Commercials

[Rickster71]

Is it me, or does it seem like most channels go to a commercial at the same time?
I don't know if this holds true for all satellite and cable providers?
I have Dish Network, and whenever I don't want to sit through a commercial, and start to channel surf.
It seems like most others are in commercials too.
I hate when that happens.

 

[Nomo]

Time for a DVR.
I have noticed the same thing in the rare times I actually watch live TV.

 

[Rickster71]

Oh, I forgot to add that, we have a DVR.
It's the other times when I'm just looking to see what's on.
I would give up watching TV if we had to sit through all these *#@^ing commercials.
I feel better now

 

[annunaki]

I have noticed this too. Mostof the programs I like to wwatch end up on the DVR. When I do watch tv "live", most of the channels I frequent tend to go to commercial around the same time. History Channel, Discovery, BBC (for Top Gear usually on the DVR so not too much trouble), Speed, and maybe one or two others.

 

[stratman]

I believe there are 4 commercial breaks in a standard one hour program, usually at about 10 minutes after program starts then at 30 minutes then, 40-45 then about 55, my timing might be a bit off, but close, I've noticed when they put a one hour show with no interruptions on a paid channel the shows always finish at 45 minutes, so figure 4 minutes +/- per break, the reason they go on about the same time is convenience. Agencies that track commercials tune in at certain times of the hour to make sure commercial was shown, frequency of times shown and hours at which it was shown, sort of like an ASCAP or BMI of music. This at times happens on radio where the commercial breaks are consistent within the stations.

 

[SysteX]

Very interesting stratman! Thanks for the info.

 

[Adam]

I figured that stations did it out of an agreement between themselves. After all, if one station goes to commercial while the others are playing a program, people would be apt to switch channels and start watching something else instead of watching the commercials that pay the bills. That would diminish the value of the commercials to the advertisers, which might lead to them pulling their adds and their funding. No paid station wants that.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Commercials are the main reason I all but quit watching TV a couple years ago. Occasionally I'll watch some HDTV at my brothers place; he gets all the geek ones, Science Channel, Discover HD, etc. And I often watch football with him since he has a really nice 46" LCD HDTV.

But I myself don't own a television.

 

[no. 5]

Is it me, or does it seem like most channels go to a commercial at the same time?

And not only at the same time, but fairly often, the same commercials too.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Like a couple of others here, I quit watching TV several years ago, and commercials had a lot to do with that. Now I only watch DVDs. (I watch several TV shows-on DVD.)

 

[Rickster71]

I'm continuing my Unscientific study: What length of time do commercials take up, in a one hour program?
The commercial time gets longer, as time goes on.

As I'm sure you all know the shows on DVD are sans commercials.
While exercising, I've watched seasons one, and two of 'Lost' on DVD.
Now I'm watching 'The X-Files'
The X-Files show first aired on Sept. 10th 1993
The show length was 47 minutes, from opening credits to closing. With the remainder of the 60 minutes, as commercial time.

In comparison the show 'Lost' has 40 minutes of actual show.

Fox Mulder was right! It's a conspiracy I tell you!

 

[highfihoney]

But I myself don't own a television.

Im with ya on that one,we have a bunch of tv's in our house but i never wtch them.

 

[Hi Ho]

I'm continuing my Unscientific study: What length of time do commercials take up, in a one hour program?

I have had a DVR for over a year and the rule of thumb is 20 minutes of commercials per hour. I rarely watch anything live.