Advertising

Ad Skipping and Blocking

As noted above, television recording devices offer marketers tremendous insight into viewers’ habits and behavior.  Yet from the consumer side, the DVR is changing how people view television programs by allowing them to watch programming at a time that is most convenient for them. 

Viewer convenience is not the only advantage of the DVR.  The other main reason consumers are attracted to the DVR is their ability to quickly skip over commercials.  Of course this presents major issues for advertisers who are paying for advertisements.  As more DVR devices with ad skipping or even ad blocking features are adopted by mainstream consumers the advertiser’s concern with whether they are getting the best value for the advertising money becomes a bigger issue.  Advertisers who feel frustrated with television ad-skipping may opt to invest their promotional funds in other media outlets where consumers are more likely to be exposed to an advertisement.