[speculator]

Desperate Housewives

Wednesday 10 May
10:00pm - 11:05pm
Channel 4

Tuesday 09 May
12:05am - 1:05am
Channel 4

I can understand why viewers are getting annoyed with Channel 4. Under Ofcom rules programmes between 45-59 minutes, 2 breaks are permitted whilst programmes between 60-89 minutes, 3 breaks are permitted. The same episode is 5 minutes longer in primetime so C4 can conveniently add an additional commercial break.

[iain]

this is what OFCOM had to say.

Iain

[The1andonly]

Originally Posted by Safra

Im getting really annoyed with channel 4's use of ads during Lost and Desperate Housewives. During the latest episode of D.H last wednesday, they showed the recap and a new extra scene before going to a break, after about 2 minutes of the show starting! Absolutely ridiculous!

On E4 they did:

recap, teaser scene, opening sequence

Adverts

recap, teaser scene, opening sequence (again), more scenes

Adverts

small part of recap before cutting back into where they should be.

After that it was bascially right - although the 9 thing advert got stuck at the end.At least at the end they gave a typical e4 style apology - "I know we repeat ourselves a lot on e4 but that was of course a technical fault. Hopefully we'll have it fixed by the time it's repeated on Sunday."

[DemonLemon]

Originally Posted by Barry.Williams

In the end C4 needs to make a profit. Like it or not adds are how C4 makes its money.

You pays yor money and makes your choice. Either Free Programs and add or you pay by Subscription for TV or in the case of Sky you pay by subscription and still get adds
I think Sky viewers have more to complain about then C4 viewers

Yes, we make our choice. And that's what my post said. We made the choice not to watch those channels. It's not that I mind advertising as such, but the commercial networks are in a bidding war that is driving the cost of advertising down, and so they all have to show more advertising to cover their costs. It's that level of advertising that makes television unwatchable for many. You are right about Sky, and that's the reason our family stopped subscribing to Sky many years ago. I suppose their advertising levels are especially offensive when you consider how much their subscription is. It's many times the level of the license fee.

[technoguy]

keep sending in those compliants and eventually ofcom will do something out this.

Complain online at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/

or

Ofcom by phone is 020 7981 3040.
Ofcom fax number is 020 7981 3334.

[lucky spencer]

Oh my, not this again. Channel 4 are actually bothering to follow the flow of the show this time rather than juct hacking scenes apart to fit with the rules. Channel 4 need the ad revenue from popular shows like Lost to be able to afford to make less poular shows like the news and the documentaries that it has on a regular basis. Also i expect Lost does not come cheap.

Don't bother complaining, just don't watch it or find another method of watching it. Ofcom and you moaning minnies do my head in.

Almost all shows than run for a one hour timeslot have 3 ad breaks within the show. Its just that channel 4 have wisely decided to put the ads in the correct places.

[Neck_Romancer]

Originally Posted by iain

this is what OFCOM had to say.

Iain

"Channel 4 explained that in order to compete commercially with other terrestrial channels it was necessary to maximise the number of breaks in popular programmes"

Ha ha ha ha!

How about some quality programing with sensible ad breaks you morons.

[Sid Sockhead]

Its interesting to note that Lost is 10 minutes shorter on a Sunday!

[russellelly]

Originally Posted by jfman

Most tend to be 60 mins. The problems start where they have the C4/E4 overlap of 5 mins, that doesn't actually take place in reality.

Why not buy a freeview pvr, they are dirt cheap and you'll never have to watch ads again?

You're quite right, despite being in a 65 min slot they'll start a few minutes late and end a few minute early. Still a pest.

As for the question, I have 3 of the damn things

[Zeropoint1]

Originally Posted by Sid Sockhead

....................In all I reckon there was only 35 mins of original programming in the 60 minute slot, if you include all the credits it was nearer 30 mins.

It's not just C4 that are guilty of this. I recorded about 12 episodes of Supernatural (itv 2 Sunday 9pm) and of the 1 hour slot I usually recorded between 37 - 39 minutes of programme. Each break lasting between 5m 05sec - 5m 35sec. I guess it's better to buy the DVD's than record such badly edited rubish.

[<Finch>]

I usually tape stuff overnight, its great - even old programmes, simply because ITV and the likes can not get anybody to advertise then. Ofcourse PVR'ing meant I would be immune to ads anyway, but its still nice not to have to grab the remote often.

[Carl T]

I've just sent in my letter of complaint to ofcom about channel 4. I urge others to do the same, if you don't then channel 4 will keep on taking the p*ss as far as jamming in more and more adverts are concerned.

[Woody_Brixton]

So rather than take breaks where there is a natural pause, you'd rather UKTV's model of just crashing out of a show, often in mid sentence, to show ads?

The ads have to be shown, why not show them where they should be?

And as for complaing to OFCOM, why not put your energies into something really worthwhile, like complaing to your MP about African debt?

[snapey999]

Originally Posted by Woody_Brixton

So rather than take breaks where there is a natural pause, you'd rather UKTV's model of just crashing out of a show, often in mid sentence, to show ads?

The ads have to be shown, why not show them where they should be?

And as for complaing to OFCOM, why not put your energies into something really worthwhile, like complaing to your MP about African debt?

UKTV ad breaks are the worst. Unless you really need a long number two about 7 minutes into the start of Red Dwarf, QI, Room 101, etc. I measure their ad breaks to be about 8 minutes.

ITV also have 8 minute ad breaks after the 10:30 news, as I found out while waiting and waiting and waiting for Al Murrays Fact Hunt to start.

C4 are not the worst offenders.

[James Clayton]

It wouldn't mean chopping out sections of the show, not with a drama it's easy to move the ads.

I think there's an added frustration with Lost because it's a slow show anyway, I love the plot, but sometimes I wish it would hurry up a bit, especially with the flashbacks. it's 30% dull and 70% excellent with no in between.

[Sid Sockhead]

I think the real problem is that all the commercial channels are now inserting breaks at odd points during the programme to maximise their income and help finance their other channels that nobody really wants or watches. I also think that some programmes are definitely being shortened to allow for more adverts. Certainly shows like UFO, Department S are now shorter than when they were originally shown in the 70's.

[<Finch>]

Channel 4 are not inserting them at odd points though, they are inserting them at the natrual US positions - ofcourse in a way you get more ads because in the US there would be no ads before or after the programme.

Complain about them padding the program lenth to be able to show more ads (although when a show clocks in at 42 minutes and you can't have 18 minutes of ads 'ofcom-legally' what do you do?) but not where they put them, would you want it randomly butchered?

[James Clayton]

Originally Posted by <Finch>

Channel 4 are not inserting them at odd points though, they are inserting them at the natrual US positions - ofcourse in a way you get more ads because in the US there would be no ads before or after the programme.

Complain about them padding the program lenth to be able to show more ads (although when a show clocks in at 42 minutes and you can't have 18 minutes of ads 'ofcom-legally' what do you do?) but not where they put them, would you want it randomly butchered?

it wouldn't be randomly butchered, with lost it would be easy to move the breaks.

I'ts better than 4 minutes of ads, 4 minutes of programme, 4 minutes of ads. This is happening !!