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CNN Live At Daybreak

ReplayTV Nixes Ad Skipping

Aired June 11, 2003 - 06:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Time to get some business buzz right now. ReplayTV is putting ad skipping on pause.
Let's go back live to New York and Susan Lisovicz.

Well this won't make consumers happy.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: No, it won't, because that's one of the most popular features of these personal video recorders, or PVRs, the ability to skip commercials. But now ReplayTV, which is a maker, puts out a PVR, is bowing to the entertainment industry and will press stop on that feature.

Basically the parent company of ReplayTV was sued two years ago, not only by Hollywood studios, but the TV networks, saying that these types of features undermine programmer's ability to make money and abets piracy. But consumer advocates say that they're troubled by Hollywood's ability to push the company to remove consumer friendly features that were never declared illegal.

Now personal video recorders, Carol, account for only about 3 percent of the TV market right now. But the fear is that, of course for Hollywood, is that they're going to totally transform the way we view entertainment in the future and that's why they put the legal screws to ReplayTV.

COSTELLO: Well I have a -- I have a creative idea for them, why don't they come up with a new way to sell their advertising -- to sell advertising through their programs?

LISOVICZ: Well you're kind of seeing that already, it's called product placement. So now it's a part of the show whether it's overt, actually written into the story line, or your just see it prominently displayed throughout the program. And, well, that's something that some consumers also don't like. Difficult to please.

COSTELLO: Exactly. It gets a little tiresome, doesn't it?

LISOVICZ: Sure does.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Susan Lisovicz, we appreciate it.

LISOVICZ: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired June 11, 2003 - 06:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Time to get some business buzz right now. ReplayTV is putting ad skipping on pause.
Let's go back live to New York and Susan Lisovicz.

Well this won't make consumers happy.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: No, it won't, because that's one of the most popular features of these personal video recorders, or PVRs, the ability to skip commercials. But now ReplayTV, which is a maker, puts out a PVR, is bowing to the entertainment industry and will press stop on that feature.

Basically the parent company of ReplayTV was sued two years ago, not only by Hollywood studios, but the TV networks, saying that these types of features undermine programmer's ability to make money and abets piracy. But consumer advocates say that they're troubled by Hollywood's ability to push the company to remove consumer friendly features that were never declared illegal.

Now personal video recorders, Carol, account for only about 3 percent of the TV market right now. But the fear is that, of course for Hollywood, is that they're going to totally transform the way we view entertainment in the future and that's why they put the legal screws to ReplayTV.

COSTELLO: Well I have a -- I have a creative idea for them, why don't they come up with a new way to sell their advertising -- to sell advertising through their programs?

LISOVICZ: Well you're kind of seeing that already, it's called product placement. So now it's a part of the show whether it's overt, actually written into the story line, or your just see it prominently displayed throughout the program. And, well, that's something that some consumers also don't like. Difficult to please.

COSTELLO: Exactly. It gets a little tiresome, doesn't it?

LISOVICZ: Sure does.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Susan Lisovicz, we appreciate it.

LISOVICZ: My pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com