(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick




Using TiVo To Get Around The Rules

from the sneaky-sneaky... dept

While this article is focused on things in the UK, the idea equally applies here in the US where the FCC has suddenly gone on high alert trying to "clean up" the airwaves. The idea is that if broadcast companies started sending additional content to TiVo or TiVo-like PVR devices that could fit around the show, but never actually be broadcast on television, there's no reason that that the additional content needs to abide by regulations. So, in the article linked here, it talks about advertisements for beer and cars that don't need to meet specific (very strict) advertising laws in the UK. In the US, you could (in theory) include additional "too hot for broadcast TV" content that could easily be slotted in to programs viewed on a PVR. Of course, as with any kind of loophole, it's only a matter of time before lawmakers with too much time on their hands decide to close it.

1 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Apr 23rd, 2004 @ 10:15am
  • No Subject Given

    by NOBODY

    You could take it even further and broadcast a whole alternative broadcast if you wanted to. Think about the possibilities... have a tame version for regular viewers, and an uncensored regular version for tivo! I think it could be quite interesting.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML
Save me a cookie
  • Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced by break <br> tag, all other allowable HTML is intact
  • HTML: No formatting of any kind is done without explicitly being written in
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <p> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Close
Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie

Search Techdirt
And now, a word from our Sponsors..



Subscribe to Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Related Stories
Close
E-mail It