D Peter Maus wrote:

In each case, where there has been an attempt made, and successful or
practical design implemented, it's been defeated by other interests. An
extreme example being included in TiVo and TiVo-like DVR services, where
an attempt to bypass commercials are met with popups. Or in the case of
one DVR device, the Fast Forward is defeated during commercial messages.
Hacking the hardware has been roadblocked by grinding off the
identification numbers and manufacturers marks of chips on the board.
Hacking the streams for outboard implementation has been met with
inverted or modified video encoding, in some cases, encryption.
Manufacturers are keenly aware that consumers which to have this
ability, but they realize they have a conflicting dog in the hunt, and
commercial interests win out. With technical solutions to prevent the
ultimate intent of the consumer.

My Echostar VIP622 DVR proudly fast-forwards through the commercials.
In fact, it has a 30 second jump dorward button. In most of the
civilised world the commercials come at the beginning and at the end of
a program, not every 8.5 minutes.

The ad-supported model is hopefully on its last legs. It is a very
flawed system, left-over from the days of steam locomotives and spats.