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!
