Flutterby™! : Another reason my TV has been off.

Another reason my TV has been off.

2003-01-10 12:43:26+00 by meuon 8 comments

New TV Show(s) will not have advertising breaks.. it will just be an advertisement, thinly disguised as a show.

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 14:36:40+00 by: petronius

The article, while interesting, leaves out some of the economic angles. Why doesn't Coke or somebody become the sole sponsor or owner of some popular sitcom, like Friends? Because they are way too expensive, due to the huge salaries of their stars. Networks in general make only modest profits on the initial showing; the real money comes in syndication, after the initial costs have been recovered. If a show seems to have few legs in syndication, it might be cancelled while still popular in initial distribution, since they can't bank on the future profit.

Variety shows might be popular (a big if) but will most likely have no syndication potential. However, they will be inexpensive, since performers will not be recurring. They may even work cheap as a promotion for their latest movie or CD, the way they appear on programs like Entertainment Tonight.

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 16:20:01+00 by: meuon

I'm more worried about the trend it may create. I was at a friends house the other day, with an 8 year old.. he gets confused about what is an advertisement already and why.

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 17:18:55+00 by: petronius

We all got confused at that age, and then we grew up.

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 18:21:17+00 by: Elton

Greater integration of ad placements in TV shows really is the only way to go, post-Tivo. Or else make the ads so damn compelling to watch that people don't skip over them (e.g. Lord of the Rings trailers, shampoo commercials with lots of nudity). Or else go the HBO route and just charge directly. The 30-second spot is far from dead but I suspect sitcom characters of the not-so-distant future are going to be drinking a lot of conspicuous Pepsis.

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 18:24:40+00 by: Jerry Kindall

Yeah, I remember, as a kid, thinking that a spoof of soap operas on a sketch comedy show was in fact a real soap opera that my mom, who doted on soaps, would be interested in watching. Kids are not very discriminating media consumers and never have been.

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 18:24:48+00 by: TheSHAD0W

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120382

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 19:52:04+00 by: petronius

Bravo, Shadow!!

#Comment made: 2003-01-10 23:34:53+00 by: TC [edit history]

touche' Shadow but it was really done in Wayne's World in 1992. TIVO has changed how I view TV and have little compulsion to turn TV on at any regular time (cept 5:30pm local time news). To be honest I look forward to seeing advertising evolve. Will shows be canceled because they endorse crappy products? time will tell. Oh on another sad note. Firefly was canceled and Farescape starts its last few episodes tonight.