Can You Replace Commercials on Cable or DirecTV?

The short answer? Yes, you can. However, you’ll probably want to avoid doing so, because it likely constitutes a breach of contract with your television provider.

With so many “terms of service” pages you’ve agreed to when signing up, it’s easy to miss what you are, and aren’t allowed to do.  Even the most common luxuries there are limits; like what you can or can’t do with your TVs.

Questions like the one above, or others like “Can I remove commercials from my TV” or “Do I need to pay extra to show DVDs in my business?” are the key to running a safe ship. While your business may be focused on selling a product or service to a customer, media companies aren’t much different. They make money off of the use of their media properties and/or through advertising that pays for the creation of the content. This article will address an issue that’s becoming more frequent, which is the idea of modifying, or substituting television commercials on your business TV.

Replacing Commercials Using TV Software

There are companies that have made it their mission to create software to help you break the rules. Unfortunately, using the so-called “solutions” can create more problems than it’s worth. With the way technology is constantly evolving, there’s not a lot you can’t do. But just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. Your business shouldn’t have to pay the price.

Often times, business owners aren’t even aware that what they’re doing is illegal; especially not when companies are selling them television solutions that encourages them to do prohibited things in the first place. The sticky part is, if you hire, or partner with a company that provides you a service which lets you modify your cable subscription; it doesn’t make you any less liable.

Liable for what, exactly? Business TV software that modifies, or changes the service from its original form without the expressed consent of your provider may violate the Terms & Conditions listed in your service agreement:

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There it is. Tucked a little ways down the alphabet on DirecTV’s Terms & Conditions page; where it always was. In case you missed it again, it says:

Unless authorized by DIRECTV in writing through a DIRECTV subscription service, you agree that all Services will be exhibited in entirety, in original form and as provided by us, without any modifications, additions (including the addition of a crawl line), or deletions to any of the Services.”

For the same reasons you can’t play Netflix, or DVDs in a place of business, you can’t alter a portions of broadcasts when they don’t suit your needs.

Just because the technology exists, doesn’t mean it’s legal to use it

Let’s look at a separate example of tech companies helping you break the rules. Take speeding in your car for instance. No one wants to get a speeding ticket. Radar jammers were invented to block a police officer’s ability to measure your speed while you are using it. But they are illegal in all 50 U.S. states.

The penalty for using a radar jammer is much worse than the few hundred dollar fine you’d  get for speeding. Federal law provides up to a $75,000 fine and possible imprisonment! And the radar jammer manufacturer isn’t going to owe the money or serve the time. As the person that got caught using it, you will.

Why are you Replacing Commercials in the First Place?

It’s a bad sign if you get to this point. If you’re trying to replace unwanted commercials that keep showing up on your business TV, what does that tell you? It illustrates how you’re not in control of what’s on your TV. It demonstrates how services like cable and DirecTV aren’t really a fit for businesses in general. Yet so many business owners settle for it, despite there being alternatives that cost less, and let you do more.

There’s a silver lining to all of this, though. If you’re trying to modify the commercials on your cable, or DirecTV supscription, it means you recognize how harmful certain commercials can be for your business. Dealerships obviously don’t want ads for other local dealerships running on their TVs, and fast-food restaurants wouldn’t want ads for cheaper coffee, or better meal deals from a franchise across the street.

In the end, there’s better ways to market your business than a costly cable subscription. There’s It’s Relevant.

IRTV: Replace the Cable, not the Commercial

It’s Relevant TV is the solution you’re looking for if you’re a business owner, and you want to overwrite competitive commercials, but keep the TV content. It’s Relevant keeps competitive commercials automatically. Plus you can showcase your own spots among the premium content IRTV provides. Everything is safe, family-friendly, and things people genuinely enjoy watching.

It’s a television service that gives you control over what comes on the TV, and costs less than what most businesses are paying for cable, or digital display software. The best part? No more paying a cable company to play competitor ads in your business.

Black Friday 2019 TV Deals for Your Business!

Whether you own a Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR), a car dealership, or a medical office, a new TV could be just what you need to spice up your location; and there’s no better time than now to invest in one!

This article will illustrate why now is a great time get a new TV for your business, as well as point you in the right direction of where to start looking for a cost-effective TV solution that works for you.

A New TV for your Business? Tis’ the Season!

Black Friday… Cyber Monday… The weeks of sales and savings before, and after these well-known purchasing events are the best times to buy a TV. With the Thanksgiving holiday wrapping up, and the festive season just around the corner, prices for such things are as low as they’ve been all year.

Need a TV for your business? Or a second TV to highlight a part of your restaurant that the first TV doesn’t reach? Now’s the time to think about browsing, and treating yourself to a new screen! Below are just a handful of the great Black Friday specials on HDTVs going on this 2019 season:

1.) Insignia 32″ 720p HD Smart LED TV (NS-32DF310NA19) Fire TV Edition + Free Echo Dot – $99.99 at Amazon

2.) Westinghouse 50″ LED Smart 4K Roku TV w/ HDR – $149.99 at Best Buy

3.) Hisense 43″ 4K UHD HDR Android Smart LED TV (43H6570F) – $179.99 at Best Buy

4.) LG 55″ LED 2160p Smart 4K UHD TV with HDR (UK6090PUA) – $299.99 at Best Buy

5.) Samsung 55″ 4K Smart LED TV (UN55NU6900FXZA) – $329.99 at Samsung

6.) TCL 65″ 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (65S423) – $379.00 at Sam’s Club

How to Best Use Your Television in Your Business

Getting a TV is only half the battle. To get the most out of your new screen, you need something to put on it. Years ago, the general go-to for filling the screen  was cable. However, as technology has evolved, new and innovative TV solutions now exist that are made for business settings.

So now that you’ve got your shiny new TV, you’ll need something great to put on it. Now before you consider settling for regular old cable, or even worse; Netflix, for your business’ TV entertainment solution, consider what those services are designed for.

Cable TV is meant for the home-setting. Where friends and family sit down and watch TV, for the purpose of sitting down, and watching TV. That’s less-so the case in a restaurant, where folks are there to eat, or converse with one another, or in a medical office where they just want to relax before an appointment. With how familiar cable is, it’s easy to see why so many businesses throw it on their screens – because what else is there?

The answer? A lot.

Alternatives to cable are out there, if you take the time to look. Alternatives that are made for businesses, and cost less than cable. One service in particular stands out above the rest.

IRTV: The Best Business TV Solution

It’s Relevant TV is all you’ll ever need when it comes to TV inside of waiting rooms and businesses. Combining the best aspects of television, and digital signage – It’s Relevant streams content from a library of over half-a-million videos; broken down into 40+ categories to pick and choose from. With the option of uploading your own personal ads and videos to play in between, or alongside IRTV’s interesting content.

If you’re looking for a TV network with engaging, family-friendly content; one that you control, which can be spread across multiple TVs, then It’s Relevant is right for you. Don’t settle for a costly cable service that allows competitor ads into your business, not when digital signage solutions like It’s Relevant TV are an option.

Business TV Risk: How the TV in Your Business is Hurting You

“If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”

If your business TV is playing poor content, and you’re not there to watch it, are visitors still seeing it? Yes, they are; and it’s hurting your business, your brand, and your bottom line. If you already know where this is going, and you’d like to explore an alternatives to cable or DirecTV, start here.

How your Business TV is Hurting your Business

It isn’t the TV that’s hurting your business, as much as it is the programming that’s playing on it. A big part of the problem is a lack of awareness. Business owners don’t always know what’s on the TV. Whether they’re behind the counter, in the back office, or even working from home – you don’t know what’s playing unless you’re sitting in front of the TV, watching it. So chances are, you’re not seeing how the TV that you bought to entertain your visitors is actually showing boring politicsgraphic news, or even worse; COMPETITOR ADS.

How your Business TV is Hurting your Brand

Nothing beats being the owner of a business that sells something like coffee and breakfast fixings literally paying to have competitor ads show up in their business, advertising where to get the same things; but cheaper. That’s effectivly what you’re doing by choosing services like cable and DirecTV to power your business television. You’re paying to invite other brands to steal your customers away; outshining your own brand and reducing your monthly revenue.

The worst part? No one’s really interested or even enjoying the programming that’s playing. When was the last time you sat down at a fast-food restaurant, saw a local news story about a man who was stabbed to death, and as a result had a cheery conversation with friends or family while you ate?

Probably never. That kind of programming can is almost certain to create a bad, or awkward experience for your visitors. This can leave a bad impression on your brand, and even impact the chances of your visitors coming back.

Identifying the problem is only half the battle. Fortunately, it’s a problem that’s easy to address.

How to Fix your Business TV: IRTV

Until recently, there never really was much else to put on the TV other than cable; but as technology evolves, forward-thinking business owners are turning to services that cost less, with features that improve their marketing, and host content that is engaging, and family-friendly.

IRTV, or It’s Relevant TV, is television software that business owners across the country are taking advantage in order to become more relevant to their customers; using it as a customizable marketing tool, one that replaces the boring, graphic, and unwanted content with videos that people genuinely enjoy watching.

If you’re a business owner, or you manage a business with a TV; take 3 minutes out of your day and put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Watch the TV, see what they’re seeing, and consider whether or not you’re getting the most out of your service. Don’t be afraid to change what’s on the TV.