Man Invents Device that blocks Fox News.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:08 pm

That is awesome! Semi-pointless, but awesome none-the-less!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/n ... cation=rss

It's not that Sam Kimery objects to the views expressed on Fox News Channel. The creator of the "Fox Blocker" contends the network is not news at all.

Kimery says he has sold about 100 of the little silver bits of metal that screw into the back of most televisions, allowing people to filter Fox News from their sets. The Tulsa, Okla., resident also has received thousands of e-mails, both angry and complimentary, as well as a few death threats since the device debuted in August.

"Apparently the making of terroristic threats against those who don't share your views is a high art form among a certain core audience," said Kimery, 45.

Formerly a registered Republican, even a precinct captain, Kimery became an independent in the 1990s when he said the state party stopped taking input from everyday members.

Sam Kimery is the creator of the "Fox Blocker."
Kimery now contends Fox News' top-level management dictates a conservative journalistic bias, that inaccuracies never are retracted, and what airs is more opinion than news.

"I might as well be reading tabloids out of the grocery store," he said. "Anything to get a rise out of the viewer and to reinforce certain retrograde notions."

A Fox spokeswoman at the station's New York headquarters said the channel's ratings speak for themselves. For the first three months of this year, Fox has averaged 1.62 million viewers in prime-time, compared with CNN's 805,000, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Kimery's motives go deeper than preventing people from watching the channel, which he acknowledges can be done without the Blocker. But he likens his device to burning a draft card, a tangible example of disagreement.

And he's taking this message to the network's advertisers. After buying the $8.95 device online, would-be blockers are shown a letter that they can send to advertisers via the Fox Blocker site.

"The point is not to block the channel or block free speech but to raise awareness," said Kimery, who works in the high-tech industry.

Kimery doesn't use the device; he occasionally feels the need to tune into Fox News for something "especially heinous."

Business could pick up since the blocker was alluded to in a recent episode of the ABC drama "Boston Legal." The show's original script mentioned Fox News, but ABC removed the references.

The boisterous conversations on Fox News may be why the station is so popular, said Matthew Felling, media director for the Center for Media and Public Affairs, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media watchdog group. And despite a perception that Fox leans to the right, Felling said, that doesn't mean people who lean left should tune out.

"It's tough to engage in an argument when you're not participating in it," Felling said. "It's just one more layer in the wall that the right and the left are building in between each other."

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:16 pm

I want a device that filters out adverts. I swear, if you want a way to become a millionaire overnight invent one of those.

Half the adverts on TV are just ******* homicide-inducing and the other half are repeated ad naueseum.

It'd have to play some sort of nice music while it filtered, of course.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:32 pm

Adverts are great if you want to go out into the kitchen for more food, or you have to go to the WC as fast as possible...

Otherwise, I usually record stuff I want to watch on VCR and gleefully enjoy fast-forwarding through the adverts...

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:52 pm

Karl Lynch wrote: ad naueseum.

That's about right...

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 6:18 pm

Where do I get me one of these?

Does it filter out the Sun newspaper too?

Could it be adapted to filter out New Labour?

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:27 pm

Seriously people, how could we block out adverts? Does Rebis have any ideas?

We could have a box which cuts the signal every 15-30 minutes, but I don't think advert breaks come that exactly. Hence it would get out of synch.

Or we find some way of 'detecting' an advert, and then breaking the signal!

Post by **Best First** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:09 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Seriously people, how could we block out adverts?

We could kill everyone who works in Marketing. Ever.

Master_Fwiffo · Post by **Master_Fwiffo** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:29 pm

Best First wrote:
Karl Lynch wrote:Seriously people, how could we block out adverts?
We could kill everyone who works in Marketing. Ever.

SOMEONE GIVE THIS MAN A CIGAR! I like that plan!

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:01 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Seriously people, how could we block out adverts? Does Rebis have any ideas?

Mute button + kettle.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:16 pm

But that means movement, and I can't afford to lose any calories!

And Besty just became president of everything. Seriously. Run in the election with that slogan (coupled with 'Nuke Sheppey') and you'll win a landslide!

Post by **Best First** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:48 pm

i was thinking of the campaign slogan:

"All my best stuff is nicked from Bill Hicks"

Although i am worried if i go with that people will confuse me with Dennis Leary...

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:46 am

Best First wrote:i was thinking of the campaign slogan:

"All my best stuff is nicked from Bill Hicks"

Although i am worried if i go with that people will confuse me with Dennis Leary...

Aaron Hong · Post by **Aaron Hong** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:05 am

Best First wrote:i was thinking of the campaign slogan:

"All my best stuff is nicked from Bill Hicks"

Although i am worried if i go with that people will confuse me with Dennis Leary...

Depends - are you by chance Irish?

Post by **Best First** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:57 am

hmm...

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:36 am

Best First wrote:i was thinking of the campaign slogan:

"All my best stuff is nicked from Bill Hicks"

Shouldn't that be a subheading for all internet forums?

Post by **Best First** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:14 am

if only.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:33 am

Best First wrote:
Karl Lynch wrote:Seriously people, how could we block out adverts?
We could kill everyone who works in Marketing. Ever.

Including Geoff Senior?

Post by **Best First** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:34 am

he left comics for marketing! him especially.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:45 am

Ever since I was a kid I had this idea - instead of simply recieving the TV channels on the TV, we could connect to their database and browse amongst the stuff they plan on airing that day. Then we choose one and "download" and watch it.

This would block out annoying adverts and also you wouldn't miss your favourite show if you arrive home late...

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:18 pm

I think we have that! Or will have it soon. Not quite sure.

digital teevee, it's called over here. And you pay extra.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:52 pm

Best First wrote: We could kill everyone who works in Marketing. Ever.

"Noooo! Grant me mercy.... I beg you!"

*ahem*

From what I've heard (and briefly seen) FOX news sounds like a ******* nightmare.

As for adverts - why do they have to be so bloody loud!?

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:39 pm

They did a study in America and found out that people turn down the volume during adverts. To get round this, adverts began broadcasting louder. FFS >_<

Regarding download-per-view, that is one of the expected benefits of Internet2- on demand (almost) instant download of DVD quality video from vast online libraries.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:53 pm

Advertisers have also twigged that most people only hear them from the kitchen...

edit: ...but don't want to mute in case they miss the start of the programme.

Having already chased the audience out of the room in many cases, advertisers are now intent on further abusing people who don't (or can't) get out of their chairs in the hope of swaying people who've already indicated they don't want to follow ads...

Much like with pop-up advertising on the net.

Nosecone · Post by **Nosecone** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:46 pm

Just out of interest don't tv programns have a black, fuzzy square in the top right hand corner just before adverts start, couldn't this be picked up on and then when it stops the tv would know the ads are on and would switch to music or something until it picked up the start of the program (maybee tv broadcasters would have to send out a signal that tvs would recognise for the start and end of adverts)

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:55 pm

Problem is, it would have to be something with really prompt regular updates to its firmware because the ad/tv people would constantly try to change whatever it was used to detect the begin and end of an advert.

Do all tv channels use the black square?

I think we'd need a mix- it would have to only work every 15 minutes and would look for a graphic change in visuals and sound coupled perhaps with that brief pause you get when the program finishes and the ads start.

Unless of course govt. just passed a law saying tv channels had to send a signal down whenever ads started and ended, and the box just used that. Then people could have a choice!

...And tv as we know it would die.

{shrug}

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:00 pm

Haven't adverts already died with the advent of digital services that let you watch any programs for a given day at any time you want?

http://www.sky.com/ordersky/equipment/skyplus

^ How does this and similar Tivo services handle ads?

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:14 pm

AFAIK sky+ lets you record programs directly onto its hard disk.

You then play them back as you like.

It's not (unfortunately) literally video on demand. You still have to wait for something to be shown, you just have far more control over it once it's been broadcast (pause it, restart it etc.)

It probably records the ads too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:26 pm

So...

This guy's invented a device that blocks Fox News, eh?

And I'll bet that in a few years (months/weeks/days/etc) time, he'll 'invent' one that can block a different channel, or one that can block any number of channels.

Basically, all he probably did was find the frequency that Fox News transmits on and just make a device that allowed only the frequency ranges on either side of that one to pass through. People have been doing things like that for years. He just took the next step and marketed it.

Good for him.

Emperor_Starscream · Post by **Emperor_Starscream** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:18 am

buy a device to block a channel?...naaa, just change the channel or turn off the TV

Post by **Best First** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:00 pm

yeah - but isn't he giving all the money to organisations who try and promote fairness in the media?