Australia’s Nine TV network has devised a simple way to make sure viewers never miss a programme they want to watch (patent application WO 2004/36912). The idea is to send viewers a text message reminder 5 minutes before any programme they can’t bear to miss.
In Nine’s scheme, each TV programme is given an identifying code that is printed in newspaper TV listings. It could even be the same as the code used to set VCRs. Viewers text the code to the broadcaster, and when transmission time approaches, they receive the text reminder.
