Advertising On True Series

[retiree]

As of last night, True Series has begun to interrupt programming every 8 minutes or so to show advertising. This is not generating revenue -- it's all self-promotion (e.g. for True Series).

Apparently folks are calling in droves to complain. If you'd like to express your opinion, these numbers and e-mail addresses were just provided to me by True (after about an hour on the phone). I'd be interested in knowing corrections or other numbers / e-mail addresses:

Khun Sansuan Saruayjirawat, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer (or something similar)

[email protected]

[email protected]

Khun Wilaiwan, Investor Relations

02 269 2525 / 02 643-8917 (fax 02 699-4321)

[email protected]

Khun Jamorn, Customer Supervisor

[email protected]

[rixalex]

True Series has always had this type of self promoting advertising between one programme finishing and another starting, usually for about 10 to 15 minutes. Could it be that this advertising time is being broken down into smaller segments but at a higher frequency? Not that i'm in favour as it interupts viewing pleasure (if you could call it that!), but from a broadcasting point of view, i guess it would make more sense.

[retiree]

True Series has always had this type of self promoting advertising between one programme finishing and another starting, usually for about 10 to 15 minutes. Could it be that this advertising time is being broken down into smaller segments but at a higher frequency? Not that i'm in favour as it interupts viewing pleasure (if you could call it that!), but from a broadcasting point of view, i guess it would make more sense.

Way back when, programs would run more-or-less back to back. Of course, that requires more shows, so True now uses self-promo ads to avoid 18 minutes of dead air. They are almost certainly starting with program interruptions now to test the waters before trying to sell local adds. Mark my words -- either we try to nip this in the bud, or the local broadcast channels hold the vision of our future ;-)

Retiree

[rixalex]

I thought that there were laws that prevented them from local advertising. Or have these laws been lifted? In which case surely they would be advertising in this way already, not messing about testing waters. True Visions has never struck me as a company that cares enough about its customers to bother with water testing!

[bubba]

True Series has always had this type of self promoting advertising between one programme finishing and another starting, usually for about 10 to 15 minutes. Could it be that this advertising time is being broken down into smaller segments but at a higher frequency? Not that i'm in favour as it interupts viewing pleasure (if you could call it that!), but from a broadcasting point of view, i guess it would make more sense.

I think the reason for the 10 - 15 minutes of adverts and promos between shows on series is that the shows actually have a run time of less than an hour. Most of them were made to show on American TV, where there are lots of adverts (more minutes of adverts sprinkled in than UBC!) and the real running time of the programme is more like 45 minutes. When the show is completed in 45 minutes, UBC have to plug in the odd 10 - 15 minutes with something until the next show starts on the hour or half hour.

But I will have to agree...all the promos placed inside the shows really are annoying.

[rixalex]

True Series has always had this type of self promoting advertising between one programme finishing and another starting, usually for about 10 to 15 minutes. Could it be that this advertising time is being broken down into smaller segments but at a higher frequency? Not that i'm in favour as it interupts viewing pleasure (if you could call it that!), but from a broadcasting point of view, i guess it would make more sense.

I think the reason for the 10 - 15 minutes of adverts and promos between shows on series is that the shows actually have a run time of less than an hour. Most of them were made to show on American TV, where there are lots of adverts (more minutes of adverts sprinkled in than UBC!) and the real running time of the programme is more like 45 minutes. When the show is completed in 45 minutes, UBC have to plug in the odd 10 - 15 minutes with something until the next show starts on the hour or half hour.

But I will have to agree...all the promos placed inside the shows really are annoying.

Yes, i was aware of all that, but why the need to try and kill 10 to 15 minutes of dead time every hour. Why not just start a new program when another finishes. So you have one program run from 8 o'clock to 8.45, and then another from 8.45 to 9.30. And so on... Who said all programs have to start at the hour or half hour? What nonsense.

Anyway, i haven't watched True Series for the last few days - what's the latest?

[Cuban]

Why not just start a new program when another finishes. So you have one program run from 8 o'clock to 8.45, and then another from 8.45 to 9.30. And so on... Who said all programs have to start at the hour or half hour? What nonsense.

Probably based on reducing the amount of copyright programmes being shown - to save money.