Why does DIRECTV STREAM force commercials?

I’m fairly sure without looking at the terms that there isn’t anything prohibiting them from doing it otherwise they wouldn’t do it.  

It’s happened on many different shows and networks but it happens randomly like last night which led me to a web search of the issue where I found this thread.  We’ll binge watch several episodes in a row of a single series just fine, then we get to an episode or two that won’t allow us FF through commercials.  We’re using the DIRECTV stream device.  

It’s just frustrating because it seems like a step in the wrong direction.  If they wants subscribers to buy into the idea of abandoning Directv and other cable providers to go in the direction of streaming the “cable” type services, they should be serving up a similar experience like allowing users to FF through DVR commercials.  I mean there are companies like Dish doing the polar opposite with the hopper which skips automatically.   I’m not saying that’s right for networks, but it’s the complete opposite.  

I’m fine with something in between like making me hit the FF button on commercials, but I’m not okay with forcing me to watch 4-5 minutes of commercials every 6 minutes on shows that I’ve DVR’d.  I simply won’t do it.  If they’re doing this randomly on a show here or there what’s to stop them from slowly creeping towards prohibiting FF on all DVR shows?   You take a little more of the freedom with each step and pretty soon it becomes the norm.  Not right.  

I've never had it happen (likely because I have the "old" DVR and can't save much or for long).  But the comment that it also happens with YouTube TV is likely relevant.  They (and almost certainly the cases of it happening with DIRECTV STREAM) aren't commercials being inserted into recordings.  They are cases where recordings of a show are being replaced by on-demand versions of that show, so would have whatever restrictions (and commercials) on-demand is subject to.  YouTube TV explicitly said that they could/would do that (replace a recording with an on-demand version if that existed).  I don't know if DIRECTV STREAM never said that they could do that (I have a vague recollection that they did, but perhaps not).  There's nothing explicit in the T&Cs, but those are very vague about things like DVR and give them outs to do basically anything they want.

My guess is that the longer you hold a recording, the more likely this could happen.  (Like I said, I don't/can't keep recordings long, and I've never seen it happen.)  It wouldn't for things for which there is no on-demand available, and probably wouldn't for things where the on-demand is only available a short time.  Unclear what would happen for things where the on-demand would be fairly long-lived but would disappear before the 90 day retention was up.

Probably not an answer that you want to hear but if you watch your saved recordings sooner there is probably less chance of seeing ads. After all they hold the right to do what they want with ads. Yeah we're all paying a good penny. Look what they just did with the Cox stations being removed. Unfortunately the users keep coming back for entertainment, so they will continue to do what they do.  Also, I don't know this is the same on Roku devices or if this ads issue is only on their box. 

It amazes me how OBTUSE the people responding to this issue are on this forum.  NO ONE was asking about ON DEMAND recordings. NO ONE was asking about LIVE shows.  If one cannot form a response WITHOUT the words ON DEMAND or LIVE then do not respond, you low IQ buffoons. 

I have the same problem. I RECORD channels to be watched LATER.  PLEASE, you low IQ dimwits, notice I did not say ON DEMAND or LIVE. 

When I record the shows, if the show has commercials, the commercials are recorded along with the show - as has been done since day 1 with VCRs and DVRs. The problem is that I cannot fast forward through the commercials. The software intentionally states FF is not allowed for this recording.

When I see this no FF message, I delete the recording. I will not be forced to watch commercials on paid TV. I will be dumping DirectTV if this issue becomes too widespread. If all services start doing the same, I will dump all services. 

  

@montysimmons  This is not the DirecTV forum but the forum for the DIRECTV streaming. DirecTV has their own forum for posting.

Yet another seemingly intention obtuse dodge for the question.  Streaming v DirectTV - a distinction without a difference for this question.  The point is either through streaming or Direct TV, is transmitting shows with commercials, that if recorded with a DVR, when played back later the FF feature will be disabled.  This is intentional.  So now think of yet another non-clever way to dodge the issue. 

@montysimmons I am not dodging anything. This is only a open community forum of users/subscribers. Not support Suggest you change services if you are satisfied with the service.  

@montysimmons As much as yours!

@bcbsncjlj  seems to type too quickly and not proofread his posts, but I assume you figured out what he meant.

And as it happens, DirecTV and DIRECTV STREAM use completely different technology, both in general and particularly when it comes to the DVR, so no - it isn't a distinction without a difference. 

In the case of DIRECTV STREAM, it uses a cloud DVR, and it is conceivable that they could substitute an on-demand episode for a recorded one if the recording is old enough.  I've never seen this happen and I don't know if they ever would, but with a cloud DVR it is possible - YouTube TV explicitly says they will do this.  If they do this substitution, then you would have the restrictions that exist with on-demand.  Like I said, I've never seen this happen, and I've never not been able to fast forward through commercials, but then I've never kept recording on DIRECTV STREAM for months (and the longest you can keep them is 90 days anyway).

DirecTV uses an on-premise DVR, so they can't just substitute things (and you can keep things as long as you like).  I have no idea if they could control whether you could fast forward through commercials with the the DirecTV DVR.  But that is in part because I don't have DirecTV - nor does anyone else in this forum.  If you'd like to communicate with people that might have useful info for you about the DirecTV DVR, you would do much much better asking in a DirecTV forum.  Try here.

I can assure you, some DirectTV DVR recordings, for some shows, do not allow FF through commercials.  A message is presented that says as much when one attempts to FF through such a recording. The no FF is intentional.  

As for the statement: "And as it happens, DirecTV and DIRECTV STREAM use completely different technology, both in general and particularly when it comes to the DVR, so no - it isn't a distinction without a difference."

[EDITED per Community Guidelines] What I said was: "Streaming v DirectTV - a distinction without a difference FOR THIS QUESTION."   I know the technologies are different, the point is, with two very different technologies, people are experiencing the same problem. 

I'm not going to argue with you anymore.  If you have a DirecTV problem, take it up in a DirecTV forum.

I just switched from dish to direct stream today and tried to watch gold rush on demand OMG I couldn't do it. I made it half way it was torture, even if you go to a different page on your device they pause the commercial and force you to physically sit through it. I'm sick to my stomach I will call asap and stop them from sending me the boxes. What a scam they probably already sold my personal information too. On the other satellite service you never have to watch commercials on 100% of your dvr recordings. How long does it take to get through an hour show anyway? I guess I wont find out.  

@Directstreamsucks 

Matters not what provider it is but where the content comes from.

DirecTV satellite deals with forced commercials on the DVR as well. This is if they are from On Demand, which is downloaded from the internet. More and more networks force the commercials just like if you were viewing on their own website. If from the satellite then yes the feature is not locked, but if On Demand (which is internet based) then the networks have a loophole.

So DIRECTV STREAM is internet based so deals with the forced commercials.

As for claiming they sold your personal info, well that accusation came out of the blue. Nothing to do with the commercial complaint.

I don't mind commercials on some on demand shows. I just wish when we did a "restart" from a live channel we could ff/rewind. I think Dtv Satellite gives you that ability but not Dtv stream.