Not another Trix spot!

Techdirt reports that Google is trying to patent targeted video advertising behaviors that compel audiences to watch a set number of TV commercials in exchange for programming.

The patent for "Targeted Video Advertising" includes the following clauses:

[1] 'Users may be allowed to skip particular commercials, but required to watch or accept a set number of commercials in order to watch a program. The required number may be, for example, a set integer, such as 11 commercials.'

[2] 'The system…may also require the user to fully watch at least four promotions before the program will continue.'

[3] 'The profile includes some demographic information of the user, such as income, age, and gender. This information may be obtained when the user registers for the video service.'

[4] 'A commercial with the interactive format is an advertisement that requires user interaction to be completed (e.g., a survey).'

With options like TiVo or OnDemand, users can already skip TV ads at leisure. For shows streamed online, ad-skipping options are few, but most interstitials are so short they do hardly merit skipping. This may change if ABC proves successful in its planned attempt to add multiple commercials to single ad breaks.

Many ads, such as those on TiVo, are already served based on user characteristics like income, age and gender.

Google's TV ad platform debuted in early May. The "Targeted Video Advertising" patent application suggests it may go into set-top boxes — making rivals of TiVo and Apple TV. Netflix and Motorola are also exploring the sector.

Late last year, Google formed an alliance with Nielsen that avails it to the latter's TV audience data.