TiVo Selling Data on Users' Watching Habits

Gyppo writes "The San Francisco Chronicle reports that TiVo is collecting and selling data on what parts of broadcasts people are rewinding for review and what commercials they are skipping. The data collection is part of a service the company provides to advertisers and television networks, collecting anonymous data on their users' commercial-watching habits. The data they provide is a random subset of their overall userbase, detailing which commercials are skipped and which are actually watched. The article mentions the possibility for privacy abuse, but with this application of technology Tivo is not providing access to what any one individual user watches via the service."

in CCCP

[eneville]

in soviet russia, TiVo watches you!!

Re:And why am I not surprised?

[ScentCone]

and that's a very scary thing, letting prospective employers know what I watch.

You mean, the Discovery network's new Tinfoil Hat Channel?

Which part of not-tied-to-personal-accounts are you not getting? Personally, I'm happy if the data they're aggregating delivers messages such as "80% of our viewers think your 'Head-On! Apply Directly To Your Forehead' pain reliever ads are the broadcast equivalent of gerbil vomit" to the people who buy, sell, and produce the ads.

Re:Old news?

[koreth]

They would know, man, don't you see?!?!?

This is brilliant!

[2008]

"...selling data on what parts of broadcasts people are rewinding for review..."

This can only result in more nudity on TV. Woohoo!

OK, it'll be naked people holding pepsi bottles, but what the hell. Maybe they could do something with them, hint hint.

Re:Old news?

[balthan]

Well, I purposely watch only unpopular programs. If the rating go up, I'll have to stop watching.

Re:in CCCP

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you suggesting that an "In Soviet Russia" joke would be considered funny outside of slashdot?

Re:Not surprising.

[AudioEfex]

I thought it was part of their business strategy from the very beginning. I don't see a problem, as long as they don't release any individually identifiable data.

I've been a TiVo user for years, and I agree - we've always known about this, and I could give a crap.

To be honest, as long as it doesn't have my credit card number and address, I could care less even if it wasn't aggregated and did contain my name, for instance.

Oh, the horror...my big secret would be revealed : I have a season pass for "That's So Raven". I may get denied jobs, housing, or a life mate if anyone ever found out. ;)

I know some people get all uppity over "principle" and "slippery slopes", but really - what in hell is anyone watching on TV, especially in the U.S., that anyone would seriously object to knowing about. No, I don't want my viewing habits published on the web, but on the other hand - what the hell do I really care if they were. The world be damned - yes, I used the instant replay button several times on "Dirt" last week when Grant Shaud from Melrose Place was getting blown by that guy so I could get a good look at his rockin' ass. I have no shame!

If someone doesn't like me because I watch those zany adventures of Raven and her wacky friends, or that I used the instant replay button to get a look at a middle-aged guys ass on basic cable, then they aren't cool enough for me to care about anyway. ;)

In all seriousness, though - I just assume that every bit of data that enters or exits my house is public knowledge. That's why I don't say things on the Internet I wouldn't take out an ad and say in a Newspaper for the world to see - I'm not paranoid and actually think anyone is actively looking, but I just find it good policy. It lets me live my life rather worry-free that something will ever "come back to haunt me".

AE

Re:Old news?

[Tim C]

Its exactly the opposite. They'll work on ways of making you see more of the stuff you'd like to skip.

But if the shows he wants to watch aren't on, he won't be watching at all and so won't even need to try to skip the ads, will he?