meirwen_1988: (Inquiring minds)
meirwen_1988 ([personal profile] meirwen_1988) wrote2009-10-13 02:42 pm
Entry tags:

So, quandry

Well, it looks like those of us who are genre fans/geeks/nerds are now presented with a quandry. After years of having our VCR taping of shows to view later being irrelevant in the ratings, it seems now that DVR stats are being taken into serious account by the networks.

This means shows that otherwise would die a quick, not necessarily merciful death in previous seasons (Firefly anyone?) might now be given some legs (can you say Dollhouse? I knew you could).

Now, here's the quandry.

Despite my almost compulsive use of the Internet, and knowing what I do about how that erodes even the shred of illusion of privacy I have, I've been reluctant to graduate to DVR. It's like having someone access my list of borrowings from the library--nobody's business. And it costs $5 more a month than non-DVR. But if it's factoring in to ratings (and I don't believe for a second that it's only the Nielsen families who are providing that data) then do I have a personal responsibility (as in something that in the long run will improve my personal quality of life) to get a DVR so that the fringy shows I so enjoy have a better shot at being made, let alone the ones that make it staying on the air?

In the grand scheme of things--i.e., food, shelter, health--not really a biggie, but in terms of mental and emotional satisfaction, surprisingly relevant.

Hmmmm. What to do, what to do?

Next entry: The definitive number of angels dancing on the head of a satin pin.

[identity profile] emt-hawk.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Out of curiosity, do you own a laptop? With a DVD reader? That would save you some money.

--H

[identity profile] meirwen.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Confused here. It's about the larger question of the tallying of the DVR data done by the ratings folks, not about convenience--got VCRs, DVD/DVR console, and two laptops, so my current technology is fine for what's out there that I want to watch/time slip.

[identity profile] emt-hawk.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
OK, apparently I was too. I thought it was a technology issue, not a purchasing issue. I'll go back to sleep again.

--H

[identity profile] wldrose.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
thing is it may be your data but its a trickle going in to a mighty stream and while the library dosnt give out your data it sure uses it.

I love my DVR I made him get one when i moved in and he was a huge fan in about 3 weeks.

He loves the fact that he can get though a whole show and skip past the comercials. Its kinda like beating them at their own game.

Things I like aside from time shifting and no comericals I like.

Setting it for my local news so if I get home at 517 i can still get the top of the news.

i can look through TCMs website weekly and tape things at 3am and when i want a clasic movie there is is

i love watching one thing and taping another no more arguing about what to watch ever.

I like to watch a bunch of a show at once so I save them for a bit than watch 4 in a row.

the fact that you can set it to only record NEW eppisodes is great no more getting in 10 mins to relize you have seen it before.

Ash

[identity profile] mister-robinson.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
A lot of TV is not that good, I say throw off the shackles and make your own.