Hey, Brits, I have a television question.

[techs]

Are there commercials during television shows in Great Britain?
I was wondering if an hour show is actually a full hour of show?
And if so, what happens when they show an American hour long t.v. show since our hour long shows are only about 43 minutes?

 

[Perknose]

Adverts on the telly?

 

[Lonyo]

Depends.
The BBC doesn't have advert because it is funded by the TV license, and usually any US shows they have are put into a 45 minute timeslot (with self advertising in the extra space, e.g. for other programs being shown on the BBC).
Other networks (most of them) have adverts just like in the US, so a US show takes a 30/60 minute slot and has adverts just like it would in the US.

Some networks show old BBC shows which take up a full 30 minutes, so they give them a 35/40 minute timeslot so that they can put in adverts, or they edit them/cut out the fluff and squeeze it into a 60 minute timeslot (e.g. Top Gear reruns on non-BBC channels).

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Depends.
The BBC doesn't have advert because it is funded by the TV license, and usually any US shows they have are put into a 45 minute timeslot (with self advertising in the extra space, e.g. for other programs being shown on the BBC).
Other networks (most of them) have adverts just like in the US, so a US show takes a 30/60 minute slot and has adverts just like it would in the US.

Some networks show old BBC shows which take up a full 30 minutes, so they give them a 35/40 minute timeslot so that they can put in adverts, or they edit them/cut out the fluff and squeeze it into a 60 minute timeslot (e.g. Top Gear reruns on non-BBC channels).

Thanks. Once again the intertubes are there to answer some question I have that seems to be of burning importance, yet is pretty much irrelevant to me five minutes later.
Cheers
:beer:

 

[Snapster]

BBC1 Usually 30 or 60 minute slots ending just short to announce what is on next
BBC2/3/4 - Usually follow the 5 minute break every 15 minute rule, and the break is always what else is being shown on BBC.
All other commercial channels - Usually follow the 5/15 rule with your typical adverts in.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Snapster
BBC1 Usually 30 or 60 minute slots ending just short to announce what is on next
BBC2/3/4 - Usually follow the 5 minute break every 15 minute rule, and the break is always what else is being shown on BBC.
All other commercial channels - Usually follow the 5/15 rule with your typical adverts in.

Wait there are commercial channels? I thought it was jus the BBC? I had always heard that you had to pay a yearly fee to get tv in Great Britain and that anyone caught with an antennae and hadn't paid the fee was fined?
You can actually stick out rabbit ears and get free t.v.?

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: Snapster
BBC1 Usually 30 or 60 minute slots ending just short to announce what is on next
BBC2/3/4 - Usually follow the 5 minute break every 15 minute rule, and the break is always what else is being shown on BBC.
All other commercial channels - Usually follow the 5/15 rule with your typical adverts in.

Wait there are commercial channels? I thought it was jus the BBC? I had always heard that you had to pay a yearly fee to get tv in Great Britain and that anyone caught with an antennae and hadn't paid the fee was fined?
You can actually stick out rabbit ears and get free t.v.?

Yes and no.
If you have rabbit ears you get free TV, but you still need a TV license.
There isn't a way to legally get TV without paying the license fee, even if you never watch the BBC.
It's pretty stupid really, but if you have the ability to get BBC channels (which you do through having rabbit ears) then they expect you to pay the TV license fee.
You also have to pay the license fee in addition to any cable/dish subscription fees if you want cable or sat TV.

Some of the commercial channels are also available with rabbit ears, or via cable/sat, and are totally free over rabbit ears or included in your subscription with the other services, but you need a TV license if you have the ability to watch BBC, even if you don't actually watch it.

 

[MovingTarget]

Hmmm... how do those licenses work? Are they something you have to register for, or an extra cost added on to each TV sold?

 

[imported_Imp]

I didn't know BBC was completely commercial free. It's annoying when the North American market gets their shows though. I remember seeing "Life on Mars" in full (UK version), and then seeing it again on TV with commcercials. They took out so many excellent scenes, it was a travesty.

 

[SilentZero]

When does Top Gear start again?

 

[techs]

Hey, I wonder if they get shows like House over there, and how the Brits react to his 'american' accent.

 

[alkemyst]

Bet they don't get dental care commericials

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Bet they don't get dental care commericials

Billy Mays Hays here with your home tooth pulling kit....