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Infomercial Hell


Linda Z
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I pay a lot for my capble TV and Internet access. So why is it that when I'm channel surfing late at night or on weekends during the day, it seems all I can find are infomercials? Falling asleep with the TV on, as I often do, I've been awakened by dildo and vibrator commercials (expensive!), makeup commercials, "get rich on ebay" commercials, "buy cheap real estate and get rich quick" commercials, hair removal commercials, hair transplant commercials, viagra wannabe commercials, commercials by that obnxious guy who tells us we're all sick because we need our colons cleansed and who also sells a financial-advice book...commercials, commercials, commercials.

It strikes me as double-dipping. First the cable company gets its high fees from its clients, then it gets advertising dollars on top of those. It reminds me of the commercials in movie theters. Okay, I've already paid $8 for a ticket and $20 for a box of popcorn and a Diet Coke (only a slight exaggeration), and now I have to watch commercials?

It doesn't seem right. Why do they get away with it?

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I don't know. I don't have cable or satellite or any of that because I only watch one show (Numb3rs) and I don't even catch that every week. But I do remember years ago when cable first became an option, they were calling it "pay TV" and the point of it was that commercials would not dominate the programming. The viewers are already paying directly for the privilege of watching, so there would be no need to get companies to sponsor programs. The closest thing I've seen to this actually working this way is in public television, where once or twice a year they have a telethon and you send in a donation to help pay for the programs you enjoy watching.

I guess it comes down to the lure of money. Cable companies probably don't want to turn down money offered to them by these entities, who must now be directly purchasing airtime instead of "sponsoring" actual programming. Maybe the cable company puts these paid things on at times when they think most people aren't watching, and they keep the actual programming on what they consider "prime time." That cuts down on the number of people who might complain about it.

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I haven't had satellite tv for at least 3 months now - I don't miss it a bit! I'm tickled not to be spending that $80 every month on tv and still have nothing worth watching on weekends when I'm free to lounge around and watch tv. I'll reassess my situation in the fall and I may sign back up, but I'm really glad to see how well we're doing without it. The only 2 shows I actually watch are on ABC. Of course, if they'd bring back The Sopranos, I'd want HBO again...

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It strikes me as double-dipping. First the cable company gets its high fees from its clients, then it gets advertising dollars on top of those. It reminds me of the commercials in movie theters. Okay, I've already paid $8 for a ticket and $20 for a box of popcorn and a Diet Coke (only a slight exaggeration), and now I have to watch commercials?

It doesn't seem right. Why do they get away with it?

Because they can.

I know exactly what you are talking about and it sucks. Somewhere the concept of "you give me money and I'll give you value" broke down with the cable companies. It's more like "you give me money and I'll serve up the crap that will increase my bottom line". The only thing I can recommend is a Tivo.

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