What's on your DVR?

[Ghoulish Delight]

[here is where a DVR advocate such as myself might respond with an explanation that having a DVR reduces the amount of time wasted watching TV even as the number of TV shows watched increases since you can a) skip commercials and b) watch TV when it's convenient for you rather than hurry up to the TV because a new episode of whatever is on. But I'm sure Alex has heard that, so I won't do that]

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

[here is where a DVR advocate such as myself might respond with an explanation that having a DVR reduces the amount of time wasted watching TV even as the number of TV shows watched increases since you can a) skip commercials and b) watch TV when it's convenient for you rather than hurry up to the TV because a new episode of whatever is on. But I'm sure Alex has heard that, so I won't do that]

I don't see how time shifting actually saves any time, just makes it more convenient. And time shifting means that eventually I do watch the show where without that if I am not available I just never see it.

And as for cutting commercials, if TIVO gets me to watch one episode of something I wouldn't have that destroys the commercial free time gain from the episodes I would have watched anyway.

Without (computer based) TIVO I watched the first 15 minutes of Craig Ferguson maybe twice a week, the rest of the time falling asleep before the show came on. After (computer based) TIVO I watched the first 15 minutes every day. So, just one one show that I wanted to watch before I had the DVR capability I ended up watching an extra hour of TV, just for that single show, and if there was an interesting guest even more.

I also watched a Gary Cooper TMC marathon that I never would have otherwise.

So, yes I've heard that argument before and everything I personally experience exposes it as bull pucky (at least for me, maybe for you cutting 8 minutes out of your sitcom hasn't been replaced by other shows you would have missed).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

I don't see how time shifting actually saves any time, just makes it more convenient. And time shifting means that eventually I do watch the show where without that if I am not available I just never see it.

I didn't say it saves time, I say you don't waste as much time. It allows you to fit TV into what would otherwise be down time rather than scheduling other things around TV.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I didn't say it saves time, I say you don't waste as much time. It allows you to fit TV into what would otherwise be down time rather than scheduling other things around TV.

Fair distinction. Except with me I move the TV into what should be productive time (weekend days and early eavening) and out of my down time (prime time and late evening).

I actually get things done during a Saturday afternoon because there is nothing worth watching on TV.