Cablevision Presses Pause Button on Network DVR
The movie studios, of course, disagreed and sued. Chalk up another one for the Hollywood knuckleheads. Moving DVR functionality from the set-top to the network is the best possible outcome for TV programmers because usage can be closely tracked and methods can be employed to modify ad skipping, resolving the issues that make the networks DVR-averse.
So, Cablevision filed a countersuit this week, as is to be expected. The MSO also said it would pause its planned service trial until the legal issues are clarified, so as to avoid the liability of potential copyright infringement claims. A court hearing is scheduled for October 30 to address the suits.
Ironically, Cablevision is the only MSO that has sided with the studios on the ˆla carte programming debate. So much for camaraderie.