It's difficult to say how often it is used. Most of the people on this board don't watch commercials that much. In fact, you're liable to get snide remarks like "Commercial? What's that?" or even "You're using your TiVo improperly." Personally, I sometimes watch a commercial if a flash of one gets my attention while I'm skipping and I think people should be free to use their TiVos in any manner that pleases them. And yes, I have seen the "Thumbs up" to record before. I think I've even used it once or twice.
Press thumbs up to record
I have had my Tivo HD for a few years and saw this for the first time this eve. Was watching Survivor (recorded), and during some commercials that advertised other CBS shows, a little icon showed up on screen that said "Press thumbs up to record".
A search turned up a few posts talking about this from as far back as 2006, so it's not a new feature, but I didn't find any recent discussion.
Is this a rarely used, or have I just not noticed it before?
I'm not complaining about this feature. It was unobtrusive and seems like a cleaver advertising mechanism. If you are fast forwarding through the commercials, you probably wouldn't even see it. I was just surprised to see something "new" on the Tivo HD.
A search turned up a few posts talking about this from as far back as 2006, so it's not a new feature, but I didn't find any recent discussion.
Is this a rarely used, or have I just not noticed it before?
I'm not complaining about this feature. It was unobtrusive and seems like a cleaver advertising mechanism. If you are fast forwarding through the commercials, you probably wouldn't even see it. I was just surprised to see something "new" on the Tivo HD.
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once upon a time it was called "tivo-matic" it's been here for many years, but not a lot of broadcasters have purchased spots within it.
I wish TiVo would make this more accessible to broadcasters. This is one of my favorite TiVo featured.
I remember seeing this feature a few years ago and was pleasantly suprised to see these thumbs up return for certain fall shows. In just a matter of seconds I can click the thumbs up and order a seson pass and get back to watching my show. It is much better than having to do a Tivo Search to find the show (if you can remember it's name) and set up a season pass.
I do wish this feature was used WAY more often!
I do wish this feature was used WAY more often!
This is something that I've only seen recently as well. Too bad it doesn't coordinate with the Tivo "To Do" or "Season Pass" list because many of the shows we already have set up to record. In that regard it's kind of like having to watch a beer commercial while you are swilling a bottle of that brand.I have had my Tivo HD for a few years and saw this for the first time this eve. Was watching Survivor (recorded), and during some commercials that advertised other CBS shows, a little icon showed up on screen that said "Press thumbs up to record".
A search turned up a few posts talking about this from as far back as 2006, so it's not a new feature, but I didn't find any recent discussion.
Is this a rarely used, or have I just not noticed it before?
I'm not complaining about this feature. It was unobtrusive and seems like a cleaver advertising mechanism. If you are fast forwarding through the commercials, you probably wouldn't even see it. I was just surprised to see something "new" on the Tivo HD.
If you are FF through a commercial when this pops up, you won't see it but you will hear a chime alerting you to its presence.
I have used the feature before and have even seen it recently this year. The only times I have seen it have been on CBS, though I have only been a TiVo owner for a few years,
From my observation, CBS uses it most. Seen it a few times on FOX.
Is the problem that TiVo is not forthcoming with the info to insert that particular flag, or is it the broadcasters who are
too lazy to implement it?
The technology seems to rely on some flag the broadcaster can insert into the video stream.I wish TiVo would make this more accessible to broadcasters. This is one of my favorite TiVo featured.
Is the problem that TiVo is not forthcoming with the info to insert that particular flag, or is it the broadcasters who are
too lazy to implement it?
And that's the problem, it's not shown all that often anymore as an option.once upon a time it was called "tivo-matic" it's been here for many years, but not a lot of broadcasters have purchased spots within it.
There's a lot of mileage to be gotten out of them though if Tivo offered them for free.And that's the problem, it's not shown all that often anymore as an option.
Bonus to the broadcasters... They could hook up commericals linked to every one of their shows.
Bonus to Tivo... It becomes a Tivo feature, watching a commerical for X, press thumbs up and you can create a season pass on the spot!
I don't know what it costs Tivo administratively to offer them. But clearly the plan of 'selling spots' like that just isn't working.
Watching commercials??? You can do that without a TivoI wish TiVo would make this more accessible to broadcasters. This is one of my favorite TiVo featured.
It's pretty rare, though. I freely admit it could be a nice feature, but to make it really usable and useful, it needs to be more common.It's difficult to say how often it is used. Most of the people on this board don't watch commercials that much. In fact, you're liable to get snide remarks like "Commercial? What's that?" or even "You're using your TiVo improperly." Personally, I sometimes watch a commercial if a flash of one gets my attention while I'm skipping and I think people should be free to use their TiVos in any manner that pleases them. And yes, I have seen the "Thumbs up" to record before. I think I've even used it once or twice.
AFAIR, it's inserted into the closed caption data somehow... (without wrecking the existing closed caption data??) Though my memory is about the analog closed caption data.The technology seems to rely on some flag the broadcaster can insert into the video stream.
I'll add to what others have said, I've seen it a lot more frequently this year on CBS than I remember in the past.It's pretty rare, though. I freely admit it could be a nice feature, but to make it really usable and useful, it needs to be more common.
A classical NTSC signal is composed of a total of 525 lines of information, but only 480 of those lines carry the graphical information used to recreate the pictures which we see as video. Forty-five of those lines are not intended to be displayed on the screen. NTSC video is interlaced, which means each frame of video consists of two consecutive fields of 262 - 1/2 lines each. The top 22 lines of what would otherwise be video can be used to embed all sorts of data to be used by the TV or other devices for various purposes including setting the clock and Closed Captioning data. IIRC, I think the CC data is on line 17 of both fields. Several of the other lines are reserved for specific information, but most of them are available for use by broadcasters. The TiVomatic data could be placed there in 480i transmissions, and in fact may be. The format is rather different, but there are similar unused data sections in HD broadcast signals, as well, and it is in one of these sections the TiVomatic data is inserted from digital video sources.AFAIR, it's inserted into the closed caption data somehow... (without wrecking the existing closed caption data??) Though my memory is about the analog closed caption data.
Do other DVRs have similar functionality?
I bet you TiVo has a patent for it, thats why you don't see it often.
Its a neat feature, but why would networks use it for such a small audience.
If all DVRs could process it, it would probably be used more often.
I bet you TiVo has a patent for it, thats why you don't see it often.
Its a neat feature, but why would networks use it for such a small audience.
If all DVRs could process it, it would probably be used more often.
Using Premieres here:
I haven't seen this since last year, and then only saw it on CBS. Is it gone for good now? I actually liked it and used it, perhaps it will return, I wish it was available on more networks.
I haven't seen this since last year, and then only saw it on CBS. Is it gone for good now? I actually liked it and used it, perhaps it will return, I wish it was available on more networks.
I have a feeling that it is a 'code' that can be inserted into the broadcast stream, and the networks have to pay TiVo for that 'code'.
The more you pay, the more shows you can use that 'code' for.
Sounds similar to a software license.
The more you pay, the more shows you can use that 'code' for.
Sounds similar to a software license.
I'm wondering if that functionality could be linked with the new paypal - "thumbs up to purchase".
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