Why do 'they' interrupt my favorite commercial?

Hi.

(Okay so maybe this should be moved to a different forum but I think it's a conspiracy. )


I have a question.

While watching T.V. have you noticed that commercials interrupt each other?

Most people will say they don’t pay attention to commercials, which is a lie, but if you are one of the people who watch commercials on television then I assume you’ve noticed.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not some dork who flips through the channels seeking out commercials to watch. I just wonder how many people have noticed the trend of commercials being cut off midway and replaced by a new commercial. It can’t be just me.

When I first noticed this happening I assumed it was a mistake but now it occurs so often I’m convinced it’s no mistake.

Is it a ploy to grab our attention? Is it subliminal? Are the networks trying to include too many commercials in a time slot?

I don’t think it’s a big deal just curious of your thoughts on the matter.

I have never paid to run a commercial but I would expect my ad to run in it's entirety are the various companies in on this.....whatever the reason?


It is what it is.

reply to post by minusinfinity


That's an interesting observation you've made.

Does it happen on one channel, or lots of them? Are there any channels in particular you've noticed it happening more on, and does it happen at particular times of day?

It would be interesting to see just how long these "interruptions" are, in terms of how much of the preceeding advertisement is 'cut off' by the following one. I would also be intrigued to see if it happens on one channel more than another, and at what times of day.

By calling them commercials, I'm assuming you're talking about television stations in North America, but I wonder if there are any other ATS members who have noticed the same thing in different countries, such as Australia, the UK, or any non-English speaking countries.

reply to post by dampnickers


Hi.

Yes I'm in the U.S. and I use COX as a cable service provider.

It doesn't seem to be one network, I've noticed even the local independent channels have followed suit.

From your response I assume this hasn't happened in your area?

reply to post by minusinfinity


Right now I'm in Pennsylvania, but usually I'm often found in other parts of the world - I am quite fortunate in that sense.

As it happens, I have managed to watch quite a bit of television over the last couple of weeks, and haven't noticed any of what you have described thus far. I will make a point of watching some stations over the next few hours and see what I notice. Do you have any suggestions for particular stations to watch?

Speaking about the UK channels, which I last saw about five weeks ago, I didn't notice anything like that their either, but I will ask a couple of people I know to let me know if they notice anything and will report back here if they do.

Having worked as an Account Executive for a local cable company, these are probably local ad insertions over the national ad. It happens on DirecTV and Dish as well. Commercial time (when commercials air) for every given program is preset. The national network has ads filling all of their time slots. Local cable companies sell some of that ad time to local businesses. Depending on a number of factors, including the age of their equipment, the length of their ads, etc., there can be a momentary "blip" between the start of the national ad, and the local ad insertion.

Having said this, advertising is the bane of human existence, which is why I am no longer an Account Executive for a local cable company.

Time your commercials.
Companies pay for the amount of time per commercial broadcast.
I'm not sure about the US, but around here a commercial lasts about 30 seconds.
If one develops a, let's say, 30 second commercial and only buys 20 seconds broadcast time, it will be interrupted.

Also: since you wrote this thread, it seems to get your attention. And that's what a commercial is all about.

reply to post by dampnickers


Thank you.

I usually watch cable / national channels.... NatGeo, History, Discovery, TBS, various news channels, etc.

I can't say it happens on one network more often than another. I've noticed it more during the 'prime time' hours than other times.

Trick421
Having worked as an Account Executive for a local cable company, these are probably local ad insertions over the national ad. It happens on DirecTV and Dish as well. Commercial time (when commercials air) for every given program is preset. The national network has ads filling all of their time slots. Local cable companies sell some of that ad time to local businesses. Depending on a number of factors, including the age of their equipment, the length of their ads, etc., there can be a momentary "blip" between the start of the national ad, and the local ad insertion.

Having said this, advertising is the bane of human existence, which is why I am no longer an Account Executive for a local cable company.

Thanks for the info.

It seems to occur so frequently I was curious if there was a logical explanation.

Wouldn't a company be po'ed if they paid far a thirty second ad and it was cut off after 23 seconds?

i never, ever watch commercials. i turn the channel over as soon as a break starts. i have zero interest in a sales pitch being shouted at me at too-loud volume (they turn up the volume for ads). don't watch 'em. never will.

reply to post by RoScoLaz


You're right about the volume thing. I hate it!

Just what I want to hear is some dude screaming at me about Viagra.

reply to post by minusinfinity


Just had a quick flick through some channels, and didn't notice what you mentioned. I did however see on GSN that the advertisements seemed to 'flick' from one to the next rather quickly. Usuaully there is a a slight fade through black between commercials. It could simply be that the stations are trimming timings to squeeze as many advertisements into breaks as possible to maximise revenues. If that is the case, then it is a little underhanded and dishonest. Perhaps contacting the advertisers would be worth a shot to let them know they are being short changed by the stations.

As for other possibilities, I'm not really sure what to suggest. But it would be worth seeing how much these advertisement have had cut short... any idea?

It's a matter of local affiliates and national provides getting their timing wrong is all.

reply to post by minusinfinity


Happens here all the time (Comcast system).

The odd thing is that certain commercials are almost always cut-off here. It's so bad I almost started to feel sorry for the poor companies. One that tops the list is for a drug that helps people who burst out crying or laughing all the time for no apparent reason.

I couldn't help but love the irony of that as I imagined all of these poor bastards that suffer from this bursting out crying every time their commercial was cut off.


On a final note I agree with the above poster - it's all about local advertising vs. regional or national advertising. I just assumed that their systems aren't very precise and they can't get the transitions exactly right.

reply to post by minusinfinity

Commercials have time allotments every hour they are committed to for every one and every company...say a 10, 15, 30 sec commercial the stations have to run. When programming overlaps...youlll see some cut short to get in the others...even run twice right after each other...to fulfill contract obligations.

There is also the standard that when we switch channels...the other stations are in commercial breaks as well...thats no accident. Its also a standard to make the allotted say 4 mins of comml's every 11 mins of programming...fair for each and every station by going to them at the same time.

Ive produced 30 plus commercials...the last one in Detroit for Pepsi in 2003. I hope this somehow answers your question.

reply to post by minusinfinity


I have noticed this as well and assumed it was due was a delay, different commercials air in different areas of the country and state. Kind of like that little dot that you see, or used to see, at the movies letting the employees know when it's time to switch the reel.

a reply to: minusinfinity