Brits refuse to pull plug on B&W TVs!

[tubesrule]

Originally Posted by Cruiseomatic

They need to find a way to have LESS commercials on ALL television distribution systems. Last night I relized why people steal cable. There is 10 minutes of actual programming and the rest is stupid,de-grading,"E.D." drugs, tampons,make-up,car lots, "Late night one-night stands", and whatever else you can think of to fill it in. $100 for the service which is full of 20 minutes out of 30 minute shows full of interuptions and worthless programming. Its not worth it. Why pay for it when there is more than enough commercials to pay for itself? Then they cry and say "networks" want more money?

I agree with this. The state of television here is abysmal, and that's not even commenting on the actual content :/ Why is it we have become complacent paying $100 a month for 40 minutes per hour of actual content and the rest commercials. It seems the people creating the content are lower on the chain than the ones that just deliver it. This doesn't make much sense to me. It's pretty easy to see why Comcast and the rest are as flush with cash as they are when they are double dipping, charging the advertisers and the viewers. At least the BBC isn't doing that.

[AUdubon5425]

Fully agree with the two prior posters.

[Bill Cahill]

I'd also have to agree.
Knology is charging broadcasters for advertising, plus, advertising their own wares.
Yet, most of the program content is simply abysmal....
I hardly turn tv on anymore. I may end up canceling cable.
The main networks certainly aren't worth watching anymore, either....
This is truly sad....
Bill Cahill

[AUdubon5425]

When my Mother finishes her house in a couple of months and she and my Brother leave, I will drop the cable service. My wife and I agreed that the very few things we actually watch on cable can be purchased on DVD. You can buy a lot of viewing time on DVD with $75 a month.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by AUdubon5425

When my Mother finishes her house in a couple of months and she and my Brother leave, I will drop the cable service. My wife and I agreed that the very few things we actually watch on cable can be purchased on DVD. You can buy a lot of viewing time on DVD with $75 a month.

This is the market, properly at work, without any help from Uncle Sam. When the SOBs realize no one is watching anymore, they'll be forced to scale back the ads, the cable rates, and/or improve the content.

As long as you keep paying for shit, they'll keep selling it to you. Waiting for the government to impose "standards", or start their own rival network is simply a horrific use of power. Think of it this way... most of the rest of the world lost out on the "fun" of independent, local UHF because it would have stolen viewers from their own channels... Only cable and satellite put an end to this government monopoly.

[AUdubon5425]

You know, the infomercials started out (at least around here) on independent UHF stations. Then you started seeing them on cable networks. Now, in 2010, so many cable stations are running infomercials after midnight that I can not understand how any of them are making money. I mean, who sits there and chooses from 50 long-form commercials? We even have one local OTA station who has fitted a 30 minute infomercial into the 5-7 p.m. block of programming!

[wa2ise]

I saw, on New York City OTA network TV no less, one of those "But wait, there's more..." TV commercials during the prime time nightly international and national news show. Mind you, this isn't the local crap news show (even in NYC it's always rapes, murders and fires) but the real news.

[Einar72]

With all the Gen-Y crap the networks are putting on to please "The Dumbest Generation", it's no wonder we puke our guts out watching commercial TV.
I haven't had cable in two years now, and I can honestly say I am using my time "better" than when I would sit in front of the (plasma) tube.

I am saddened and scared with what fills the heads of our youth. Now that the dumbing-down of our educational system is in high gear, we can only hope the Know-Nothings that dominate our media don't start having people arrested for putting intelligent, no, how about cogent thought on tv.

[Sam Cogley]

And I thought the ageist, complaining BS was bad at AK.

[pugs5061]

Please don't dish the the Gen Yers or any of those generations younger than 30 please. I am 45 with a 14 year old son and here is my opinion. These generations are not watching TV. They are probably better educated and give more in both time and percentage of income to others than any other generations in years. The programming you are complaining about is probably being done by GenXers or even maybe still Baby Boomers. These kids don't watch TV! Probably because of the hideous programming you are complaining about!