Just like clockwork - orange

Before the dust settles on the antics of media companies and their relationships with media consumers, Guambat reckons the media companies will have bagged enough law makers to require that all media viewers be locked down and seated in front of the projection screen, eyes pried open, eyelids taped back, compulsorily pinioned to watch their damned ads and other objectionable material. It will take off with laws making it illegal to go pee or get a drink from the frig during commercials.

But it will start with stuff like this:

Networks want to nobble ad-skipping

The free-to-air television industry has declared war on ad-skipping personal video recorders as it prepares to release a free electronic program guide for the first time.

Despite releasing the guide, the industry is pressuring PVR makers to limit the advertisement-skipping functions of their products before they are authorised to access it.

The networks have threatened legal action under Australian copyright law, but manufacturers say Australia-specific modifications to the advertisement-skipping features would not be possible as their products are made for global markets.