Ciao, Cable TV!
This news is a bit old, but last week our free cable TV was [finally] cut off. While my roommate was rather upset, I was quite relieved. Before we moved here, I was quite accustomed to not having cable (thanks, Chris!). It really is nice not having what I can only call an annoying intrusion into my life. Aside from there being very few decent shows on TV (and most are re-runs in syndication; eg. Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, etc) the commercials are just plain unbearable.Average television viewers likely haven't noticed the gradual changes the big (and small) networks have made to commercial breaks and TV shows. The first considerable change is the volume of commercials. I'd say they're now about 25% louder than the program itself. This ensures that even if you leave the room during a commercial break, you'll still hear every word the advertiser wants you to hear.
Next comes branding. Many years ago, a very faint network logo in the far corner of the screen would suddenly appear and then disappear during programs. Gradually, this logo increased its opacity and duration, and decreased its distance from the center of the screen. (I suspect in the next five years, the logo will take up 80% of the screen, and basically obstruct the entire show.) Now, there are two, full-time logos: one for the network, the other for the show you're currently watching (in case you forget!). I actually think it's funny how much these logos are inching inward. What's even funnier is that people seem to accept this.
And last but not least, there's the length of commercial breaks. The average actual length of a half-hour show now is about 20 minutes. That means that one third of the time you spend watching a show is reserved for commercials. To put things in perspective, when M*A*S*H, the television series, first aired on September 17, 1972, the average length of an episode (including credits) was 26 minutes. So when they play an episode of M*A*S*H on TV (and they do quite frequently) you are actually missing 23% of the original episode. That is a lot you are missing. Since I have the first three seasons of M*A*S*H on DVD, and have watched each episode numerous times, I really notice what they cut when I happen to see an episode on regular TV. Why just the other week at Joanna's house, I was watching Dear Dad... Three (season two, originally aired on November 10, 1973). I was shocked and appalled to see that they cut 90% of one of the funniest scenes (the staff meeting) in the episode! I mean, show some respect! Well, I immediately turned the TV off and vowed never to watch another episode of M*A*S*H on anything but DVD. In fact, I'm going to extend that to most everything, except perhaps Curb Your Enthusiasm which is brand new, and thus (I presume) made to fit within these ridiculous commercial to program ratios.
Hurumph!
Comments
Don't forget the logo's are no longer static, they are now becoming animated. I suspect some of them even have hypnotic powers. The sad thing about not having cable is I'll never see TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and I'll never know if it is any good. - Mike, Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Nonsense! It'll be out on DVD in no time. There's even a note on the homepage (http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/) that says we'll be told when it's available. It is already in its third season. - Patrick, Tuesday, March 11, 2003 I applaud the end of cable. I haven't had cable in, oh, six years or so, and I don't miss it. Of course, you may find, as I have, that you spend the time you have gained staring at a monitor instead of at a TV, but hey, at least the monitor runs at a higher resolution. Time for a round of pop-pop? - Luke, Wednesday, March 12, 2003 Curb Your Enthusiasm as you know is an HBO program, HBO doesn't have commercials so an 30 minute episode is in fact 30 minutes. Lucky for us Showtime respects that and takes 40 minutes to broadcast the episode with commercials. That being said, Patrick, how dare you not have cable...a plague on your house for throwing away something that gives and gives and gives and asks for nothing in return. Kidding....sorta. - kerry, Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |  |
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