Longer advertising breaks - Britmovie

David Challinor · 20-03-2008, 10:50 PM

Anyone seen reports that Ofcom, the broadcasting 'regulator', is considering allowing even more time to be devoted to adverts [see link below]?
This really will be the last straw for many people like me who are already fed-up with their present length - which now includes sponsorship, idents or logos, and even trailers for other programmes. Sometimes there's even a short entertainment news update to further distract.
'Just like America' will be the cry....
I guess something like Coronation Street will end up like this: music/opening credits; ad break straight away; five minutes of drama; more ads; five minutes of drama; more ads; five minutes of drama; more ads; final scene, credits...

How terrible

Ofcom considers increase in TV adverts - Telegraph

DB7 · 20-03-2008, 10:55 PM

As you say, people will get annoyed and switch-off so it's self-defeating apart from those handful of shows likle Corrie that have an almost religious following.

Amethyst_Isle · 20-03-2008, 11:12 PM

When I had cable long ago Sky One was very bad for ad breaks (it seemed to be every 5 minutes ) not sure now as I do not have it.

The simple way is to record what you want and then when viewing later scan through them,hopefully everyone does the same

.

Steve Crook · 20-03-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_Isle

When I had cable long ago Sky One was very bad for ad breaks (it seemed to be every 5 minutes ) not sure now as I do not have it.

The simple way is to record what you want and then when viewing later scan through them,hopefully everyone does the same

.

That's what I do, I rarely watch anything "live" (as it is broadcast).
It's also useful because this way, if something isn't as interesting as you thought it was going to be you can just skip on to the next programme

Steve

nandywell · 21-03-2008, 12:20 AM

To be fair, I don't think the amount of ads on British TV is that bad. I spent 2 month in the US last year and I just couldn't believe how TV content is structured over there. It was literally ad after ad every 10 minutes. I found that I couldn't watch more than 30 minutes without getting a headache from all the sales patter.

I think the bigger concern and something you should be worrying about more is the poor standard of program making and lack of entertainment.

I'm going to share something with you now lads and lasses, something that could see me lose my freedom and confine me to a prison cell. The thing is.. I don't actually own a TV license. The reason? because paying to watch the bollocks they air should be a crime in itself.

Captain Casper · 21-03-2008, 01:26 AM

What is far worse is the way they cut into a film for a break. Sometimes it's at a crucial action scene or in the middle of dialogue. ITV2 is the worst for this.

The ads are getting longer. A few years ago you had 2 ad breaks in a one hour programme. Now they put 3 or sometimes 4 in. During the Frost season they put an advert break 5 minutes before the end of the episode. Dont forget that after it finishes they have more adverts making 10+ minutes of commercials in about 15 minutes.

I make a point of going to BBC News 24 when an ad break is on now.

Steve Crook · 21-03-2008, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nandywell

To be fair, I don't think the amount of ads on British TV is that bad. I spent 2 month in the US last year and I just couldn't believe how TV content is structured over there. It was literally ad after ad every 10 minutes. I found that I couldn't watch more than 30 minutes without getting a headache from all the sales patter.

I think the bigger concern and something you should be worrying about more is the poor standard of program making and lack of entertainment.

I'm going to share something with you now lads and lasses, something that could see me lose my freedom and confine me to a prison cell. The thing is.. I don't actually own a TV license. The reason? because paying to watch the bollocks they air should be a crime in itself.

If you're in prison for not paying your TV license you can watch TV and you don't need a license

You're right, the ad breaks and the ads themselves that we have to put up with are nowhere near as bad as the situation in the land of the free. At least some of our ads are amusing, even entertaining, and there are very few that just shout "Buy, Buy, Buy" at you.

There are still some very well made programmes, possibly as many as there ever were. But now that there are so many more channels to fill, a lot of what they fill them with is rubbish so you have to be a lot more selective in your viewing.

Steve

Jackdaw · 21-03-2008, 02:18 AM

Like Steve, I rarely watch ITV live anymore, and if I do, I go to teletext with muted sound during the breaks.
Upshot is, that when people complain to me about a certain ad that's driving them round the bend, I've no idea what they're talking about.

Steve Crook · 21-03-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackdaw

Like Steve, I rarely watch ITV live anymore, and if I do, I go to teletext with muted sound during the breaks.
Upshot is, that when people complain to me about a certain ad that's driving them round the bend, I've no idea what they're talking about.

I'm with you there

Or when I saw a comedy show where they did an impersonation of some woman who apparently does a lot of furniture ads. I had no idea who it was they were making fun of

Steve

nandywell · 21-03-2008, 10:23 AM

Take Martin Kemp for example, he can sing, act and even sell you sofa - the man for all seasons, a jack of all trades.

glyn horton · 21-03-2008, 04:34 PM

The bizarre thing is in another press statement Ofcom acknowledges that most viewer feedback suggests we want less adbreaks not more. So why go the opposite way?

Moor Larkin · 21-03-2008, 04:39 PM

Virgin1 on freeview must have the longest ad-breaks in the world. I attempted to watch 'Terminator-The Sarah Connor Chronicles' a couple of times recently. Not a bad effort at a series but I just couldn't last through the marathon breaks and have yet to watch a whole episode.

marker · 21-03-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glyn horton

The bizarre thing is in another press statement Ofcom acknowledges that most viewer feedback suggests we want less adbreaks not more. So why go the opposite way?

You dont think they would let you have what you want do you that would be to easy,just recently I have given up watching live tv due to the adds and have bought a Panasonic hardrive recorder but even so I dont expect to watch very much.
Far better to watch pre recorded older well made quality films and shows.

vodkamad · 21-03-2008, 05:10 PM

Don't talk to me about more ad breaks!

i have been watching repeats of The Crystal Maze on Challenge (sad i know) and when the Richard O'Brien episodes were on, at first there was 1 extra ad break than when it was on Channel 4 (they slipped 1 in between the second and third zones), then all went good cos they changed it to the same as when it was on Channel 4 (1 after the first zone and 1 after the third).

Now the Ed Tudor Pole episodes are on and for some reason there are 4 YES 4 breaks! (one after ALL the zones!!!!) why they need one before the crystal dome when there is only 5 mins of the programme left i just don't kmow......

johng · 21-03-2008, 10:17 PM

The reason why they put one on 5 minutes before the end is because they know that most people will want to see the end.

This is an old dodge and often arises when the climax comes right at the end of the film.

Like others I rarely watch live TV unless on BBC 1 etc.

20-03-2008, 10:50 PM	#1
David Challinor has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Reigate Posts: 205 Country: iTrader: (0)	Longer advertising breaks Anyone seen reports that Ofcom, the broadcasting 'regulator', is considering allowing even more time to be devoted to adverts [see link below]? This really will be the last straw for many people like me who are already fed-up with their present length - which now includes sponsorship, idents or logos, and even trailers for other programmes. Sometimes there's even a short entertainment news update to further distract. 'Just like America' will be the cry.... I guess something like Coronation Street will end up like this: music/opening credits; ad break straight away; five minutes of drama; more ads; five minutes of drama; more ads; five minutes of drama; more ads; final scene, credits... How terrible Ofcom considers increase in TV adverts - Telegraph

20-03-2008, 11:12 PM	#3
Amethyst_Isle is Very Happy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 367 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (2)	When I had cable long ago Sky One was very bad for ad breaks (it seemed to be every 5 minutes ) not sure now as I do not have it. The simple way is to record what you want and then when viewing later scan through them,hopefully everyone does the same.

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20-03-2008, 10:55 PM	#2
DB7 is just a prescription talkin' Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Shrops Posts: 6,091 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	As you say, people will get annoyed and switch-off so it's self-defeating apart from those handful of shows likle Corrie that have an almost religious following.

21-03-2008, 12:20 AM	#5
nandywell has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 165 Country: iTrader: (2)	To be fair, I don't think the amount of ads on British TV is that bad. I spent 2 month in the US last year and I just couldn't believe how TV content is structured over there. It was literally ad after ad every 10 minutes. I found that I couldn't watch more than 30 minutes without getting a headache from all the sales patter. I think the bigger concern and something you should be worrying about more is the poor standard of program making and lack of entertainment. I'm going to share something with you now lads and lasses, something that could see me lose my freedom and confine me to a prison cell. The thing is.. I don't actually own a TV license. The reason? because paying to watch the bollocks they air should be a crime in itself.

21-03-2008, 01:26 AM	#6
Captain Casper is Having a beer in the Clam Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 144 Country: iTrader: (0)	What is far worse is the way they cut into a film for a break. Sometimes it's at a crucial action scene or in the middle of dialogue. ITV2 is the worst for this. The ads are getting longer. A few years ago you had 2 ad breaks in a one hour programme. Now they put 3 or sometimes 4 in. During the Frost season they put an advert break 5 minutes before the end of the episode. Dont forget that after it finishes they have more adverts making 10+ minutes of commercials in about 15 minutes. I make a point of going to BBC News 24 when an ad break is on now.

21-03-2008, 02:18 AM	#8
Jackdaw is currently busier than a one-armed taxi-driver with crabs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: W5 5EP Posts: 398 Country: iTrader: (0)	Like Steve, I rarely watch ITV live anymore, and if I do, I go to teletext with muted sound during the breaks. Upshot is, that when people complain to me about a certain ad that's driving them round the bend, I've no idea what they're talking about.

21-03-2008, 10:23 AM	#10
nandywell has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 165 Country: iTrader: (2)	Take Martin Kemp for example, he can sing, act and even sell you sofa - the man for all seasons, a jack of all trades.

21-03-2008, 04:34 PM	#11
glyn horton has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: newport Posts: 138 Country: iTrader: (0)	The bizarre thing is in another press statement Ofcom acknowledges that most viewer feedback suggests we want less adbreaks not more. So why go the opposite way?

21-03-2008, 04:39 PM	#12
Moor Larkin has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North West Frontier Posts: 1,609 Country: iTrader: (0)	Virgin1 on freeview must have the longest ad-breaks in the world. I attempted to watch 'Terminator-The Sarah Connor Chronicles' a couple of times recently. Not a bad effort at a series but I just couldn't last through the marathon breaks and have yet to watch a whole episode.

21-03-2008, 05:10 PM	#14
vodkamad has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4 Country: iTrader: (0)	Don't talk to me about more ad breaks! i have been watching repeats of The Crystal Maze on Challenge (sad i know) and when the Richard O'Brien episodes were on, at first there was 1 extra ad break than when it was on Channel 4 (they slipped 1 in between the second and third zones), then all went good cos they changed it to the same as when it was on Channel 4 (1 after the first zone and 1 after the third). Now the Ed Tudor Pole episodes are on and for some reason there are 4 YES 4 breaks! (one after ALL the zones!!!!) why they need one before the crystal dome when there is only 5 mins of the programme left i just don't kmow......

21-03-2008, 10:17 PM	#15
johng has no status. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth Posts: 73 Country: iTrader: (0)	The reason why they put one on 5 minutes before the end is because they know that most people will want to see the end. This is an old dodge and often arises when the climax comes right at the end of the film. Like others I rarely watch live TV unless on BBC 1 etc.