Comments on: What do you do in the ad breaks? http://gonedigital.net/2011/06/01/what-do-you-do-in-the-ad-breaks/ Nigel Whitfield’s digital TV & technology blog Fri, 18 May 2012 16:23:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Simon http://gonedigital.net/2011/06/01/what-do-you-do-in-the-ad-breaks/comment-page-1/#comment-3897 Simon Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:32:59 +0000 http://gonedigital.net/?p=1075#comment-3897 As a MythTV user I'm now well used to the commercial detection it has - see the splash screen at start of break, hit the skip button, see the splash screen at the end of the break. It seems to work best on shows imported from the US, and not at all on those "here's a bunch of funny add clips" shows ! There is a mode where it will auto-skip, but I don't think it's reliable enough on some of our channels for that. Of course, it's not for nothing that some vendors are now buying the few second slots at the start and end of the breaks. Whatever method you use, these have the best chance of being seen by the viewer. As for "ITV’s endless torrent of talent shows", well I'd heard they had something - some people gossip about them at work. As a MythTV user I’m now well used to the commercial detection it has – see the splash screen at start of break, hit the skip button, see the splash screen at the end of the break. It seems to work best on shows imported from the US, and not at all on those “here’s a bunch of funny add clips” shows !
There is a mode where it will auto-skip, but I don’t think it’s reliable enough on some of our channels for that.

Of course, it’s not for nothing that some vendors are now buying the few second slots at the start and end of the breaks. Whatever method you use, these have the best chance of being seen by the viewer.

As for “ITV’s endless torrent of talent shows”, well I’d heard they had something – some people gossip about them at work.

]]> By: Rowan Moor http://gonedigital.net/2011/06/01/what-do-you-do-in-the-ad-breaks/comment-page-1/#comment-3896 Rowan Moor Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:59:43 +0000 http://gonedigital.net/?p=1075#comment-3896 I never watch anything live. I always skip the ads and I never play with my phone at the same time. Like you, if I go into the kitchen then I leave the ads running till I get back and skip the rest. If I want to watch something at broadcast time on ITV/4/5 then I make a point of waiting until 15 minutes into the program and then start it so I can skip the ads and catch up to live by the end of the last break. The only ads I see are the program sponsorship. The execs have reason to worry in my case! I never watch anything live. I always skip the ads and I never play with my phone at the same time. Like you, if I go into the kitchen then I leave the ads running till I get back and skip the rest.

If I want to watch something at broadcast time on ITV/4/5 then I make a point of waiting until 15 minutes into the program and then start it so I can skip the ads and catch up to live by the end of the last break. The only ads I see are the program sponsorship. The execs have reason to worry in my case!

]]> By: Bob H http://gonedigital.net/2011/06/01/what-do-you-do-in-the-ad-breaks/comment-page-1/#comment-3895 Bob H Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:33:28 +0000 http://gonedigital.net/?p=1075#comment-3895 Well, if I am watching live, which like you is a bit rare. But if I am required to sit through an ad break then I will often mute the TV (because of Go Compare!) and then play with my phone. Well, if I am watching live, which like you is a bit rare. But if I am required to sit through an ad break then I will often mute the TV (because of Go Compare!) and then play with my phone.

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