The end of commercials, a proposition.

My dad is one of those people. You probably know

a couple. They never watch commercials. Never. They switch between channels, often missing a lot of the show (unless they have PiP).

It annoys me. I miss so much of the show when I watch television with him. I also hate commercials. I’ll watch ‘em, but I won’t like ‘em. They wont influence me.  But they will annoy me. So, I thought of something…

News channels have the tickers across the bottom of the screen. Usefully, it pipes you information that you care about when you don’t give “an airborne rodent’s posterior” about the current story being talked about (i.e., Nicole Richie is drunk, skeletal, and high again…I thought this was a news channel. Why don’t we apply this concept to commercials, or the lack thereof.

Enter…The Commerce Ticker! Instead of commercials, this little bugger goes across your screen whenever you’re watching T.V. It’s cheaper for advertisers, but since it’s running 24/7, more ad space is bought (the lower prices, increased volume, maximum profits formula at work). This leads to shows actually being 30 minutes or whatever time they’re supposed to be (D’oh, more work for Homer). Ads are also contextual based on the show.

This same concept is applied in tradition web adverts.  Instead of interrupting your experience (except a few sites whose owners deserve a nice whack across the face), it sits quietly wanting you to click it, but not taking up your whole screen. (RANT: I hate Flash ads with sound and ads that look interactive but are still images, made to trick you.)

It would lead to higher ratings, more income for stations, and happier viewers. Unless they’re watching Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Could they have been any more blatantly copying The Singing Bee, which couldn’t be more blatantly copying America’s Got Talent,  which couldn’t more blatantly copy American Id–oh, you get the picture! I hate and don’t watch reality shows and some game shows (Go Jeopardy!) but I notice the Xeroxes when I see them. They’re too cheap for color ink, too. That’s how much rip-off-y they are.

Oh yeah, on topic, I wouldn’t have to miss any more show.

Yours in wanting a commercial-free, international, Open TV standard, but willing to compromise *breath*,

Sam

P.S. – I’m working on the Open TV thing. ;D