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Infomercial offenders -- who's the worst in your market?

R

Rollo-Smokes

The first of two posts tonight. The topic here ties into my next post.

I'm not sure if this has been brought up here before, but I'll try it anyway. I was bored at work when I came up with this...I looked at the TV listings from my local paper this past Sunday, and while there's not much that booklet is good for anymore I did find some use for it.

I counted all 168 hours of this week, and looked at the main commercial stations in my area -- New York City -- to see how many $pend time on the most wasteful-but-profitable form of programming available.

The results of how much time spent on paid programming (including religious shows NOT co-produced by the station and not counting home-shopping blocks) by the main commercial stations in the New York market, in both total hours and corresponding percentages per week:

  • WWOR-TV (MNTV): 48.5 hours (28.87 %)
  • WNYW (Fox): 21 hours (12.5 %)
  • WPIX (CW): 7.5 hours (4.5 %)
  • WCBS-TV: 7 hours (4.2 %)
  • WNBC-TV: 1.5 hours (0.9 %)
  • WABC-TV: 0 hours (0 %)

And, you thought consolidation was a good thing! In the six years since Fox purchased Chris-Craft's outlets, WWOR has been downgraded to this. A once great station that rebounded nicely from the cheap days under RKO General, they are now overly heavy on infomercials -- including a whopping 12 hours on Saturdays alone!!

I did not include the ION station WPXN-TV, because ION is basically an infomercial broadcaster disgused as a general-entertainment network. But if I did, they would blow WWOR away -- 88 1/2 hours (52.7 percent) of their week is devoted to paid programs. I also did not include the Spanish-language stations (WXTV and WNJU), nor the suburban UHF independents (WSAH-TV, WLNY-DT, WRNN-DT, and WMBC-TV) in my analysis; the Daily News TV booklet only carries primetime listings for WLNY, and ignores the other three altogether.

Which of your non-ION/ethnic stations are like "My" 9 in NYC?
 
Well, I looked at the schedule of the network affiliates in Evansville from midnight - 5am on the 12th of December.

WFIE: 1 hour
WEHT: 30 min
WTVW: 2.5 hours
WEVV: 30 min
WAZE: 2 hours

MyNet affiliate runs ShopAtHome all night.

Extending it through the entire day Wednesday:
WTVW: 4 hours
WAZE: 3 hours
WFIE: 2 hours
MyNet: 2 hours (excluding the S@H hours)
WEHT: 90 minutes
WEVV: 1 hour


And for Saturday the 15th:
WTVW: 7.5 hours
WFIE: 3.5 hours
WEHT: 2 hours
WAZE: 4 hours
WEVV: 4.5 hours
MyNet: 1.5 hours (excluding S@H)

So, out of 48 hours of programming,
WTVW, Fox runs 11.5 hours of infomercials (24%) [NexStar]
WAZE, CW runs 7 hours of infomercials (14%)
WEVV, CBS runs 5.5 hours of infomercials (11%)
WFIE, NBC runs 5.5 hours of infomercials (11%) [Raycom]
WEHT, ABC runs 3.5 hours of infomercials (7%) [Gilmore]
MyNet runs 3.5 hours of infomercials, (7%)

NexStar owned WTWO, NBC will run 6 hours of infomercials Saturday the 15th, but only 30 minutes Wednesday the 12th.
 
I haven't checked weekend grids yet, but for tomorrow, Dec. 13 in Dallas-Fort Worth:

Fox-KDFW/4 -- 1 hour
NBC-KXAS/5 -- 1 hour
ABC-WFAA/8 -- 2 hours
CBS-KTVT/11 -- 1 1/2 hours
Indie-KTXA/21 -- 2 1/2 hours
MyNet-KDFI/27 -- 5 hours
CW-KDAF/33 -- 3 hours
Indie-KFWD/52 -- 7 hours

And, the why-even-bother local award *has* to go to
Indie-KLDT/55 -- 21 1/2 hours !! (this is actually more than the local ION station!)

Unless 55 is in dire $$ straits, I would think that showing RTN or something similar would be better than 1-800-whatever all day...
 
easttxtv said:
And, the why-even-bother local award *has* to go to
Indie-KLDT/55 -- 21 1/2 hours !! (this is actually more than the local ION station!)

Unless 55 is in dire $$ straits, I would think that showing RTN or something similar would be better than 1-800-whatever all day...
Click to expand...

Does the infomercial time include Gems TV?
 
I can say that here in Los Angeles, of the seven VHF stations in the market, KABC and KNBC runs the least amount of informercials, maybe a total of two hours a week each, depending if they don't any other general programming scheduled. The rest of the Big Seven (KCBS, KTLA, KCAL, KTTV, KCOP) will run at least 2 to 3 hours of informercials during overnights, although KTLA hasn't run as much lately (sitcom reruns until 2am, a replay of that night's Clippers telecast, a movie, American Idol Rewind or something else). KCOP is probably the biggest offender, much like Rollo described about sister WWOR. On weekday holidays, they'll preempt that morning's regularly scheduled programs (or schedule them later in the afternoon) to run informercials. On Thanksgiving, they aired informercials until 12pm, and will do the same again (more than likely) on Christmas Day. KCAL will do the same from time to time.

You throw in the UHFs indies, you probably have at least a good 40 percent of their schedules dedicated to informercials.

Personally, like many of you, I have no use for informercials, but I do like watching the ones featuring the Johnny Carson Tonight Show DVDs, Dean Martin's Celebrity Roast, and some of the music ones.
 
Including Religious Programming CW 20 WTXX runs infomercials 39 hours/week out of 168 hours/week. This includes 1 half hour that is a Job Search Program run by the newspaper that owns CW 20. This also includes a half hour music video program done by The Archdiocese of Hartford who also produce a catholic mass. As I previously stated I'm counting religious programming as infomercials. WTXX is owned by Tribune.


Including Religious Programming FOX 61 WTIC runs infomercials 31.5 hours/week out of the 168 hours/week. They are owned by Tribune as well. However beginning this spring FOX 61 is gonna be launching a weekday AM news cast, so that's gonna eliminate anywhere from 10-20 hours of infomercials a week.


Including Religious Programming and the Shop-at-Home Network, MY TV 9 WCTX/59 runs infomercials 62.5 hours/week out of 168 hours/week. MY TV 9 is owned by LIN TV.

Most of the infomericals on NBC 30 WVIT an O&O are on the weekend when the network isn't being programed.

Most of the infomercials on WFSB/3 The Merideth owned CBS station are on the weekend when the network isn't being programed. Tho I believe there's a half hour block on the overnight.

Most of the infomericals on WTNH/8 The Lin owned ABC Station are on the weekend when the network isn't being programed. Tho I believe the have a half hour block M-F during the overnight.
 
Houston, from midnight tonight till midnight Friday:
KPRC (NBC) - 2 hours
KHOU (CBS) - 90 minutes
KTRK (ABC) - 90 minutes
KTXH (My) - 5 hours
KRIV (Fox) - 3 hours
KHCW (CW) - 30 minutes
KNWS (Ind) - 16 1/2 hours
KTBU (Ind) - 9 hours
 
MarcB said:
Including Religious Programming CW 20 WTXX runs infomercials 39 hours/week out of 168 hours/week. This includes 1 half hour that is a Job Search Program run by the newspaper that owns CW 20... WTXX is owned by Tribune.
Click to expand...

So... which one is it?

Although it couldn't be any worse than like 15 years ago, when WTXX was a shell of its former self...
 
WBZ (CBS) - 12.5 hours (7.44%)
WCVB (ABC) - 12.5 hours (7.44%)
WHDH (NBC) - 9.5 hours (5.65%)
WFXT (Fox) - 11.5 hours (6.85%)
WSBK (Ind.) - 27.5 hours (16.3%)
WZMY (MyTV) - 60.5 hours (36%)
WLVI (CW) - 34.5 hours (20.5%)

So, as usual, MyTV wins. But let me point out something interesting about WCVB on weeknights. After Jimmy Kimmel Live, they have an hour of infomercials, then they have Temptation at 2:05, and then another half hour after it. I have no idea why they chose to air Temptation at that time. It makes no sense.

However, I like watching some of the music infomercials myself. One thing they used to do on those was, they would demonstrate how the music would sound back in the old days, and they'd use an old-fashioned record player, and they'd say something like "Well, that sure was a great record, but those old 45s didn't sound too great." And then in another part, they would show like a whole mess of CDs and tapes, and they'd explain how if you wanted to put the collection together yourself, you'd have to shop all over the place to find all the music. And if you were lucky enough to find one of those songs, you'd have to buy the whole album, and you'd be stuck with lots of songs you really don't want.
 
ssetta said:
...let me point out something interesting about WCVB on weeknights. After Jimmy Kimmel Live, they have an hour of infomercials, then they have Temptation at 2:05, and then another half hour after it. I have no idea why they chose to air Temptation at that time. It makes no sense.
Click to expand...

Many stations often schedule low-rated, low-quality programming such as Temptation in late-nights, often in a "sea" of infomercials; they practically wanted to keep "deadweights" as far from the core part of the schedule as possible.

The same also goes for E/I programming on some stations -- some schedule a daily, half-hour E/I show in a middle of an otherwise all-infomercial block.
 
Of all the American stations I get on cable up here...

WJBK (FOX) Detroit - 10.5
WDIV (NBC) Detroit - 29.0
WXYZ (ABC) Detroit - 12.5
WICU (NBC) Erie - 7.0
WJET (ABC) Erie - 10.0
WUAB (MNT) Cleveland - 34.5
WWJ (CBS) Detroit - 19.5

WDIV airs most of theirs at night. WUAB airs them at night, as well as during the day on weekends. WICU and WJET air very few, but their air some at 7 PM on Saturdays. Since WWJ doesn't have local news, on weekends they air an infomercial right before the CBS Evening News.
 
M.J. said:
WJBK (FOX) Detroit - 10.5
WDIV (NBC) Detroit - 29.0

WDIV airs most of theirs at night...
Click to expand...

Are you sure WDIV and WJBK's scores are correct? Generally, Fox affiliates (especially the O&Os) airs lots of infomercials at late night and weekends.
 
WLFL in Raleigh starts the CW Saturday morning cartoon block at 5 a.m. and it's over by 10 a.m. so that infomercials can take over until after lunch. How many kids are up to watch Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry at 5 or 6 a.m. on a Saturday?
 
naytchrboy said:
WLFL in Raleigh starts the CW Saturday morning cartoon block at 5 a.m. and it's over by 10 a.m. so that infomercials can take over until after lunch. How many kids are up to watch Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry at 5 or 6 a.m. on a Saturday?
Click to expand...

That's stupid. The network line-up of cartoons on CW goes 7AM-12Noon Eastern. That's what the cartoons should be airing. The only exception being WTXX in Hartford because they have a long-term (think until the end of the world) contract to run a Catholic Church Service Program Monday-Sunday at 10AM. So they (WTXX) runs the cartoons 7AM-10AM Saturdays and 8AM-10AM on Sundays.
 
naytchrboy said:
WLFL in Raleigh starts the CW Saturday morning cartoon block at 5 a.m. and it's over by 10 a.m. so that infomercials can take over until after lunch. How many kids are up to watch Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry at 5 or 6 a.m. on a Saturday?
Click to expand...

Same thing in Baltimore on WNUV.
 
All I know is Space Bags sounds like an AWESOME band name.

I hope Ron Popiel is proud of himself. He wrecked our late, late night TV watching....

And last but not least - CABLE TV CHANNELS SHOULD BE FORBIDDEN TO RUN INFOMERCIALS!! If we pay for it, it should be INFOMERCIAL FREE.
 
azumanga said:
M.J. said:
WJBK (FOX) Detroit - 10.5
WDIV (NBC) Detroit - 29.0

WDIV airs most of theirs at night...
Click to expand...

Are you sure WDIV and WJBK's scores are correct? Generally, Fox affiliates (especially the O&Os) airs lots of infomercials at late night and weekends.
Click to expand...

I was surprised myself about WJBK, so I'll break down that station and WDIV. This is from the schedules for the coming week.

Monday
WJBK - 2-3 AM
WDIV - 1-3, 4-5 AM

Tuesday
WJBK - none
WDIV - 1:30-2:30, 3-5 AM

Wednesday
WJBK - none
WDIV - 1:30-2:30, 3-5 AM

Thursday
WJBK - none
WDIV - 1:30-2:30, 3-5 AM

Friday
WJBK - none
WDIV - 1:30-2:30, 3-5 AM

Saturday
WJBK - 5-7 AM, 1-3 PM
WDIV - 1:30-2:30, 3-6:30 AM, 1-3 PM

Sunday
WJBK - 2:30-3, 4-6, 6:30-7, 11-11:30 AM, 1-3 PM
WDIV - 1-3, 4:30-6:30, 7-7:30 AM, 11:30-2:30 PM

WJBK during the night airs Bernie Mac, King of the Hill, M*A*S*H, a repeat of FOX 2 News at 10 and their 11 PM "News Edge", COPS, TMZ, and Access Hollywood.
 
There are a couple things that I would actually buy from an infomercial. The Express 101 Cooker from Cathy Mitchell, The Magic Bullet Blender, and perhaps some of those Time Life CDs.

We had Flowbie (the hair cutting contraption that hooks up to the vacuum). That worked great. We didn't buy it from the infomercial tho. We bought it at our local Caldor. (Defunct New England based Department Store).

We also bought had that chopper/blender that looks like a hand held boat motor they used to have in the infomercial. I think it was called "The Daily". We didn't buy it from the infomercial. We bought it from HSN. Worked good.

DiDi 7. That stuff didn't work for crap. We also did not buy it form the infomercial, but rather from HSN.
 
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