• by Wayne Friedman , December 11, 2008

New TiVo-based research says that more than 90% of DVR users "almost always" or "always" fast-forward through commercials--this according to a new Starcom USA-TiVo custom study.

This data may suggest that skipping through commercials is higher than previously believed. Other studies note that 60% to 70% of the time DVR users skip through commercials.

The research was part of the initial results of Starcom's custom survey using TiVo's Power||Watch ratings. Starcom was the first media agency to subscribe to the TiVo Power||Watch ratings service when it was launched in November 2007. The service gives agencies and advertisers access to demographic and viewing behavior data for 20,000 households that volunteered to take part.

While fast-forwarding is a factor in owning and using a DVR, Starcom says that only 10% of viewers view commercial-skipping as the main benefit of a TiVo DVR. 80% say the main reason is to record programs for later viewing.

Other results from the study say that consumers are not totally averse to watching commercials. Around one-third of viewers said they will watch a commercial when it is "relevant to them." Another 21% say they watched ads because they are "entertaining."

One sign that there needs to be better creative execution and microtargeting of consumers comes from research: 61% of DVR users would be likely to watch commercials if they were more relevant.