Why do TV stations bother with a tv guide?

ianB (Ian) · #1 03-02-2015, 12:38 AM

Everytime I set my recorder for a show i only get half of it in, often I dont even get that as its NEVER shown at the time advertised.
This happens All the time, its so annoying, I would much rather pay for tv like I did in the UK, at least you then know when a show / doco etc will start.
Why Television companies show no regard for their viewers I dont know.

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #2 03-02-2015, 02:08 AM

yep

record 15 minutes before and after Ian

geoff

ianB (Ian) · #3 03-02-2015, 02:16 AM

Its been so bad that I always record an extra 20 t0 30 minutes, last night I recorded an extra 1 hour because the station is always going way over time, anyway I played it back and my show was nowhere to be seen, even though it was said to be on.

N1 (Mirko) · #4 03-02-2015, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianB

Everytime I set my recorder for a show i only get half of it in, often I dont even get that as its NEVER shown at the time advertised.
This happens All the time, its so annoying, I would much rather pay for tv like I did in the UK, at least you then know when a show / doco etc will start.
Why Television companies show no regard for their viewers I dont know.

When you watch a recording, you cannot be trusted to watch the ads like you are supposed to. Only way around that is to make it hard for people to record anything to watch later.

jenchris (Jennifer) · #5 03-02-2015, 09:36 AM

You used to be able to edit out the ads, this no longer seems to be possible.
I've missed a lot of denouements due to poor programming. Consequently I seldom watch commercial TV.
I blame those greedy folks who decided to pay foxtel and sky.
If everyone resisted pay tv, all the decent programmes would be on free to air.

PCH (Paul) · #6 03-02-2015, 10:41 AM

As Mirko said, if no-one watches programs live and instead they watch a recorded version - they can easily skip past the recorded ads. Very soon the ads won't provide a return and the companies withdraw them. Then the tv companies can't afford to buy the best programs because they have no money from ads like they used to do.

Exfso (Peter) · #7 03-02-2015, 11:13 AM

Know the feeling well. I now don't even bother with trying to record shows, I have found a couple of sites where I can download them add free and in a lot of cases before they are even released in Oz. Really the local TV stations have deadset shot themselves in both feet, they are deplorable.

Just for information, most shows that are set to run for 1 hr in Australia, are in fact only 40 mins long, this definitely shows that the TV stations are allowing 33% or more for advertisements. Even Foxtel do the same now and that is a damn rip-off as well. Is it any wonder why people are resorting to other methods of watching their favourite shows. It will be interesting to see what Netflix etc are like. I am not holding my breath!!

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #8 03-02-2015, 11:26 AM

Commercial (free-to-air) TV deliberately run their programmes overtime. It's all about reach & frequency which are the determinants of commercial ad spot price. Prime time ads cost a lot and if you run a high rating prime time program overtime into the next slot (perhaps non prime time) then the stats for viewing ads in the subsequent time slot increase and so they can charge a higher price by quoting higher reach & frequency numbers.

I very rarely have a problem recording Foxtel programmes. For the most part they run on time and start within a couple of minutes of the guide time but I always record an extra 10 minutes just in case - I hardly ever need it though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenchris

...
If everyone resisted pay tv, all the decent programmes would be on free to air.

I don't believe that for one second. I hate commercial (free-to-air) TV!!!!!!!!

I suffered in agony for what seemed like a bazillion years having to watch the garbage on commercial TV. Even these days I rarely watch it. Hoorah for pay-tv!!!!

csb (Craig) · #9 03-02-2015, 12:19 PM

I find over 95% of the shows start/finish as per advertised times. Although I only use the epg (electronic program guide) from the remote control.

Occasionally a sports game may go overtime.

Renato1 (Renato) · #10 03-02-2015, 12:30 PM

The thing about TV guides is that they don't give the whole picture - like where the 7 or 8 minute long ad breaks are going to be towards the end of the movie.
Cheers,
Renato

MortonH · #11 03-02-2015, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csb

I find over 95% of the shows start/finish as per advertised times.

You can't be watching the same shows as me, then!

The inability of the commercial channels to stick to their schedules astounds me. Add to that the fact that they constantly muck about with the time slots of decent drama/action shows (e.g. 24, Homeland, Person Of Interest).

Unless you're into prime time crapality shows, they really don't care.

pluto (Hugh) · #12 03-02-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenchris

You used to be able to edit out the ads, this no longer seems to be possible.

Remember Freeview, that thing that was marketed to viewers as the best thing ever in free TV so that we'd all go out and buy Freeview badged devices?
Well Freeview was really just a set of rules placed on manufacturers of TVs and recorders etc. and, among other things, the manufacturers had to remove the ability to skip ads in their devices if they wanted to carry the Freeview badge (which of course they did as consumers had all been conned into thinking they should only buy things with a Freeview sticker)

N1 (Mirko) · #13 03-02-2015, 01:56 PM

I used to think Australia had the world's worst Television - until I went to New Zealand

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

.....I hate commercial (free-to-air) TV!!!!!!!!

I suffered in agony for what seemed like a bazillion years having to watch the garbage on commercial TV. ......

I so agree with you! That's why I've all but completely removed TV from my life. Any TV. It didn't happen overnight but it was a decisive process. Of course, I still read the papers and go online to keep informed, but both or these are so much more efficient. I cannot comprehend how I was ever able to suffer through a procession of ads before seeing the information I was after. I'm so over it.

If you love astronomy and have pay TV, cancel the pay TV today & put the saved cash towards some REAL entertainment: a trip to see a Total Solar Eclipse.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #14 03-02-2015, 02:16 PM

Australia's free to Air TV is an absolute shambles.
Nothing decent to watch most of the time.
Sick of Reality Programmes / MKR /The Block / Dancing with the Stars / really come on please... then there's Funeral Insurance / Car Insurance / Travel Insurance / and it goes on....

Can't stand early morning breakfast shows like Sunrise etc ... they all giggle and carry on so stupidly and give us ' trash ' that comes out of Hollywood ....who cares if Kim Kardasien has a bigger butt than Jennifer Lopez.... honestly the stuff they consider is ' news worthy ' is beyond me .....

I counted 10 AD's straight the other day before it went back to the programme I was watching.

Now I know why some people opt out and go Foxtel / Sky and alike.
Although I have heard they to ' repeat ' programmes quite a lot.

When AD's come on...the ' MUTE' button is instantly pushed..... every time...!! ...and I have a ' power nap ' while waiting for the show to continue ....

I mainly watch ABC / ABC24 / or SBS .....

The ' crap ' that is dished out today on free to air is astounding.
I search out for good documentaries / Science / Technology and decent Wildlife Programmes..... as for the rest....I just use the on/off switch.

Col....

rrussell1962 · #15 03-02-2015, 02:22 PM

We have Foxtel Col, hundreds of channels of crap!

N1 (Mirko) · #16 03-02-2015, 02:26 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAlDbP4tdqc

rustigsmed (Russell) · #17 03-02-2015, 02:40 PM

I can't stand commercial tv. foxtel isn't much better.
I don't have a tv aerial (but still have a tv) so i pretty much pick and choose tv series' to watch through the pc. documentaries are usually done on abc or sbs on demand or even youtube has a good collection.
it will take a few years for Netflix oz version to be any good due to existing regional rights to tv shows - apparently they going to be going for global rights to tv series soon rather than regional as is does now - which would be a game changer if they can pull it off. I only miss out on sport but then can visit someones place to watch it or go to a pub.

Baddad (Marty) · #18 03-02-2015, 03:06 PM

I tend to agree with what's been said already.

I remember back in the early '60s when the world was monochrome on the box. Advert breaks were 30 sec. There was not enough time to fetch a sandwich or take any other kind of break.

(Person who goes to the kitchen during adds; commercial traveler)

Recently you can make a sandwich and brew up a cuppa during the ad break. I have timed some to be 4 to 5 minutes.

In the USA during big football matches the game is scheduled around adds. The game stops during ad breaks. Can be interesting in some other sports I assume?

Cheers

pluto (Hugh) · #19 03-02-2015, 03:25 PM

My apartment doesn't have a working antenna so I haven't watched free-to-air in years, it's wonderful!

Netflix, ABC iView, and SBS On Demand have plenty to keep me busy if I feel like chucking something on and iTunes/Google Play have everything if I want something specific. I'm happy to pay for content that I want to watch partly because I can't be bothered watching ads, but also because it makes me only watch stuff I value - if something's not worth paying for then it's probably not worth watching.
I also just started trying out Stan which isn't too bad, though it ought to be as it's a complete ripoff of Netflix.

I guess if you like watching sports you don't have much choice though, just fta and Foxtel, though last time I checked Foxtel had more ads than fta...

ianB (Ian) · #20 03-02-2015, 03:29 PM

I have also noticed that they even cut out parts of a programme, especially in shows like Midsomer Murder.

I basically watch ABC and SBS along with some shows on 7l