NBC, CBS and Fox are Suing Dish over the Commercial Skipping Hopper DVR

[TheDickWard]

NBC claims that this is a violation of copyright law. Dish doesn't see how.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/leg...ping-dvr-27357

[JSmith]

NBC claims that this is a violation of copyright law. Dish doesn't see how.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/leg...ping-dvr-27357

I with Dish on this one, and not just because I like to side with the underdog.

If people want to avoid tv ads they will do it, whether it be by changing the channel or switching the tv off and doing something constructive with their time.

If it is optional to switch the ad hopper on or off, I dont see how it could be illegal.

[AndersT2]

I haven't read anything about how this works. But if it can fast forward through the ads, there should be no lawsuit.

But if it automaticly dont record the ads, then theres a whole other thing.

I don't like to watch ads myself, and fast forward through them when i have recorded shows, but ads is the way this material is free to view, if the broadcasters can't sell adspaces, they can't afford to make the shows. Thats the simple truth.

[nmcmahan52]

i have it, basically when you start a recording it tells you "this program has the ability to automatically fast forward your commercials, would you like to?" and you have to select yes or no on your own

if you select no, you simply have to ff through them yourself

[Landy]

Why isn't anyone suing TV Networks for not making the commercials at the same volume of the programming when they know damn well they are supposed to?

[JSmith]

Why isn't anyone suing TV Networks for not making the commercials at the same volume of the programming when they know damn well they are supposed to?

They would likely claim that their ads were aimed at the hard of hearing demographic. lol

[Dweedlebug]

I haven't read anything about how this works. But if it can fast forward through the ads, there should be no lawsuit.

But if it automaticly dont record the ads, then theres a whole other thing.

I don't like to watch ads myself, and fast forward through them when i have recorded shows, but ads is the way this material is free to view, if the broadcasters can't sell adspaces, they can't afford to make the shows. Thats the simple truth.

Except it's not free to view. If it were, the networks wouldn't charge retransmission fees and all that other bullshit and cable bills wouldn't run upwards of $100 a month. The only ones that are free to watch are your local major network affiliates if you have an antenna, in which case you aren't using a direct TV DVR to skip the ads. Outside of that situation, you are paying for those channels and there really shouldn't be advertising on them to begin with.

[Vidfreek]

Except it's not free to view. If it were, the networks wouldn't charge retransmission fees and all that other bullshit and cable bills wouldn't run upwards of $100 a month. The only ones that are free to watch are your local major network affiliates if you have an antenna, in which case you aren't using a direct TV DVR to skip the ads. Outside of that situation, you are paying for those channels and there really shouldn't be advertising on them to begin with.

This +1

Plus I have no idea how they can claim this is a copyright issue.....copyright of what? All this box is doing is fast forwarding FOR you, most people fast forward through the commercials on their DVRs, so how is this affecting anything like the networks are saying? I hope they lose and get shown how people want to watch TV.

As for the commercial thing, thats going into affect by the end of the year i believe, it will be required for all the commercials to be the same volume as the rest

[TheDickWard]

You're correct Vidfreek - the CALM act goes into effect on December 31st, 2012.
.

[pedram]

I also agree that it makes no sense to call this a "copyright violation". Did the channels copyright the method of skipping commercials or something?
And yes, the shows are not free. Otherwise why the heck are we paying for a satellite or cable charge per channel, or rather package, where they force channels we don't want on us just so we can get some of the ones we do?

[Badger3920]

Why aren't the channels free? Keep in mind - the statement is being made by NBC, CBS, and FOX. Those three networks broadcast over the air for free. Just because it is included in your paid cable/satellite plan doesn't mean they aren't free. From what I can see, they aren't arguing that premium channels or cable channels like HGTV etc are free.

Edit: just saw the thing about retransmission fees. That certainly complicates the argument. Is something free if you can get it for free or opt to pay for it? If many people opt to pay for something that is easily and readily obtainable for free, is that item no longer still free?

[JSmith]

Why aren't the channels free? Keep in mind - the statement is being made by NBC, CBS, and FOX. Those three networks broadcast over the air for free. Just because it is included in your paid cable/satellite plan doesn't mean they aren't free. From what I can see, they aren't arguing that premium channels or cable channels like HGTV etc are free.

Edit: just saw the thing about retransmission fees. That certainly complicates the argument. Is something free if you can get it for free or opt to pay for it? If many people opt to pay for something that is easily and readily obtainable for free, is that item no longer still free?

Well I would think the "free" channel networks would be the first to complain. If their sponsors pull their advertising from the network because the sponsors believe the viewing public no longer see their ads, the networks go bust.

In the UK we have a unique situation where having a television license is the law and that pays for BBC programming that isnt free. You dont have the option of receiving tv signals and choosing not to pay for BBC channels, even if you dont watch them.

[Dweedlebug]

Why aren't the channels free? Keep in mind - the statement is being made by NBC, CBS, and FOX. Those three networks broadcast over the air for free. Just because it is included in your paid cable/satellite plan doesn't mean they aren't free. From what I can see, they aren't arguing that premium channels or cable channels like HGTV etc are free.

Edit: just saw the thing about retransmission fees. That certainly complicates the argument. Is something free if you can get it for free or opt to pay for it? If many people opt to pay for something that is easily and readily obtainable for free, is that item no longer still free?

Like I said, the only way to get it for free is to use an antenna. If that's what you're doing, then you aren't using a DTV DVR commercial hopper box. This would seem to negate their argument, since if you have DTV you are paying for those local network affiliate channels.

If I werent paying for them, I wouldn't have had a FOX blackout during the playoff because of a fee dispute between Verizon and the company that handles FOX in my area. There should be no fees if it's "free", so what was the dispute about?