Do you know what the Hopper is? Apparently, it’s Dish Network’s new DVR that allows its customers to skip over commercials. Pretty much like all DVRs, right? I just start watching the show 10-15 minutes later and I can do the same thing with my carrier, DirecTv.
But The Hopper is catching heat from Representative John Dingell. Why? Because potential voters will be able to bypass all his wonderful political commercials without hearing his incredible message.
That was all absolute facetiousness, you know that right? Well, not the part about a politician being so self-centered and narcissistic to turn a new product into a Me Moment. But the stuff about meaningful television messages from a politician.
Frankly, the entire entity that is the political commercial should be banned. Do you really watch one and think: “By God, this is the most honest politician in history! Of course he has my vote!”
By now I’m certain that 90% of the American people mute the sound or turn the channel when one of these broadcast gems begins. Heck, I’ll even turn on CMT to avoid a political commercial! I would even watch Oprah before I’d voluntarily watch a political commercial!
Dingell had an opportunity to ask Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen about this new service.
“Do you understand and appreciate the concerns that the politicians up here on the dais and other politicians everywhere will feel about that, yes or no?” Dingell asked.
“I understand consumers very well,” Ergen said. “I’m not a politician, so I can’t tell you I appreciate their concerns.”
Looks like Ergen is my hero of the week.




You know, we know that they really stink!
Claudia recently posted..RedX – אחסון שרתים וירטואליים VPS המוביל והאיכותי בישראל
I actually think there are people out there who don’t think politicians are all imbeciles. It is our duty as Americans to remind them!
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Susie Kline recently posted..Guest Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D.: Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand- Embracing Change
I don’t really understand why everyone is in such an uproar about the Auto Hop feature on the Hopper. According to marketingcharts.com 36% of a one hour show is commercials! I think it’s a fantastic piece of technology and a Dish co-worker actually brought it to my attention that it was available. My Hopper allows me to record all four major networks and then skip the ads the next day. I can watch the ads if I choose but we all know that no one watches commercials anymore. I love being able to watch the show straight through because it gives me those 20 minutes back that I would have spent watching advertising.
So the Hopper does what any DVR has been doing for eons. Maybe a little jazzier. Why is the fact that people skip commercials so shocking?! lol
Thanks for commenting!
Susie Kline recently posted..Guest Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D.: Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand- Embracing Change