Why I Cancelled My Tata Sky Purchase

[GSV13]

QUOTE(mhsabir @ Mar 8 2007, 10:01 PM) [snapback]82613[/snapback]
One of my cousins worked in Orbit - A gulf DTH company & the rules were pretty much the same - including the privacy ones - so not suprised to see them here too. Not that I support them - but for me this info is nothing new.[/b]
This is not gulf & we don't have fanatic thoughts about women like them. So dear think before you compare

 

[Sushubh]

 

[mhsabir]

HELLO ! Its not just about that - there is a mention of targetted advertising. Imagine being targetted with ads of Reebok & Nike shoes if you are a sports enthusiast & Magie noodles if Cartoon Network is the most watched channel & Vim Bar if you are watching the Saas-bahus. Its about that. They would know in & out about you in any case. So "this is not Gulf" does not apply in this case. The issue here is that this happens around the world. Wont be surprised if it is applicable in US too.

 

[Sushubh]

google does that with their advertising module. anyways, i think targeted advertising is actually good for the end consumer. i tend to get a lot of usable information through google ads which are targeted to content on the pages i land on searching for information (like web hosts).i had rather see interesting advertising on television than the ones which i cannot actually relate too. invision of privacy? maybe. useful? could be.

 

[mhsabir]

I agree - The issue of targetted advertising is nothing new - that is what my whole point is. Its present in other places too. Got it?

 

[Munnabhai]

would u rather see Vim Bar in saas-bahu/ cookery shows OR while watching formula1?

 

[Sushubh]

vim bar ads should not be shown to me anyways. it's a total wastage of resources for the broadcaster to show that ad to me. so well, it does not matter which show comes vim bar ads!

 

[Munnabhai]

if u watch the cookery shows, may be u deserve them

 

[Sushubh]

they could show me pizza hut's ad instead during the cookery show.

 

[orangehues]

The issue here is a little different that serving targeted ads like Google. We are talking about this info being sold to companies which may not be advertising with Tata Sky. This isn't about Tata Sky serving "contextual ads" based on content we are watching but them building my profile based on all my habits and selling it to anyone who's interested. Advertisers are always interested in reaching people with extra money. Tata Sky knows how frequently you order movies thru showcase and that is valuable info. Other than this, the channels might be interested in gleaning all sorts of info from this. For example, they can find out whether while watching a particular show you sit through it or leave it in the middle. At what point did you leave it and things like that. Alls this is valuable info and Tata Sky can profit from it without giving me back any incentive. See, it's about my rights. It may freak out some people and to others it may not matter at all. The point is *I* should be allowed to decide whether they can do this or not AND if they are doing it then I should be given incentive in terms of discounts etc.Btw, I'm back on cable until I get more choice and friendlier policies. No installation fee this time and reduced subscription charges. The cablewalas are behaving themselves now.RE: Selling the STB in the grey market - you can't. Tell me who'd be a likely buyer for a satellite STB when there are only two providers in India and none of them allow you to use your own STB. You might think that maybe you can sell it on ebay to someone who's Tata Sky STB is broken but unfortunately you can't even do that. You're forgetting that your Tata Sky STB is "married" to your digicard which means insert any one else's digicard and it won't work. This is what I meant by "locked till eternity."