Movies and TV Why do we still have to sit through commercials? - Page 3

sedated · 07-11-2012, 01:07 PM

The DirecTV/Viacom thread got me thinking.

Commercials were developed as a way for free channels to get the revenue necessary to operate, the same as radio and newspapers. Regular radio stations and many newspapers are still free to this day, so advertising is just the cost of doing business. However, most cable packages cost between $50-$80, just for “standard cable” (not including HBO, etc). My current DTV bill is $85, and I don’t have any movie channels.

We are all paying a premium for these channels, and yet 1/3 of the content is advertising. What is the difference between paying for HBO (commercial-free and unregulated language/nudity) versus (unwillingly) paying for the Viacom package of channels (commercials and FCC-regulated)?

**BossChief** · 07-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valiant

Has anyone posted "because **** you, that is why?"

There is no reason, Idealy I just want the movie channelsand free ones. No one has that package.

Just switch from Directv to Dishnetwork every two years.

You will always get 3 months free movie channels, new equipment every two years and will also save money.

Only suckers pay full price so they can feel "loyal"...smart consumers are loyal to the best deal.

I flip people from one product to the other every day that end up getting new equipment and save 30-40 dollars a month...more than that if you figure in
the cost savings the first three months of free movie channels.

Shit, that also gets you Sunday ticket for free every other year because they include it for new customers.

If you want Sunday ticket the off year, have them run a fresh line to the spot where your dish receiver will go so you can keep the dtv line active (tell them to leave the dtv dish up) and use a friends receiver during st time and split the cost...or just sign up for it on a ps3.

If you have a friend that always has the other company, you can always use this trick by NEVER paying for Sunday ticket because one or the other would always have it for free and both of you would always be on a "new customer offer"

Both of you will need to switch providers every two years right before the football season starts.

Free Sunday ticket
Lower monthly bills
Free movie channels
New equipment every two years

You can thank me later.

**BossChief** · 07-11-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Its been discussed ad nausem around here but the general consensus is the reason they bundle is so they can offer it to you cheaper.

If they offered ala carte, then the subscriber rates would get jacked up to like $4 or $5 a channel.

You would be really surprised how many people would use that option.

Get an antennae for local networks and then pay only for the 6-10 channels you actually watch.

Even at 6 bucks per channel, the company that offers that first would clean up.

R8RFAN · 07-11-2012, 02:00 PM

How do you get Directv without signing a contract?

saphojunkie · 07-11-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Why are morons like Charlie Sheen paid tens of millions for crap?

Because tens of millions of people watch him. And those people buy stuff. And people who want to sell stuff pay HUNDREDS of millions to advertise to those people.

That money has to go somewhere.

Just like sports, the salaries don't inflate the price of admission. It's the other way around.

sedated · 07-11-2012, 02:03 PM

I’m surprised to hear the “just DVR it” from sports fans. When’s the last time you waited to start a Chiefs game to skip the commercials?

Also, they are getting more intrusive with their advertising, like the animated promos in the corners, and a lot of those are starting to have sound on top of whatever you are watching.

saphojunkie · 07-11-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

You would be really surprised how many people would use that option.

Get an antennae for local networks and then pay only for the 6-10 channels you actually watch.

Even at 6 bucks per channel, the company that offers that first would clean up.

The problem is getting those CHANNELS to agree to it. And they won't. Places like VH1 know that they won't actually be purchased a la carte, so they only will bundle.

think about it - if you had NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC for free, what other channels would you pay for?

I think I'd probably do ESPN and HBO. That's it.

Except there are 8 HBOs and four ESPNS. Do those come together, or do I have to pay for ESPN2 separately? Or, if they're bundled, do I HAVE to pay for ESPN classic and HBOL? I don't speak spanish and I can watch old sports footage on youtube.

sedated · 07-11-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Because subscriber fees only account for a tiny percentage of all the revenues channels bring in. That's about all there is to it.

If that’s the case, why are DTV/Dish/TWC/etc fighting with content-providers so often now?

If my 100% of my bill was going to the pay the cost of DTV/Dish/TWC/etc, and Viacom made 100% of their money through advertising, then I could get that argument. But Viacom is passing along the cost to DTV/Dish/TWC/etc, who is passing that cost on to me. Seems like they are double-dipping by charging us to watch their advertising.

**BossChief** · 07-11-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R8ers

How do you get Directv without signing a contract?

You can't.

Everyone signs a 2 year deal.

What's your point, raider bitch?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

I’m surprised to hear the “just DVR it” from sports fans. When’s the last time you waited to start a Chiefs game to skip the commercials?

Also, they are getting more intrusive with their advertising, like the animated promos in the corners, and a lot of those are starting to have sound on top of whatever you are watching.

When the Chiefs are on, I have it record and flip to red zone for commercials. If I miss a play when I flip back, I just rewind.

I literally never watch commercials unless I chose to.

Pitt Gorilla · 07-11-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Why are morons like Charlie Sheen paid tens of millions for crap?

No clue. 2.5 men was NEVER funny.

R8RFAN · 07-11-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

You can't.

Everyone signs a 2 year deal.

What's your point, raider bitch?

When the Chiefs are on, I have it record and flip to red zone for commercials. If I miss a play when I flip back, I just rewind.

I literally never watch commercials unless I chose to.

Raider Bitch

You Cheaps Cocksmoker

ChiefsCountry · 07-11-2012, 02:18 PM

Subscribition fees aren't much. They still have to pay to put shows on the air which costs major bucks. Without advertising, cable and sat. tv would be even more expensive than it is today.

**BossChief** · 07-11-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

The problem is getting those CHANNELS to agree to it. And they won't. Places like VH1 know that they won't actually be purchased a la carte, so they only will bundle.

think about it - if you had NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC for free, what other channels would you pay for?

I think I'd probably do ESPN and HBO. That's it.

Except there are 8 HBOs and four ESPNS. Do those come together, or do I have to pay for ESPN2 separately? Or, if they're bundled, do I HAVE to pay for ESPN classic and HBOL? I don't speak spanish and I can watch old sports footage on youtube.

ESPN
NFLN
History
SyFy
Discovery
Travel

I wouldn't even notice the other missed channels.

vailpass · 07-11-2012, 02:23 PM

Eliminate the entire broadcast advertising industry? LMFAO

Holy shit.

**HayWire** · 07-11-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

You can't.

Everyone signs a 2 year deal.

What's your point, raider bitch?

When the Chiefs are on, I have it record and flip to red zone for commercials. If I miss a play when I flip back, I just rewind.

I literally never watch commercials unless I chose to.

Actually you can get DTV without a contract (or use to be able to, I did it years ago) you just have to buy the equipment outright. They work a lot like Verizon, you buy a phone for $1000 and not sign a contract, or you can pay $100 and sign a 2 year deal

vailpass · 07-11-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Just switch from Directv to Dishnetwork every two years.

You will always get 3 months free movie channels, new equipment every two years and will also save money.

Only suckers pay full price so they can feel "loyal"...smart consumers are loyal to the best deal.

I flip people from one product to the other every day that end up getting new equipment and save 30-40 dollars a month...more than that if you figure in
the cost savings the first three months of free movie channels.

Shit, that also gets you Sunday ticket for free every other year because they include it for new customers.

If you want Sunday ticket the off year, have them run a fresh line to the spot where your dish receiver will go so you can keep the dtv line active (tell them to leave the dtv dish up) and use a friends receiver during st time and split the cost...or just sign up for it on a ps3.

If you have a friend that always has the other company, you can always use this trick by NEVER paying for Sunday ticket because one or the other would always have it for free and both of you would always be on a "new customer offer"

Both of you will need to switch providers every two years right before the football season starts.

Free Sunday ticket
Lower monthly bills
Free movie channels
New equipment every two years

You can thank me later.

1. Dish Network SUCKS
2. Switching is a pain in the ass, who wants to do that?
3. Are you recommending that people commit fraud to obtain Sunday Ticket?
4. DirectTV gives me what I want when I want it at a fair price and their service has been excellent over the 10+ years I've had them.

07-11-2012, 01:07 PM
sedated Like I woke up in Wonderland.. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $1006558	Why do we still have to sit through commercials? The DirecTV/Viacom thread got me thinking. Commercials were developed as a way for free channels to get the revenue necessary to operate, the same as radio and newspapers. Regular radio stations and many newspapers are still free to this day, so advertising is just the cost of doing business. However, most cable packages cost between $50-$80, just for “standard cable” (not including HBO, etc). My current DTV bill is $85, and I don’t have any movie channels. We are all paying a premium for these channels, and yet 1/3 of the content is advertising. What is the difference between paying for HBO (commercial-free and unregulated language/nudity) versus (unwillingly) paying for the Viacom package of channels (commercials and FCC-regulated)?
Posts: 18,759

07-11-2012, 02:00 PM	#33
R8RFAN Molôn Labé Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: North Carolina Casino cash: $8466872	How do you get Directv without signing a contract?
Posts: 23,182

07-11-2012, 02:18 PM	#41
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $-1361248	Subscribition fees aren't much. They still have to pay to put shows on the air which costs major bucks. Without advertising, cable and sat. tv would be even more expensive than it is today.
Posts: 51,990

07-11-2012, 02:23 PM	#43
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	Eliminate the entire broadcast advertising industry? LMFAO Holy shit. __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591