Okay, I'll bite. Mark Paschal is an undergraduate student at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is majoring in Computer Science. He's chosen to comment on my "Verified Viewing" post.

A little response...

The most prominent feature of the DVR is time shifting. However, the VCR enabled us to do so as well. Time shifting is nothing new. Been there. Done that.

I believe skipping advertising with a DVR is an entirely different experience than skipping them with a VCR. To me, the digital skipping is the most prominent feature. That is what people I show TiVo to "ooh" and "aahh" over. (Then come Season Passes, Suggestions, etc.)

ReplayTV got blasted for the 30-second auto-skip feature. That is the most prominent feature and that is what got the television industry's attention. I know TiVO has the feature hidden and I've even played with it.

DVR manufacturer's deserve a technical Emmy, but many people in the industry play politics. The DVR's are a threat to our current business model. I wouldn't bet on any manufacturers being awarded for their innovation any time soon.

I agree that as a Producer, it is my job to produce entertainment. However, if what I produce doesn't generate enough eyeballs, I'm unemployed. If the network can't sell advertising, they can't pay me. Plain and simple.

I have one foot in both worlds. I work as a Producer and I write software. I know the "ins-and-outs" of both well enough to make an honest living.

If we don't have advertising, how do we pay our staff and crew? Subscription services, like HBO, obviously work. What are our other options? "Verified Viewing" is my proposal. I'm excited to see more.

So, Mark Paschal, if you're willing to fire across my bow (by stating that I don't know what I'm talking about), why don't you propose a solution of your own?
11:29:12 AM  talkback:[]  #