14 DAY TRIAL // Many people feel the impulse to buy a product when they see it being advertised during commercial breaks in their favorite TV show or in the show itself. Until now, there were two solutions in such a case. The first meant running to the computer and ordering the product in the middle of the broadcast, while the second - scribbling the name of the thing on a post-it that would act as a reminder. A third, and more convenient, variant has just become available.
TiVo has signed a partnership with Amazon, which allows users to order products that were available only on the homepage of the online shop directly with their TV remote. Without leaving the main window, which displays the TV show, people will be able to search for products and purchase them using the Amazon account. The two companies assure everyone that the system is safe, since users will be asked for a password, the same as the one used in online purchases with Amazon.
Although the innovation will definitely have a great social impact, as many people will be thrilled by the idea of "going shopping" without leaving their couch, advertisers will be the ones to profit most from the agreement. They will no longer be forced to promote their products on boring specialized shopping channels or to limit to the breaks between shows, since they now have their goods rolled at the bottom of the TV screen.
"For example, if a guest on the Daily Show or Oprah has a new book, CD, or DVD out, you can purchase it on Amazon.com using your TiVo remote without missing a second of TV, whether the viewer is watching live or recorded. The viewer with an impulse can buy right away and no longer needs to remember to do so the next time they are at their PC. Television advertisers and consumer products companies are no longer limited to the traditional linear shopping channels that require live viewing for product merchandising and fulfillment - if their product is seen or advertised on any TV show or network, and sold by Amazon.com it can be merchandised to viewers through TiVo." explains Evan Young, Director of Broadband Services for TiVo Inc.
Starting yesterday, products related to TV shows as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Colbert Report, and Burn Notice are available for sale on the new platform.