Comments on: DVRs remain a much bigger threat to prime-time TV biz models than Internet viewing

By: angus

angus — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:30:37 +0000

Interesting that fringe was the most recorded new program, considering that it aired all season with limited commercial interruption. would lead you to conclude that convenience was the motivation behind the dvr use, and not commercial avoidance.

By: jay

jay — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:16:44 +0000

TV execs have been nervous nellies for a long time. VCRs operate with exactly the same principle as videotape or magnetic audiotape for that matter, which has been around since the 1930’s. Yet they were not allowed until the 1970’s and not mass-marketed until the mid 1980’s. Color TV was possible in the 1950’s, but NBC scientists I believe had the patent on it and refused to give up on that until they negotiated a deal with the other networks, one of the reasons ABC got shut out of so many local affiliates and has been playing catch-up ever since. Maybe DVR is the new technology the networks couldn’t refuse, because skipping ads is an idea too big to fail … smiley face.

By: Mikey

Mikey — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:29:15 +0000

Robert, you dog, you got my hopes up with that headline.

Unfortunately USAT doesn’t actually compare DVR viewing to online viewing in the story because that would ruin the narrative that TV is being swallowed by the internet.

By: JustTunedIn

JustTunedIn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:35:46 +0000

Some guy named John: Your media centre sounds great! And I found Legend of the Seeker through internet viewing as well.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:00:41 +0000

Corey, it seems like it is far easier to set your DVR to always record Idol longer than record an extra program just to catch any overages. Also remember, this measures VIEWING and not recording and this data is all adjusted for the actual program times, so none of the viewing measured for Fringe would’ve been people watching Idol.

By: Corey3rd

Corey3rd — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:53:41 +0000

how many fringe dvrs were done to catch American idol overages?

By: Kermonk

Kermonk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:37:23 +0000

Back to the old days, where one company sponsored an entire episode – you can’t fast forward past what your mind knows *g*

By: Some guy named John

Some guy named John — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:58:23 +0000

I’m in the middle of building a new Home Theater PC. Right now its got 1TB of storage and 2HDTV tuners to record TV using Windows 7 Media Center. When completed its going to have 4 HDTV tuners and 2 TB of storage, and the ability for others in my house to watch from their PC’s or gaming systems.

I’m not a fan of watching TV on the schedule of the networks. I live a busy life and for me too many shows fall on the same night and times, for instance Monday night means picking and choosing what to watch, so for me using my HTPC I can record 4 shows at once and watch them at my time, inlcuding one of them live.

If I miss something there is always HULU, which without it I would never have seen the show Legend of the Seeker.

By: thedemonhog

thedemonhog — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:21:57 +0000

It appears that that article only takes original broadcasts into account, so we finally have a list without all of those pesky CBS repeats making it seem like Desperae Housewives is the most-watched scripted show.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:21:46 +0000

well Thursday i will know be whacing three shows at the same at 9 CSI fringe and Greys and fridays i will be another night to dvr Southland Ugly Betty and Meduim all on at 9 so of coruse i am going to tape them and watch one on regual tv

By: mojaam

mojaam — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:57:57 +0000

Just repowered my series2 Tivo DVR after a long time and that means I would most likely stop watching a lot of shows “live”