We laughed about it not so long ago, but today TiVo launches its new service offering on-demand commercials for subscribers. Called Product Watch, TiVo has lined up about 70 advertisers, including Ford and GM. Kraft will offer users 20 cooking videos that use its food items. The most interesting of the commercials could be one-minute ads that feature Penn & Teller doing magic tricks on a golf course.You can search for commericials in various categories like lifestyles, personal finance and travel, according to The Wall Street Journal article that describes the new service. TiVo CEO Tom Rogers suggested that consumers will use the service like they do the web to research products and other information. "Now the medium they spend the most time sitting in front of gives them the opportunity to do that," he's quoted as saying in the WSJ.
I looked on my TiVo much earlier today (I've been up all night and morning) and I didn't see this new service on my TiVo. Admittedly, it doesn't sound that bad -- especially the Penn & Teller bits. I'll bet I watch all of these Ford commercials just to be entertained by the two magicians. And there may be other commercials I'll watch, too, though I doubt that the Kraft commercial that shows me how to make a cantaloupe-and-Jell-O dessert will be one of them.
UPDATE: Series 2 TiVo owners can sign up for the Product Watch priority list on TiVo's web site. It'll put you at the head of the line for the software upgrade necessary for you to watch on-demand commercials.
1. Gee, I almost wish I had a TiVo so I could get my commercials without all those pesky TV shows interrupting them. Just what the heck are they smoking over at TiVo anyway? I gotta' get me some of that!
Posted at 3:27PM on May 8th 2006 by Wayne Dunham