1 of 1- RadioActive
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Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
In a recent decision, the CRTC granted a request by TVA to remove the rule that limits advertising time on discretionary services to just 12 minutes an hour. It now applies to all broadcasters.
What is a "discretionary service?" It's any channel that's optional for a cable or sat system to carry, unlike a must carry, sports or news station. And it winds up covering a ton of services you may watch right now. (You can find a full list of Canada's "discretionary channels" here.)
The reason given for the change?
It's designed to "slow the migration of advertising revenues to the Internet, including foreign online services. In this regard, they predicted that competition for advertising revenues will intensify with the arrival of online services that now offer reduced-cost subscription packages including advertising, as well as free ad-supported streaming TV.
Moreover, they added that the limit hinders their ability to meet the demands of the growing Canadian advertising market, and that the additional advertising revenues resulting from removing the limit would enable them to maximize the profitability of popular programs (which are often very expensive to produce or acquire)."
In other words, they want to make more money.
I don't believe they put in any limits on just how many spots can now be shown. So get ready for longer and more annoying breaks on those shows you might watch on these stations. There's a real good possibility they're about to become a lot more cluttered. It's why I DVR everything.
CRTC Decision
- paterson1
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Re: Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
I don't believe they put in any limits on just how many spots can now be shown. So get ready for longer and more annoying breaks on those shows you might watch on these stations. There's a real good possibility they're about to become a lot more cluttered. It's why I DVR everything.
The lengths of the commercial breaks won't change. You won't see as much network promo in the breaks as before but could see more paid ads. Clutter is clutter whether it is promo, public serve announcements or commercials.
Discretionary stations were allowed 6 minutes of commercials every half hour. Shows normally are produced to allow 8 and in a few cases 10 minutes of commercial time every half hour. So the stations had been filling the remaining time in the breaks with network promos and some public service.
The minutes dedicated to the show and the length of commercial breaks will remain the same.
Yes it is all about money....it always is. And right now many broadcasters aren't exactly making a lot of money.
There is no commercial limit for AM/FM and OTA television in Canada or the US.
Last edited by paterson1 (September 7, 2023 5:04 pm)
- Radiowiz
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Re: Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
paterson1 wrote:
The lengths of the commercial breaks won't change. You won't see as much network promo in the breaks as before but could see more paid ads. Clutter is clutter whether it is promo, public serve announcements or commercials.
If I am reading what you wrote correctly, a PSA to remind people to replace their smoke detector can now easily be disguised as a PSA,
but now also include info on the best store to go to buy a specific smoke detector at a specific price.
(to name one basic example, with many other ideas possible...)
Last edited by Radiowiz (September 7, 2023 7:20 pm)
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- paterson1
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Re: Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
The lengths of the commercial breaks won't change. You won't see as much network promo in the breaks as before but could see more paid ads. Clutter is clutter whether it is promo, public serve announcements or commercials.
If I am reading what you wrote correctly, a PSA to remind people to replace their smoke detector can now easily be disguised as a PSA,
but now also include info on the best store to go to buy a specific smoke detector at a specific price.
(to name one basic example, with many other ideas possible...)
Can't say I have ever seen a PSA like the one you have described. Public Service Announcements don't involve price or where to buy something. The example you gave sounds like co-op advertising which is something different and would be a commercial since the station makes money from it. With PSA's no exchange of money takes place for the service group or station. War Amps are PSA's and are featured a fair bit on TV.
- Tomas Barlow
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Re: Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
I agree. You’ll see more commercials for Bell and fewer repeats of promos for CTV.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Are You Ready For More Commercials On Many Cdn. Cable Stations?
I agree. You’ll see more commercials for Bell and fewer repeats of promos for CTV.
Anything that frees up more ad space for Bell's Source stores will be great for Christmas rush...
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.