Good: Disney to offer free internet downloads of ABC and Disney Channel shows. “The Wall Street Journal says shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” would be available on a revamped Web site the morning after they air.”
Bad: “New technology would be aimed at preventing viewers from fast-forwarding through commercials, in an effort to keep advertisers happy.” Embed the ads, dudes. Keep lawyers and accountants away from the media design.
It's only bad if you want to skip the ads. And if you skip the ads, the people who are funding the production/distribution are doing so for naught. We're squarely in the culture of entitlement, where people think they're owed everything without shouldering any of the costs.
Honestly, Not being able to skip commercials in a free movie is acceptable. And I prefer to have a break during the commercials rather than having to watch a long shot of the latest Ford SUV.
Now the real question is: How many commercials will I have to watch for a 40 minutes show.
With all due respect, suggesting better ways to advertise is not the same as bypassing advertising. It's not an entitlement mentality to avocate embedded bugs over standalone "traditional" adverts. A simple "Brought to you by Ford" goes a long way towards promoting brand awareness, particularly when the message lasts the length of the video.
I think embedding ads a bad idea. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the ads get less relevant over time. A year from now, if I watch Lost, I'll have to watch thru ads at are probably no longer appropriate for the viewer. The advertiser might have moved onto a new model, as with cars, and movie ads will hype a movie that I could probably buy in the bargain bin of my local store.
Even worse would be having to watch political ads when the elections are long past.
Right, because there are lots of "Lost" viewers who aren't aware of the Ford brand, probably because they were stuck on an island for eight decades, hence their fascination with the show.