I have a MAJOR GRIPE

[Grandpaw]

I do not watch TV that much but I have a major grip I would like to vent on! :cryin: After paying a high price for cable we have to look at commercials every 8 to 10 minutes, then we have to see the annoying station name in the corner of the screen (more advertisement) now we have to look at the name of the program we are watching (more advertisement) now we have to see moving pictures in another corner to advertise for something else that may not even be showing for another month :mad2: at what point is there going to be enough advertising going on?????

I think people are buying big screen TV sets just so that there is enough screen left to watch part of the program that we have already paid for three or four times though commercials at this point :mad2: :mad2: all of this is over the top of the picture you paid BIG BUCKS for to cable Co. so you watch a movie or show in the first place. Just think about the little distractions they will come up with in the future. I think this is ridiculus, Jeff Now I feel much better! :thumbsup:

[Liz]

Jeff - I agree 110%......the screens get bigger - and the actual view gets smaller and smaller. I wish there were a way to turn off the smaller ads all around the screen.

Personally, I could do without the tickertape at the bottom when I'm watching the news......I guess I'm getting old, but I'd rather hear/read one bad news item at a time. :-)

Liz

[another view]

Personally, I'd be fine just getting rid of the dumb thing. I might watch an hour a month if you add up a few minutes here and there while eating something quick for breakfast. Cost goes up, quality goes down. Obviously I spend a bit of time on the internet as a substitute...

[Frog]

I think we are seeing more 'floating' ads or whatever they're called because of the increasing popularity of dvr. When we want to watch a show, we just turn it on the right station, wait 15 or 20 minutes and then watch it from the beginning and fast forward through the ads. The tv industry knows this and are looking for ways to get their ads out there.

[Ballen Photo]

Jeff, That's one of my major gripes too. I remember in the early 80's when I got my first taste of cable, MTV, VH1, etc.
I thought it was too good to be true. I only wish I had the insight to record one of the very few commercials that existed on cable TV back then. It said something along the lines of; You will "never" see commercials on cable TV because You, the viewer are paying for this.
-Bruce

[JSPhoto]

Hey now, this is the information age! They are only giving YOU what YOU want.... More information!

I digress though.... if I wanted ads I'd watch the stupid auction channels, if I want news I'll MSNBC, CNBC or any one of 50 million other news channels.
What really gets me though is these cable and satellite companies saying "in order for you to have this channel you have to have this package"... screw that, let ME choose the channels I want, and I don't want any of the music channels as I have a very capable stereo for those. I also don't need the childrens & family channels, no kids, no wife, or religious channels, if I want religion I'll go to church.....

JS

[Greg McCary]

That's why I don't watch tv.........

[dumpy]

I think we are seeing more 'floating' ads or whatever they're called because of the increasing popularity of dvr. When we want to watch a show, we just turn it on the right station, wait 15 or 20 minutes and then watch it from the beginning and fast forward through the ads. The tv industry knows this and are looking for ways to get their ads out there.

Ding Ding Ding Ding we have a winner, but it tends to be more product placement and sponsorship than what Grandpaw was originally talking about.

Most of the bugs (thing in the corner) and crawls (across the bottom) are promos for shows on the same channel/network. No money changing hands, just an attempt to boost ratings and plug new shows. Since the advent of the DVR I think that the time/night a show airs has become less important, you can watch what you want when you want. Consequently you should plug new shows at times other than the time it will air, to get people to set their DVRs

For the paid stuff watch closely on your local news cast, see if the wx radar is sponsored by anyone or the traffic reports or any other non news segments. It's a way to get advertising bucks without losing any more time like standard commercials do. Now watch some network shows, sitcoms,dramas, "reality" whatever you want, watch how many times you see a specific product mentioned or shown with logo visible. That doesn't happen for free.

Unfortunately there are two main groups making money here, each with a distinct purpose and way of making money. The cable companies are like an ISP, you pay them to deliver the content, although they many times have local breaks which they make money from. The stations (especially the broadcast networks) make their money by getting you to watch their ads. Blaming the cable company for charging and showing ads is like blaming your ISP for pop up ads.

[Grandpaw]

For me I really don't care what the reason is, who's doing it or why. If I pay to watch a show or movie I should be able to see the entire picture without all the extra garbage overlayed on top of it. Put all the advertisements in the commercial space and leave my picture alone. I pay for cable and I pay to buy the products, at least I should be able to see the complete picture that I am paying for, Jeff

I know this thread is not going to change a thing but at least I feel better.

[GB1]

I know what you mean, Jeff. It's a commercial society. My extended cable just increased to $51 a month. You figure for that much that they could do w/o spamming ya.