How Much TV Commercial Length has Grown over the Years

WaynesThisandThat ^ | none given | Wayne (I guess)

[Leaning Right]

We all accept commercials as a necessary evil because they pay for the TV shows we watch. But, how much is commercial time is reasonable to accept? This question was answered for me while watching a 2004 episode of Star Trek Enterprise. The commercials came so often and lasted so long that is was almost impossible to maintain a sense of continuity with the show.

This situation got me wondering about how much the percentage of time given to a show is lost to commercials has increased over the years.

[Leaning Right]

Wayne lists most years from 1952 to 2015. For each year he tells how much commercial time a typical TV show of that year had. He got those percentages (he claims) by watching complete shows from those years. Those shows themselves are also listed. Here are some of his results:

1952 (Dragnet): 13% commercials
1977 (MASH): 18%
1994 (Frasier): 24%
2001 (Frasier): 30%
2015 (Shark Tank): 30%

-----

Posted for those who are curious about such things, and for those who are looking for a break from politics.

[Organic Panic]

I use to tune in to the “Sean Hannity Show” on occasion. It is unlistenable now. There will be his opening monologue of 15 minutes or so, then a 10 minute commercial, then a quick “stay tuned” from Sean Hannity, then 20 more minutes of commercials.

As much as I hate the liberal leanings of Amazon I do enjoy Prime TV. I threw out my TV a decade ago and haven’t missed it once.

[gorush]

...which is why TV has not been welcomed into our home for almost 8 years now, that, and the fact that the high cost goes mostly to support the agendas of those with whom I disagree.

[ctdonath2]

interesting contrast: my commercial-laden TV viewing has dropped to 0%.

[sparklite2]

Generally, network programs of one hour will have twenty minutes of commercials. 33%

What I see on cable a lot is low commercial load for the first half hour to get you hooked on the show, then high load for the next hour or more. Having a DVR, though, means not having to watch many commercials.

[notaliberal]

Getting ready to ditch Directv. Too expensive, crappy programs

[Carthego delenda est]

“We all accept commercials as a necessary evil because they pay for the TV shows we watch.”

And then cable TeeVee came out. No commercials because it was pay TeeVee.

Dumped my television years ago. Commercials played a fairly big part in that decision.

[WKUHilltopper]

TV is completely unwatchable—with all the commercials. You get 19 minutes of programming and 11 minutes of ads. No can do.

Even Fox News is ridiculous. I don’t even bother with it for this and other reasons.

[Fresh Wind]

Remember back in olden times, when they told us that “cable TV” was supposed to give us commercial-free entertainment?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[Larry Lucido]

The average commercial has increased from 15 seconds to 2 minutes so that when you fast forward you end up seeing one full 15 second commercial.

[Arlis]

AND, the worst part of all that time in those commercials is this: there are rarely any shots lasting more than one second! - due to the proven short attention span of those who grew up with TV, movies and video games as a primary influence.......

I silence all commercials, leave the room.

Or, record the news, watch it just 10 - 15 min. later, FForward through the commercials.....

[captain_dave]

It seems most commercials are pharmas pushing drugs. Ten years ago I stopped watching TV; no Cable TV, either. Instead I have cable internet, a Roku box, and watch Netflix, Amazon streaming, YouTube, or a DVD from the library.

without commercials I have peace and sanity.

[annieokie]

Which is why Netflix and others have become so big...

When watching regular TV, during a commercial I can take a shower, dress, grab me a cup of coffee and get back just as the program resumes.

[IronJack]

By time you include the opening and closing credits, plus the recap ("Last time on _____________"), you're lucky if you get 43 minutes of programming from an hour-long show.

Considering the quality of the drivel on TV these days, we should probably be thankful.

[Dallas59]

What is “TV”? Get all my stuff from the net.

[Vigilanteman]

Really interesting trend . . . and the television industry just can't understand why the people are abandoning network televisions for alternatives such as Netflix.

Sort of like the GOPe just can't figure out why voters are angry . . .

[headstamp 2]

I typically watch two shows at a time. I’ve been able to time it pretty well.

However, it has become quite ridiculous lately.

[PAR35]

I have noticed that some of the cable channels are slotting 2 hour (or shorter) movies into 3 hour slots. A solid hour of commercials for two hours of entertainment. (and that doesn’t include any snips or compression.) I generally can’t make it to the end of those movies. I’ve channel flipped and gone on to something else during one of the breaks, or wandered back to the computer and gone online to do something else.

Yes, I could DVR it (on the tiny Verizon supplied DVR) and fast forward through the commercials - that’s what I usually do with a football game - but it generally isn’t worth the effort.

The guy who is going to be a brilliant business success is the guy who figures out show sponsorship. Like the old Death Valley Days. Folks might actually watch the whole show. Instead, they just cram in more commercials for a shrinking audience.

Hey, network execs - put down the cocaine, and use what’s left of your brain.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

...how much commercial time is reasonable to accept?

ZERO!!

That's why brilliant minds created Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, Netflix, and Torrent.

I'm happy to pay a bit more to never, ever see another commercial (except during the Super Bowl).

[SamAdams76]

Netflix = $10/mo

My time is too valuable to watch content on the "free" channels that can have as much as 20 minutes of commercials ever hour.