5, 6 & 7 MINUTE COMMERCIAL BREAKS !!!

[Al Timiter]

Yes, I've noticed the OTA networks' breaks are much more frequent now. Some of the shows seem to go only five minutes before they hit another break. This is called "shooting yourself in the foot" IMHO.

 

[landtuna]

Yes, I've noticed the OTA networks' breaks are much more frequent now. Some of the shows seem to go only five minutes before they hit another break. This is called "shooting yourself in the foot" IMHO.

Another tactic I've noticed is that the first commercial isn't until 15 minutes or so into the program. Then there is a diminishing amount of time between each successive stopset with not much more than a few minutes near the end of the program.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Three words for you D V R! I have clocked some TV Land breaks at the 5 1/2 minute mark and don't even get me started on the breaks during That 70's Show on MTV.

Yeah and TVLAND doesn't run on the clock because of these damn long break.

MTV was the first network to do 5+ minute breaks. Back in the day my shows on MTV were Daria and Pimp My Ride. In 5 mins I can go to the bathroom and make and eat a turkey sandwich.

This is important. I need breaks. Sometimes I'm watching a movie on an individual station and despite rushing I don't get back in time. The first break will usually be short and sometimes they warn you, making you think they're doing you a favor with a "limited" commercial break.

I've had the terrible experience of not having a break at the end of a show, then it goes right into the next one, and the wait is agonizing for a break. I have to GO, people!

 

[vchimpanzee]

Many stick a promo right in the middle like they're going back to the show.......and then
it's back to even more commercials (round 2).

What's the name of the man who says "Will continue" during a movie?

Sometimes they put it in the wrong place and it's right back to the movie. Sometimes he says "Continues" and it doesn't.

There seems to be a package with a lot of these movies. They have national commercials just as professionally done as those on the networks, and the man to say "Will continue". He also usually says who is starring. I find this useful because I haven't heard of some of these people.

 

[vchimpanzee]

So all you DVR users, aren't you paying another $7 or so a month for the service? Direc TV is getting more than enough out of me already.

Yes, but it's worth it.

Only if the machine lasts eight years. If not, it's more than that.

But the alternative is spending hundreds on a regular DVR. Actually, for cable I might not have to, but I'm stuck with VCRs for OTA and they're not doing so well.

It is worth it to be able to tape all these shows.

 

[azumanga]

What's the name of the man who says "Will continue" during a movie?

Sometimes they put it in the wrong place and it's right back to the movie. Sometimes he says "Continues" and it doesn't.

There seems to be a package with a lot of these movies. They have national commercials just as professionally done as those on the networks, and the man to say "Will continue". He also usually says who is starring. I find this useful because I haven't heard of some of these people.

A few years ago while getting a haircut, I saw the film "Ernest Saves Christmas", which the station carried as part of a syndicated movie package. Before each break, the announcer, over the commercial bumper for the film, says, "We'll Be Back to our Feature Presentation", and after the commercial, "We now return to our Feature Presentation" -- without uttering the name of the film, which is on-screen. A way of saving money, perhaps?

 

[quadraphonic]

A few years ago while getting a haircut, I saw the film "Ernest Saves Christmas", which the station carried as part of a syndicated movie package. Before each break, the announcer, over the commercial bumper for the film, says, "We'll Be Back to our Feature Presentation", and after the commercial, "We now return to our Feature Presentation" -- without uttering the name of the film, which is on-screen. A way of saving money, perhaps?

All the movies I've seen on local channels lately have had something similar at the breaks, but they don't even put up a graphic of the movie name. If they say anything, it's completely generic. So then if the movie is halfway interesting, and they don't have it in the program guide, you have to go online or somewhere, or just keep watching it and guess the name since research is probably too much work for a late night movie anyway.
Of course, most of the local channel movies I've seen are late at night on weekends, so there probably aren't that many people to notice.

 

[firepoint525]

My mother is a HUGE Jeopardy fan (been watching it since the Art Fleming days!) and commented to me not too long ago that the local Nashville affiliate (channel 30) will air somewhere in the neighborhood of five to seven minutes worth of commercials in the break right before Final Jeopardy. I didn't believe her but I watched it, and I, too, noticed the extended break. The number of commercials aired must have numbered somewhere in the teens! This included promos within the commercial break, too. Channel 30 is, I think, an independent now, with 17 being Fox, and 58 for the WB. 30 airs all the syndicated court shows during the day! :