So after having been thrown out of a pub for trying to make off with the publicians buxom wench and generally trying to plunder some booty, I'm ready for some more ranting. It all stems from what has been an infuriating few wednesdays but it holds for so much more than just this instance.
Each wednesday for a while, I've sat down to enjoy Lost on Channel 4. Each week I marvel at how a programme that's scheduled for an hour and five minutes can be so messed around.
The first complaint is the general time keeping. It's due to begin at 22:00 but generally starts 4-5 minutes late. Not a huge problem as it gives you a few minutes to get ready when you realise it's hit 22:00.
The main complaint I have is the way ad breaks are scheduled. After watching about nine minutes we get an ad break. Great because after nine minutes, I've lost all concentration and need 5 minutes of adverts to catch my second wind. The wednesday gone was particularly bad, we got an ad break after four minutes. Bloody marvellous.
In total, we have to endure 3 ad breaks in addition to seeing that the programme is sponsored. Surely being sponsored means there can be fewer ad breaks?
It's all become very silly and it only seems to be getting worse. It's getting to a point where our ad breaks will become punctuated by programming rather than programming punctuated by adverts.
We're already seeing the credits of a programme talked over, we also now see the credits forced into a smaller box to let the rest of the screen advertise the programme following as well as anything else they wish.
On top of this we have television channels which brand and show their logo in the top corner. Despite being engrossed in whatever programme I'm watching, I can still remember what channel I am viewing. I don't need the corner of the screen obstructing the show, especially when it blocks up text of said show.
It's all part of the supposed dumbing down of television. There's a case for catering for everyone but you don't need to think that everyone has the attention span of a goldfish and the intelligence to match. Every other show doesn't need to be the clone of some TV reality programme or prying into the private lives of celebrities.
It's a sorry state right now and I for one would like a return to the sensibilities of old.
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Random rants and thoughts posted by the one oft described as being insane and crazy (an undeserved title I assure you).
2 comments:
I used to get pissed of when they started bringing in ad breaks like that inbetween Friends 5 or so years ago, the problem was easily solved though, i stopped watching friends, in fact, i dont think ive watched tv propper for about 5 years now, i just dont have the time (nor patiance for ads) anymore. I know it costs more, but if theres a good show i wanna see, i wait and get it on DVD so i can watch it when i want....without ads :)
I've not found it so bad with normal half hour shows. It's always been one ad break which you expect.
Back in the day the normal practice for hour long shows was 2 ad breaks usually after each 20 minute mark.
Part of the problem is such short segments don't leave you time to get engrossed or just break the flow. It's annoying watching 4 minutes then having an ad break at the start or having an ad break and then show 4 minutes before rolling the end credits which will be spoken over.
I go ahead and buy the DVDs but still there's something about watching it when it's first shown rather than waiting a while. Admittedly it's getting easier now with shows being released sooner after transmission but feck I'd be well pissed if I had to wait all this time to finally get Scrubs released on DVD.
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