Targeted ads coming soon to cable TV
One look at a company like, say, Google, and you know there's something to online ads. Cable companies have been working on competitive ad targeting for TV programming for a while now, and tru2way is just the thing needed to close the circuit. Your viewing habits are not all that different from the trail of cookies built up in your browser, so it's just a matter of time before someone brings up the idea of monetizing that information. Of course, TV that watches you will have to walk the line between pitching you ads that are relevant/interesting and making you feel dirty and violated, so expect some pretty interesting times ahead while the boundaries get set; with two-way communication over wide bandwidth pipes, though, you know this is coming.[Image courtesy simonrules]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Slappy Wag @ Apr 9th 2009 12:28PM
This is one of the many reasons I dumped Comcast years ago. You're paying them a hefty fee, and they are still dumping advertisements in your face on the guide. It must be a huge money maker, because I know that people complain to them on a daily basis about it, but they intentionally do nothing. If fact, they have done the exact opposite using their two way communication to target you. And we all know targeted ads make more money than generic ads. Hey, we could not help noticing you were watching NBC last night. You must like this product then!
DirecTV does not do this crap. If they ever decide to, they will lose a customer forever. I refuse to put up with ads being shoved into your face on a guide. That is one of the major reasons I bought a DVR. To get away from ads. I can wait a few hours to watch a show. No skin off my nose. But, it is nearly impossible to get away from ads completely. Real products are showing up in the shows on TV.
Grand times we live in, huh.
I mean, look at the advertising whore that Engadget is. They will not deny it either.
Indianapolis @ Apr 9th 2009 12:32PM
Before the cable company gets too carried away with this advertising business, they should really think about updating their DVR interface.
I had Insight Cable and then Comcast, and they've been using the same ugly, crappy interface for years. It looks like a throwback to 1993. It doesn't even let you choose which channels to display in your guide. You can flag channels as favorites, but when you push the guide button, it shows ALL of the channels, even the raunchy adult programming that you don't subscribe to. Not exactly family friendly. It requires additional button presses to get to your list of favorite channels. That is the main reason I left cable.
But seriously, they can't even update the EPG to fill a 16x9 screen! The most widely used DVR in the world, and they don't even bother giving it a facelift after all these years.
lferguson @ Apr 9th 2009 12:42PM
I'm literally afraid. So much for privacy.
Chance Stevens
Editor, http://www.tvlampsnbulbs.com
the_bear @ Apr 9th 2009 4:10PM
It seems like Tivo has been doing this to a degree with the targeted ads program they rolled out in Nov. 2006. So it seems as though this idea has been
monetized, just maybe not that well given Tivo's shaky financial ground.
charliebronson @ Apr 11th 2009 12:51PM
She Spies is still on the air? Awesome.