One of the key selling points of the new TiVo Bolt is how the sleek little DVR-on-smart-drugs allows users to zap through entire commercial pods at the push of a button. Naturally, TV networks aren’t at all enthused about this development, which might explain why the two TiVo commercials that specifically address Bolt’s ad-skipping feature have disappeared almost as soon as they arrived.
With one press of a button on the remote, TiVo’s new digital video recorder will skip the entire commercial break. That’s quicker than the 30-second forward feature found on previous TiVos. On the new TiVo Bolt, TiVo will tag the start and end of commercial breaks so that viewers can skip that section when watching on their recordings. The feature will work with about 20 over-the-air and cable channels, including the major broadcast networks, mostly during primetime hours.
CBS and Dish Network reached a multi-year carriage agreement after CBS-owned stations went dark in 18 markets on Friday night. According to the agreement made early on Saturday morning, Dish can carry the CBS O&Os, as well as CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian Channel, TVGN and Showtime Networks, which includes Showtime TV Everywhere and Video-on-Demand rights. Additionally, the companies have agreed to drop pending litigation over Dish’s AutoHop commercial-skipping functionality after Dish agreed the tool will not be available for CBS-owned stations and affiliates in the first week of a program airing.
The Wall Street Journal Dish Network is in discussions with NBC over Dish’s ad-skipping digital video recorder, the latest sign that a two-year-old standoff between Dish and major broadcasters is easing. While the talks are under way, NBC has put its lawsuit against Dish on hold, the people say. NBC is one of three major networks still in litigation with Dish over several features on its “Hopper” digital video recorder, including one that makes it easier to automatically skip commercials. WSJ subscribers can read the story here.
