Forced to watch TV ads?

[AllyCat]

The people at Royal Philips Electronics not only can imagine that -- they have created a device that does just that. The company applied for a patent for a technology that could let broadcasters freeze a channel during a commercial, so you can't go channel surfing while the ads run.

http://www.channel3000.com/technology/8848885/detail.html

So can we get a reprieve during election season? I can't bear watching any Republican mugs' lies.

[derby378]

1. Here come the blipverts

Fans of the old Max Headroom TV series will understand what I'm talking about.

[zbdent]

4. Where do you think I got the idea for RHEs?

(Republican Head Exploders)

I have yet to watch "Scanners" (I believe that's the movie) . . .

[MadHound]

2. This will not go over well in my household

If I can't change the channel, I can always turn the damn thing off, for good. And it wouldn't make that much difference in my life. Most of what I watch on the tube is sports, the occaisional movie or educational program. The rest of it, in my opinion is nothing but drek and paplum for the masses.

[AllyCat]

3. We don't watch much TV, but this will end the little we do watch

Like you said, we can always just turn the thing off.

[Mabus]

5. the "mute" button is your friend

I'm not a channel surger but I have an aversion to commericals mostly because they can be too loud. I reflexively hit the mute button when they come on. If it looks like an interesting commerical (or someone has suggested I watch a particular commercial) I might unmute but that's a pretty rare event.