TiVo Will Start Charging Fees For Its Automatic Commercial Break-Skipping Feature 'SkipMode'

TiVo is announcing a change to its popular SkipMode feature, which allows users to skip through commercial breaks on recorded television shows. Starting November 2, 2026, the current version of SkipMode will no longer be available for free. The feature has been a core part of the TiVo experience for years, enabling viewers to quickly leap past advertisements and jump directly to the next segment of a show.

However, under the new plan, the one-button and automatic functionality will be removed from the standard service. Viewers will still have the option to skip commercials manually using the 30-second skip button or fast-forward control on their remotes. Starting in November, TiVo will offer a 30-day free trial of the new Premium Auto Commercial Skip service, which reintroduces the automatic skip capability.

After the trial period ends, customers who wish to retain the automatic or one-button skip feature will need to pay an additional monthly fee. The exact cost of the Premium Auto Commercial Skip service has not been disclosed by the company. This change was shared by a long-time Slashdot reader named AmiMoJo.