TiVo’s new DVR skips whole ad breaks

You can zap through the commercial breaks for shows such as ‘black-ish’ with TiVo’s new DVR.

Call it an ad blocker for your TV set.

TiVo has introduced a new DVR, called the TiVo Bolt, that will allow users to skip an entire commercial break. The TV technology company had previously offered a button that let people fast forward through ads by 30-second increments.

The new device will add these ad-hopping capabilities for just under two dozen networks, including the Big Five broadcasters, and it will be usable mainly during primetime.

It’s the latest development in ad blocking, which has sparked controversy both on TV and online, where Apple just rolled out a new iOS that allows people to use ad-blocking apps.

A few years ago, satellite provider Dish introduced a similar service, called Hopper, which let people zap through ad breaks. The networks were so enraged they took Dish to court in cases that continue to play out.

TiVo is hoping to avoid those messy battles by making its commercial skipping a feature people have to enable themselves.

The ad skipper isn’t the only new service the TiVo Bolt offers. Viewers can also play back shows 30 percent faster than they air in real-time, if they find they get tired of watching every single minute of a program closely.

TiVo does note that ad-hopping works only with commercial, traditional TV. So while you can watch Hulu on TiVo, you can’t skip its ads there.

Tags: ad hopper, advertising, commercials, skip commercials, tivo, tivo ad zapper, tivo skip commercials