TV Commercials

[r***@optonline.net]

I've been wondering, are TV commercials synched to happen at the same time
across the channels? Being a card carrying channel surfer, I can't help but
notice that when I'm watching something and and commercial starts, I can go to
four, five or more other channels and they all also have commercials being
aired. So I'm wondering if this is some way the industry is working to stop
channel surfing. They seem to have squashed one button recording with my cable
box by having shows run thirty seconds to a minute past their "scheduled" end
time, so if I record the simple way, I lose the very last portion of shows. I
have to manually set the recording to end one minute later than the guide shows.
Is this TV just screwing with us? Thanks.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by r***@optonline.net
I've been wondering, are TV commercials synched to happen at the same time
across the channels? Being a card carrying channel surfer, I can't help but
notice that when I'm watching something and and commercial starts, I can go to
four, five or more other channels and they all also have commercials being
aired.

You just now noticed that? It's been going on for years.

That's why I don't watch TV anymore. The magic box watches TV for me,
and I watch the magic box.

I watch what I want, when I want. I can discuss stuff that's on TV, but
generally not the day after it aired--sometimes not until a year after
it aired. And don't ask me "what channel is that on"; I have no idea.
It's on the magic box.

And the magic box skips commercials for me.

Watching TV as it's aired, letting the programming and broadcasting
execs dictate your schedule, is the height of insanity.

[r***@optonline.net]

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

Post by r***@optonline.net
I've been wondering, are TV commercials synched to happen at the same time
across the channels? Being a card carrying channel surfer, I can't help but
notice that when I'm watching something and and commercial starts, I can go to
four, five or more other channels and they all also have commercials being
aired.

You just now noticed that? It's been going on for years.
That's why I don't watch TV anymore. The magic box watches TV for me,
and I watch the magic box.
I watch what I want, when I want. I can discuss stuff that's on TV, but
generally not the day after it aired--sometimes not until a year after
it aired. And don't ask me "what channel is that on"; I have no idea.
It's on the magic box.
And the magic box skips commercials for me.
Watching TV as it's aired, letting the programming and broadcasting
execs dictate your schedule, is the height of insanity.

Oh, I DVR most everything I want to watch. But now and then, I don't feel like
watching a full show, or I'm looking at what's on the news, and that's when I
watch TV live. Doesn't last for long, but a few times of day I'm switching
between news and business channels, and that's when I get all of them showing
commercials at the same damn time. Thus, my question.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by r***@optonline.net
but a few times of day I'm switching
between news and business channels, and that's when I get all of them showing
commercials at the same damn time.

If you think about it statistically, what you're seeing is the fact that
television has many more commercials than it used to--so many that it's
almost more commercials than content.

So why give it your time.

[G-squared]

I edit out commercials of shows of mostly network TV to watch them later. I assure you there is no time alignment. 1 hr CBS shows all have 4 breaks. The other networks all have 5 breaks in an hour show. Some shows tend to have a short first segment such as CSI and Criminal Minds while Good Wife and Madam Secretary have quite long first segments. Run times vary from 40 to 43 minutes after editing.

It's common to have shows run into the next hour by a minute but that AIUI is to tweak the Nielsen books. The 'run late' tends to be mostly ABC, rarely NBC and never CBS and usually happens after a 'reality' show like American Idol, Dancing With the Stars and the like.

The networks are not screwing with you.

G²

[r***@optonline.net]

Post by G-squared
ws tend to h

I can't think of a show I watch on ABC. Where I have the problem with the shows
running over by a minute are shows on stations like Science, Discover, History,
etc. Not major networks. I can't figure out why that's seen as necessary.

[UCLAN]

Post by r***@optonline.net

Post by G-squared
ws tend to h

I can't think of a show I watch on ABC. Where I have the problem with the shows
running over by a minute are shows on stations like Science, Discover, History,
etc. Not major networks. I can't figure out why that's seen as necessary.

Simple, really.

The offending network figures that you're less likely to change channels if
you miss the first minute of the start of a show on a competing network.

Alternate theory: The offending network is trying to mess up DVR scheduling.