‘Fast-Forward And Other Functions May Not Be Available’

If you watch any programs on the On-Demand section of your cable or satellite provider, then you're probably familiar with the little phrase that says, 'While watching this show, Fast-Forward and other functions may not be available.' May not? Let's just come right out and say it: They're NOT available.

Because those 'functions,' as the friendly wording tells me, are NEVER available. If you want to watch a primetime show On-Demand, you're stuck watching the entire show -- commercials and all -- and cannot speed forward through them, like you might do if you'd DVR'd the same show by yourself.

Of course, you also can't go back using the Flashback or rewind function, either, in case you might have missed the important dialogue a character just said because your dog barked at someone walking by the house. Heck, even when we're watching something live (which is very rare these days), we can still use the Flashback function to rewind back a quick 30 seconds in order to re-watch something. No such luck with On-Demand, though.

Which is why they really ought to change that quick graphic that says those functions '...may not be available,' and just come out and tell us the truth: "Fast-Foward and all those other functions you like to use are NOT available. And because you didn't DVR this show in the first place, you've gotta suffer the consequences and watch these commercials. And you'll like it!"  Geez, it's almost like watching TV as we did when I was a kid in the dark ages before the Internet: the 70's and 80's. At least we they don't make us put up with the rabbit ears and fuzzy reception.

The same thing goes for those pre-roll commercials on YouTube. You know, the ones that say, "You can skip this commercial in 5...4...3... seconds," as it counts down to the always-popular SKIP AD part that lets you end the commercial then and there, and go onto your video. Is there anyone who DOESN'T do this? Who really wants to watch the entire commercial before getting to watch another cute cat video?

Come on On-Demand and YouTube, just tell us the truth. Because, try as we might, we can't do anything about it anyway!