not being the case. Combined with some other marketing intrusions, the ads represent a big and negative change to our experience with these expensive devices.

 

[jrtroo]

Other than a button push, the user experience is basically unchanged. Or does it take more effort to skip than that?

 

[mattack]

Other than a button push, the user experience is basically unchanged. Or does it take more effort to skip than that?

serious question -- is it ONE button push? i.e. skip/channel up?

They said "The forward button", so I don't know if they mean FF or what.. If it's really FF, then that really means at least FF and play to start again (but really likely rewind or skip back to go back a bit too).

but heck, I'd probably be annoyed by this.. I'm annoyed that "ad free" Hulu still has the network "ad" before it (ABC Tuesdays at 8:30 kind of thing). It's less bad than full/real/unskippable ads, and way better than manually skipping through regular ads (even with SkipMode).. but I'd say that it's not ad free.

 

[Crusin]

So, I just started getting pre-roll ads on my new TiVo Mini Vox (but not on my Roamio Pro). While I do not know if there is a connection, I suspect the pre-roll ads are somehow connected to getting TiVo+ (which I do not have on the Roamio).

So here's the thing, other than the occasional freeze (the two arrow screen) when I want to watch a show, I don't mind them one little bit. You just press the forward button and bam!, you are watching your show. I know there is all kinds of hemming and hawing about dropping TiVo, class action lawsuits, calling customer service to get rid of them, etc. I think it's all just people making a mountain out of a molehill. I find the YouTube ads when watching something on that platform to be way more intrusive than this.

Come one folks, it's a pre-roll ad. Just chill. TiVo needs to stay in business or we all will have multi-thousand dollar paperweights. This is a very first world "problem." I grew up before the VCR, nevermind the DVR. I watched shows when they were on or I had to wait for a rerun. I watched the ads or used it as a break to get something to eat or go to the bathroom. Use your energy to get worked up over something of true importance. In my opinion, this is not of any real importance.

 

[mntvjunkie]

Even if I was ok with the ads and degradation of the experience, it makes it hard to advocate for a $1000 box with service, when the local cable company now offers a better experience for $10 a month. It might be a little more revenue, but how many ads do they have to serve to make up for $1000 in loss revenue?

I had $1000 to get the Edge. Not getting it anymore, and when my Roamio dies I’ll be moving to X1.

 

[tommiet]

Home DVR's days are numbered..... I'll probably always have a home dvr solution, but not a paid one like Tivo. My Recast is going strong and will probably be my TiVo replacement.

 

[Phil T]

How about Rovi fixing and keeping the guide up to date and removing the Tivo+ crap from the guide. It they would do that I won't ***** about the pre-roll ads.

 

[mbernste]

Many, including me, purchased our Tivos for a particular experience that allowed us maximum (or at least more) control over the marketing we are subject to, and to allow us to store and experience the content we pay for on our own terms.

I always thought the point of a DVR, like a VCR, is to be able to time-shift when you view a particular show and that is it. Anything else, such as fast-forwarding through ads or skipping (which you can still do, even the pre-rolls in both cases) is just an added bonus. Yes, TiVO marketed the ad skip capability and I get the idea that some people bought a TiVo for that very reason, but at the crux of it all, that's not why we have DVRs.

 

[mbernste]

Are you a plant????

Why such an accusatory tone? No, I am not affiliated with TiVo in any size, shape, or form other than as a customer since 2001. A person is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is unpopular.

 

[mbernste]

Other than a button push, the user experience is basically unchanged.

For the pre-roll ads, you are correct. It is a single button push and you're into your show. The biggest issue, and it's really not a big issue, is sometimes the ad won't play and you're stuck at the "two arrows" screen. If you get stuck, just press the TiVo button and play the show again and it plays. Just like with any new code, this is a bug and fixable by TiVo's programmers.

 

[ej42137]

If you're not a plant, do you live under a bridge?

Seriously, if TiVo has lost their way so badly as this they deserve to go out of business. There are now alternatives that provide a better experience with a better picture, better sound, no garbage in the lower thirds and without commercial breaks taken out because they were never there in the first place. You just have to pay for it.

 

[ej42137]

FJust like with any new code, this is a bug and fixable by TiVo's programmers.

When I saw this assertion I literally laughed out loud! Obviously mbernste doesn't work for TiVo or he'd know this is not true!

 

[seaninde]

Why such an accusatory tone? No, I am not affiliated with TiVo in any size, shape, or form other than as a customer since 2001. A person is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is unpopular.

When I saw this assertion I literally laughed out loud! Obviously mbernste doesn't work for TiVo or he'd know this is not true!

Hmm, not sure , you had the same post for Tivo Plus. You sure sound like a plant, and I would not put it past Tivo. Please post your paycheck so we can see you don't work for Tivo, HAHAHAHA Just kidding.

But seriously. Why roll over to corporate greed.

Even worse now a third thing has just started. When I hit the, My Programs button, now I get pop up ads from Tivo trying to sell me something!

Don't you see this is just the beginning. Ads will start appearing everywhere in the program. And you will be paying a fee to them on top of that.

 

[Adam C.]

Don't you see this is just the beginning. Ads will start appearing everywhere in the program. And you will be paying a fee to them on top of that.

Exactly. Pre-roll ads are likely just the beginning. They will introduce new forms of ads slowly over time, that way users like the OP think it's no big deal. Before you know it there will be more ads all over the interface, during paused shows, and anywhere else you can think of.

 

[slowbiscuit]

I always thought the point of a DVR, like a VCR, is to be able to time-shift when you view a particular show and that is it. Anything else, such as fast-forwarding through ads or skipping (which you can still do, even the pre-rolls in both cases) is just an added bonus. Yes, TiVO marketed the ad skip capability and I get the idea that some people bought a TiVo for that very reason, but at the crux of it all, that's not why we have DVRs.

Completely wrong, the playback experience is 100% part of having a DVR. The trickplay features alone make Tivos better than anything else and are a fundamental reason to own one.

A DVR is NOT just a glorified VCR.

 

[mbernste]

When I hit the, My Programs button, now I get pop up ads from Tivo trying to sell me something!

Delete the message in the messages menu and you won't get the pop up.

 

[mbernste]

When I saw this assertion I literally laughed out loud! Obviously mbernste doesn't work for TiVo or he'd know this is not true!

Just because something can be fixed, doesn't mean it will be fixed. There's a difference.

 

[mbernste]

Completely wrong, the playback experience is 100% part of having a DVR...A DVR is NOT just a glorified VCR.

You are 100% entitled to your opinion. I just respectfully disagree with it.