TiVo ADDICTS
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James Joyner | Tuesday, November 11, 2003 |
Perhaps we’re seeing a new “disease” brewing: Reuters reports
TiVo television recorders that allow viewers to replay programs and skip commercials have turned casual TV watchers into prisoners shackled to sofas, unable to keep up with the flood of their favorite shows.“For something that is supposed to be relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day, you (think) ‘Wow! I have a lot of shows to watch,”‘ said Scott Bedard, technology director at an online media company in San Francisco.
“Will I ever catch up?” he worries aloud.
TiVo’s big selling point for many customers was the idea that they no longer needed to live their lives according to the TV schedule. What many failed to realize is the entertainment glut that is created by saving so many favorite programs.
“I love my TiVo and get separation anxiety when I spend too much time away from it,” said Cori Martinelli, an economist with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in San Francisco.
She catches herself worrying, “Gosh, did (the show) record OK? Is something being deleted before I can watch it?”
Hmm. Personally, I’ve had exactly the opposite experience since getting TiVo a few weeks ago. I actually watch somewhat more programs but spend substantially less time watching television. Why? Because I virtually never sit in front of the television anymore aimlessly flipping through hoping “something good” will come on to entertain me. I record shows that I want, zap through the commercials, and promptly delete re-runs or other things I don’t want to see.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Pretty poor article - they interviewed people who either just got one or never figured out the fine points of controlling it (you can tell Tivo to not erase a program until you tell it to, etc.)
As a rabid Tivo supporter, I have the same experience as you - I watch more shows in less time. An hour network program lasts 45 minutes if you skip the commercials, and I typically skip through stuff which is obvious or slow plot development - so an hour show can last a little over 30 minutes in some cases.
In addition, remember that since everything is "saved", there is no reason to keep watching or be chained to it. Press "pause" and come back days later.
You are spot on. TiVo doesn't mean that you watch less TV, means never having to watch bad TV.
No longer tied to the clock rules.
I concur with your commenters. I was an early adopter and find Tivoing a much more efficient way to watch televison. I'm so used to Tivo now, I don't remember what time shows are actually broadcast.
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