Last year, Time Warner Cable brought us “Start Over” which allows one to start a television show from the beginning (while it’s still being broadcast) if, say, you’re running late. I guess Start Over is such a success (available in 23 states, 8 more by the end of the year) that TWC is expanding their fake DVR-OnDemand hybrid:
The service, called Look Back, will let cable customers watch certain shows later on that they missed, just the way a digital video recorder does, but without an extra monthly fee. The fast-forwarding function will be turned off, however, and consumers will be limited to watching programs later on during the day they are shown, anytime before midnight.
Neither Look Back nor Start Over store content locally on the cable box. They both provide rewind and pause, but TWC has intentionally left fast forward out – forcing folks to sit through commercials. The lesson here is: Sometimes you get exactly what you pay for… and these services are “free.” For $10 or $15 a month, I think most folks (who understand what DVRs can do) would prefer to schedule their own recordings (that do not turn into pumpkins at midnight) and fast forward at will.
(Via Engadget. Thanks for the reminder, Mike!)