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2007-05-29 Home Front: Culture Wars

Networks Trying to Foil Commercial-Skipping DVRs

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Posted by Bobby 2007-05-29 06:13|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 I suppose it's out of the question to actualy improve the commercials?

Posted by Redneck Jim 2007-05-29 06:26|| 2007-05-29 06:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Or to improve the shows?

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2007-05-29 09:54|| www.ncobrief.com]">[www.ncobrief.com] 2007-05-29 09:54|| Front Page Top

#3 I started watching a 1.5 hr movie for the first time in ages the other day - then 1 hr into it I noticed it had two hours yet to run, and the ads were so thick I was having trouble remembering the plot. - so THEY KILLED THE GOLDEN GOOSE - good riddance!

Posted by 3dc 2007-05-29 10:21|| 2007-05-29 10:21|| Front Page Top

#4 Keep it coming. This is why people steal. They know it isn't right but they know they are being ripped off so mark it under self defense.

Posted by Excalibur 2007-05-29 10:36|| 2007-05-29 10:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Nobody's being "ripped off", you whiny bitches. The networks get paid to run the commercials. But I notice nobody is paying me to watch the damned things.

Posted by mojo">mojo 2007-05-29 10:46|| 2007-05-29 10:46|| Front Page Top

#6 Free TV is not free. I wonder what percentage of the price of consumer commodities is advertising. I've been done with network TV for years.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2007-05-29 10:54|| 2007-05-29 10:54|| Front Page Top

#7 Make 20 minute ads filmed in super slo-mo. Problem solved.

Posted by Grunter 2007-05-29 15:43|| 2007-05-29 15:43|| Front Page Top

#8 They're incorporating more product pitches into programming.

Anybody remember the television exec calling people who didn't watch commercials "thieves"? This is a serious issue for broadcast programmers. Recall that long ago television ceased to be driven by viewer preference and instead by marketing demographics. Television is no longer being sold to the viewer, you are being sold to the advertisers. Previous ad detection devices sensed abrupt volume changes or drastic shifts in formatting. Ads are usually much louder and have very different aspect ratios. The DVR has changed all of that rather dramatically.

What you will see in the future is extreme product placement. Sponsors' goods and branding will appear directly in the show. Verbal comments upon an actor's attire will explicitly mention the name of the maker. An episode might center upon the purchase of a particular model of car. There has even been discussion of having programs take place in the office buildings of certain sponsors or involve tours of the facility during the show. Anything to get facetime with the audience.

Remember this is what brought you least common denominator television programming. They could give a damn about what sort of dreck you watch so long as it sells the latest widget for their advertisers.

I wonder what percentage of the price of consumer commodities is advertising.

A study way back in the 1960s showed that for a Cadillac automobile, the advertising was the second most expensive component of the final product. It broke down to something like $75.00 per emblem on the vehicle. It can only have gotten worse by now.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-05-29 18:41|| 2007-05-29 18:41|| Front Page Top

#9 #2: "Or to improve the shows?"

Silly Mom.

RJim's idea had a much better chance....

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2007-05-29 21:46|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2007-05-29 21:46|| Front Page Top

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