The CEO of Turner Broadcasting thinks that TiVo owners are thieves:
I'm a big believer we have to make television more convenient or we will drive the penetration of PVRs and things like that, which I'm not sure is good for the cable industry or the broadcast industry or the networks…
Because of the ad skips…. It's theft. Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial or watch the button you're actually stealing the programming.
The Broadcast Protection Discussion Group is full of guys like this from the studios and the TV world. They think that viewers are thieves. They tried to shut down piano rolls and radio. They conspired to keep movies off of TV. They fought the VCR and crippled the DAT.
The role of the technology industry is to blaze new trails that create new opportunities for Hollywood. The role of Hollywood is to seek injunctive relief from those opportunities.
(via Electrolite)
