The people behind TiVo – the technology that can be set to record whole series or types of programmes, and which can pick up on trends in the shows you record and 'guess' what other shows you’d be interested in - have been criticised after US users found their TiVo boxes had been programmed to record shows and trailers from the Discovery Channel, oblivious of their viewing habits.
This latest development mirrors a case in the UK last year when TiVo systems were set to automatically record the BBC sitcom 'Dossa & Joe' oblivious of people's viewing habits.
TiVo claims that there is no reason why it shouldn't allow TV networks to push programming at its customers (in return for a fee) pointing out that the unsolicited content uses up 'empty space' on a viewer’s TiVo hard disk and that they can remove it from their system with the flick of a switch.
But some consumer groups argue the practice amounts to junk mail, and that a plethora or unsolicited content defeats the point of TiVo which is meant to make navigating 200+ channels easier by picking out shows you would like.
TiVo no longer operate specifically in the UK after the system didn't sell well over here, their chances hindered by Sky launching its Plus service that essentially offers the same facility within a customer's satellite receiver.