Current TV's Commercials Like Other Cable TV's

[Laurence Glavin]

Getting away from the speculation about Keith Olbermann's future for a minute, I've noticed that Current TV's commercial load greatly resembles that of other cable nets, which was not the case when I added the channel to my lineup last summer. At that time, it consisted almost entirely of those crazy spots for rotating spice-holders or exercise equipment that people actually don't use. Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network). There are the usual auto insurance ads from Progressive, Amica and the guy with the band-aid on his face. Restaurant chains. Motion pictures that are to be released soon or are in theaters now, etc. I'll bet the rate card is really cheap, but it appears that Current is on the list of media choices by established advertising agencies, at least for now.

 

[landtuna]

I haven't had cable in several years but thinking back to those days the commercials on cable/sat stations were almost identical to those I am seeing today on indie (non-network affiliates) stations running primarily syndicated shows.

And during daytime it doesn't matter which stations, network or otherwise, I'm watching as they are all about doctors (carpel tunnel and plastic surgery seem to be the hot programs at the moment), technical "schools" (massage, refrigeration, welding, nursing, etc.) and, of course, the ubiquitous car commercials.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I notice that far and away the major advertiser on there seems to be Progressive Insurance.
This would make sense because the management of that company is....well, Progressive.
And they are trying to sell that to a base of potential "progressive" customers.

Lots of ads from Progressive does give them a lot in common with other cable nets though.

 

[Laurence Glavin]

I notice that far and away the major advertiser on there seems to be Progressive Insurance.
This would make sense because the management of that company is....well, Progressive.
And they are trying to sell that to a base of potential "progressive" customers.

Lots of ads from Progressive does give them a lot in common with other cable nets though.

I'm not sure their nomenclature has anything to do with where they place ads. Progressive Insurance spots are everywhere. Anf they have this feature that puts a black box in your car to determine how safe a driver you are. Sort of Orwellian, doncha think?

 

[quadraphonic]

I'm not sure their nomenclature has anything to do with where they place ads.

They named it after their ideals. They would spend ad money in places that share their ideals, no?

Progressive Insurance spots are everywhere.

That's another form of "progressive:" it spreads.

Anf they have this feature that puts a black box in your car to determine how safe a driver you are. Sort of Orwellian, doncha think?

Also kind of "progressive," at least from Progressive's point of view.

 

[landtuna]

I'm not sure their nomenclature has anything to do with where they place ads. Progressive Insurance spots are everywhere. Anf they have this feature that puts a black box in your car to determine how safe a driver you are. Sort of Orwellian, doncha think?

Certain makes have had "data boxes" for some time now and are frequently used for accident reconstruction. Progressive's is a bit different in that it records not only speed and other aspects of the car itself (braking force, acceleration etc.) but also what hours of the day/night you drive. That data can be used to determine risk and thereby to set rates. Just how that applies to multiple drivers I'm not sure but I'm sure that is where it is headed.

Personally, I'd rather let my past performance speak for itself and not have yet another automated monitor looking over my shoulder.

 

[crainbebo]

I haven't had cable in several years but thinking back to those days the commercials on cable/sat stations were almost identical to those I am seeing today on indie (non-network affiliates) stations running primarily syndicated shows.

And during daytime it doesn't matter which stations, network or otherwise, I'm watching as they are all about doctors (carpel tunnel and plastic surgery seem to be the hot programs at the moment), technical "schools" (massage, refrigeration, welding, nursing, etc.) and, of course, the ubiquitous car commercials.

Mostly in the daytime I see LOTS of ads for Everest College, ICDC, UTI College, Le Cordeon Bleu, several law firms (i.e. Injury HelpLine, etc.), lots of car dealership ads, and some lump-sum company ads as well (Novation, etc.)

-crainbebo

-crainbebo

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Getting away from the speculation about Keith Olbermann's future for a minute, I've noticed that Current TV's commercial load greatly resembles that of other cable nets, which was not the case when I added the channel to my lineup last summer. At that time, it consisted almost entirely of those crazy spots for rotating spice-holders or exercise equipment that people actually don't use. Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network). There are the usual auto insurance ads from Progressive, Amica and the guy with the band-aid on his face. Restaurant chains. Motion pictures that are to be released soon or are in theaters now, etc. I'll bet the rate card is really cheap, but it appears that Current is on the list of media choices by established advertising agencies, at least for now.

They must have a new ad rep and they must be giving the spots away given that Current is not even on the Nielsen book, have very few affiliates, etc. Probably Al Gore made a few calls and so that is why you're probably seeing better quality ads during prime time.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Getting away from the speculation about Keith Olbermann's future for a minute, I've noticed that Current TV's commercial load greatly resembles that of other cable nets, which was not the case when I added the channel to my lineup last summer. At that time, it consisted almost entirely of those crazy spots for rotating spice-holders or exercise equipment that people actually don't use. Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network). There are the usual auto insurance ads from Progressive, Amica and the guy with the band-aid on his face. Restaurant chains. Motion pictures that are to be released soon or are in theaters now, etc. I'll bet the rate card is really cheap, but it appears that Current is on the list of media choices by established advertising agencies, at least for now.

The other possibility that they are piggybacking off another net's ad buys.

 

[onairb]

Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network).

Can anyone on an internet forum who dislikes FNC just say they dislike FNC without the implied, 'and anybody who does like 'Faux News' is a retard?' It gets old. : The vitriol people have for a channel they 'never' watch implies that perhaps they HAVE been lobotomized at some point.

 

[BRNout]

Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network).

Can anyone on an internet forum who dislikes FNC just say they dislike FNC without the implied, 'and anybody who does like 'Faux News' is a retard?' It gets old. : The vitriol people have for a channel they 'never' watch implies that perhaps they HAVE been lobotomized at some point.

I would argue that those people are much like those who demonize Rush Limbaugh and refer to him as 'racist': they never actually sample those programs. For one thing, Fox is no more biased on the right than MSNBC or the major networks are to the left. At least as far as straight news coverage is concerned. There have been a couple of studies to that effect.

Secondly, FNC actually does feature some liberals on their talk programming: Bob Beckel on "The Five", Geraldo Rivera, etc. Far more "balance" than MSNBC offers (basically a milquetoast Scarborough and an occasional visit from Pat Buchanan). And, I'll give MSNBC credit because they don't try to hide the fact that they have a leftward point of view. As does RT. And FNC doesn't hide their rightward lean. What I find dishonest is when networks have the bias and act as if they're telling it straight.

Lastly, it is a fact of life that (in descending order) MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC and most local newscasts tend to skew politically leftward. Whether you agree with that or not, enough people do that there was (and is) a significant market for something different. FNC fills that void and has been quite successful at it. Basic capitalism folks: supply and demand. And, I might add that Hugo Chavez has more right of center news channels to deal with (2) in Venezuela than Barack Obama does here.

If you're a fan of soul music, do you refer to fans of your local active rocker as retarded? Of course not. So why do it here? It is exactly the same concept: formatting a station/channel in such a way as to attract advertisers. It works because FNC often has more viewers (except during breaking news) than MSNBC and CNN combined.

 

[landtuna]

Mostly in the daytime I see LOTS of ads for Everest College, ICDC, UTI College, Le Cordeon Bleu, several law firms (i.e. Injury HelpLine, etc.), lots of car dealership ads, and some lump-sum company ads as well (Novation, etc.)
-crainbebo

OMG! How could I have forgotten the hundreds of law firm ads running from very early in the morning through the dinner hour? Maybe they have become so numerous that I just blank them out.

 

[benwolf]

Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network).

Can anyone on an internet forum who dislikes FNC just say they dislike FNC without the implied, 'and anybody who does like 'Faux News' is a retard?' It gets old. : The vitriol people have for a channel they 'never' watch implies that perhaps they HAVE been lobotomized at some point.

I would argue that those people are much like those who demonize Rush Limbaugh and refer to him as 'racist': they never actually sample those programs. For one thing, Fox is no more biased on the right than MSNBC or the major networks are to the left. At least as far as straight news coverage is concerned. There have been a couple of studies to that effect.

Secondly, FNC actually does feature some liberals on their talk programming: Bob Beckel on "The Five", Geraldo Rivera, etc. Far more "balance" than MSNBC offers (basically a milquetoast Scarborough and an occasional visit from Pat Buchanan). And, I'll give MSNBC credit because they don't try to hide the fact that they have a leftward point of view. As does RT. And FNC doesn't hide their rightward lean. What I find dishonest is when networks have the bias and act as if they're telling it straight.

Lastly, it is a fact of life that (in descending order) MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC and most local newscasts tend to skew politically leftward. Whether you agree with that or not, enough people do that there was (and is) a significant market for something different. FNC fills that void and has been quite successful at it. Basic capitalism folks: supply and demand. And, I might add that Hugo Chavez has more right of center news channels to deal with (2) in Venezuela than Barack Obama does here.

If you're a fan of soul music, do you refer to fans of your local active rocker as retarded? Of course not. So why do it here? It is exactly the same concept: formatting a station/channel in such a way as to attract advertisers. It works because FNC often has more viewers (except during breaking news) than MSNBC and CNN combined.

Ratings does NOT equal credibility.

 

[Laurence Glavin]

Nowadays, you can't tell Current from MSNBC or CNN (since I've never had a lobotomy, I don't watch the Fox Right-Wing Propaganda Network).

Can anyone on an internet forum who dislikes FNC just say they dislike FNC without the implied, 'and anybody who does like 'Faux News' is a retard?' It gets old. : The vitriol people have for a channel they 'never' watch implies that perhaps they HAVE been lobotomized at some point.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201201070002

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Commentators on Fox have been know to make school yard level jokes about minorities. The most glaring that I remember is a Fox and Friends skit about the young boy in Colorado attempting to live as a young girl and join the scouts. Three adults mocking a child seemed unprofessional. It was Jon Stewart who aired the rather disgusting segment. I am sure that there are loads of examples of MSNBC hosts and guests or Jon Stewart and Colbert, and certainly Olbermann mocking those adults in public life who put themselves out there by their views and stances. If anybody can think of an MSNBC host mocking a child on their newscast, please tell me and I will recant.

 

[TexasTom]

Lastly, it is a fact of life that (in descending order) MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC and most local newscasts tend to skew politically leftward. Whether you agree with that or not, enough people do that there was (and is) a significant market for something different.

Um, no. It's an opinion, not a fact, that those networks (with the exception of MSNBC) "skew politically leftward". But I will agree that a fair number of people believe it to be true, and that group is a major part of Fox News' core audience.

 

[benwolf]

Commentators on Fox have been know to make school yard level jokes about minorities. The most glaring that I remember is a Fox and Friends skit about the young boy in Colorado attempting to live as a young girl and join the scouts. Three adults mocking a child seemed unprofessional. It was Jon Stewart who aired the rather disgusting segment. I am sure that there are loads of examples of MSNBC hosts and guests or Jon Stewart and Colbert, and certainly Olbermann mocking those adults in public life who put themselves out there by their views and stances. If anybody can think of an MSNBC host mocking a child on their newscast, please tell me and I will recant.

Remember the old Rush Limbaugh syndicated show? right after the Clintons moved into the White House, Rush was showing "family pictures" and showed Chelsea Clinton as the "white house dog."

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Rush is a man of class and taste

 

[landtuna]

Rush is a man of class and taste

We really do need an icon for sarcasm on this board.

 

[BRNout]

Lastly, it is a fact of life that (in descending order) MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC and most local newscasts tend to skew politically leftward. Whether you agree with that or not, enough people do that there was (and is) a significant market for something different.

Um, no. It's an opinion, not a fact, that those networks (with the exception of MSNBC) "skew politically leftward". But I will agree that a fair number of people believe it to be true, and that group is a major part of Fox News' core audience.

The sky is blue and journalism (as a field) attracts more liberals than conservatives. That the aforementioned networks skew somewhat leftward is not opinion, it's been verified by studies. Often the skew is subtle.

And clearly, ratings don't equal class. If they did, reality shows would never have gotten off the ground. That said, most of the vitriol against FNC seems to come from people who never watch the channel. And citing mediamatters.com to me is as useless as citing Robert Gibbs as far as whether FNC is fair.