Fox Won’t Air Ads That Promote Dish Networks ‘Hopper’ Commercial Skipping Service
Dish Network is under hot water with major TV networks after the company started promoting a new service called “Hopper.” The platform is available to DVR customers and allows them to skip commercials for recorded shows. Now Fox TV executives have decided to ban Hopper commercials from airing on their network.
The Hopper service was announced by Dish Network last week alongside an “Auto Hop” feature so customers would not have to remember to skip commercials.
As you can image Fox isn’t happy about the new program and in a press release they stated that the program was a slap in the face to TV networks who rely on ads to earn revenue and ultimately produce their expensive TV shows.
CBS chief Les Moonves quipped in an interview with the New York Times:
“How does Charlie Ergen expect me to produce CSI without ads?”
Moonves isn’t the only executive mad about the decision, as NBC boss Ted Harbert proclaimed:
“Just because technology gives you the ability to do something, does that mean you should?”
Other networks will likely follow Fox in their attempt to block Hopper ads which could pose a problem for Dish Network as the satellite service recently announced plans to triple its normal marketing spend in order to promote the Dish Network Hopper service.
Regardless of Fox and possibly other networks pulling Dish Network Hopper ads will you be taking advantage of the commercial skipping service?
Tags : dish network, Dish Network Hopper, fox, Fox TV, Hopper
Posted: May 17, 2012
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May 18, 2012
I already am taking advantage of it; I love this feature! And doesn’t just about everyone with a DVR skip the commercials anyway? I know I do (even before DVRs, back when we recorded with VHS cassettes); especially since I work during the evenings, during the timeslots everyone seems to place all their best shows. That’s why the PrimeTime Anytime feature has worked out so well for me: it allows me to record everything on CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX during primetime, so it’s eliminated my scheduling conflicts. That alone has made me thankful my coworker at Dish talked me into getting a Hopper. Now it’s even better because I don’t have to continually smash the Skip Forward button because Auto Hop can do it for me, causing me to use less batteries; think of the environment!
May 19, 2012
I've been using Auto Hop for about a week now and I absolutely love it. I don't have to keep pushing the skip button on my remote to get past the annoying commercials when I'm just trying to catch up on a show I missed anymore. People have been skipping commercials for years, so why does Moonves and Co. think this is something new? Why do they think that choice is such a bad thing?
Jun 13, 2012
Why don’t CBS, FOX, and NBC exec want consumers to enjoy commercial-free TV? It’s what we want! I’m a customer and employee of Dish, and I think AutoHop is great because you can easily watch commercial-free TV. A well known consumer advocacy group, Public Knowledge, agrees that people should have the right to control how they watch TV. They’re taking a stand for consumers by creating a petition that tells CBS, FOX, and NBC media to keep their hands out of your living room and DVR. Sign their petition to keep control of how you watch TV http://bit.ly/KFdn1Q.
Jun 27, 2012
CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC exec don't want consumers to enjoy commercial-free TV because they make money by selling commercial sponsorship for their various shows. They also make additional money by selling the rights to carry their programming to the cable and satellite providers. Are they "double dipping"? Perhaps. On the other side of the argument, consumers have the right to watch, or not watch, what they want. With the old VCRs, viewers could fast forward through the commercials. Then technology and the service providers pushed most consumers toward DVRs for which they pay a monthly fee to do the same thing they did with their VCRs for free. But it doesn't stop there. Since the service provider controls the DVR, they can control its functions. So far, most consumers are happy with their DVRs. However, the "Hopper" issue is only the tip of the iceberg. The television networks not only dislike the Hopper's commercial skipping function, they are also prepared to use technology to prevent it. Time Warner now holds a patent for technology that will disable the fast forward function of DVRs. Obviously, the purpose of this is to prevent consumers from skipping commercials. Google "time warner commercial patent" to read several stories about this. If this technology moves forward, you will have to watch commercials on your recorded programs unless you buy an old VCR, your own DVR, or leave the room.