According to an article on CNet’s news.com, Royal Philips Electronics has filed for a patent for a technology that would effectly prevent a user from fast forwarding or changing channels during commercials. WHAT??
That’s a seriously stupid idea. I’m going to go ahead and play the “I know a bit about what I’m talking about because I work at a TV station card” here to say I hope they don’t deploy it. First off, nothing is ever flawless. The way the technology is supposed to work is when the network or show goes to commercial, a command would be sent to the box instructing it to not allow fast forwarding or changing of the channels. Once the break is over, a command would be sent again allowing the user to change channels or fast forward and rewind to his or her heart’s content.
Now let’s fast forward (hah) to this scenario. You’re watching the latest episode of the Access Inside Hollywood Entertainment Edition Report. A commercial break starts and you get locked onto that channel. Suddenly a tornado warning is issued for your county, so the television station you’re watching breaks in with a report. Since your receiver already received the lock command, you are stuck with the report. (That’s not the problem… yet.) The weather guys do their report and get to you back to the show, but only after the break has finished and the show is already in progress. But, you want to check out what the other station in town is saying about the storm and whether you’re going to die. Guess what? Your receiver didn’t get the unlock command, so you’re stuck hearing about how Tom Cruise ate his newborn daughter’s placenta right after birth. In other words… You’re screwed!
Philips says the technology is only meant to be used for Pay Per View events, but we can be assured that if the technology is used, it’ll be used to keep you from doing the above during commercials. Wow.