I love my TiVo, but many networks don't. They say the ad skipping feature will cause them to lose money. One new network is already working to fight back.
Network Tries to Foil Ad Skipping. The schedule of a new cable network, Fine Living, has been to set up to foil personal video recorders like TiVo from digitally skipping commercials. By Bernard Stamler. [New York Times: Technology]
I actually think this seems more annoying than actual commercials or plain old product placement. I'm actually waiting for companies to design ads that work at normal speed and at TiVo's fast forward speed. So that even if someone is speeding past the ad they'll see something.