ANNOYING......"Coming up......"

[Obiwan176]

OK, I have just about had it. Thank you for DVRs, but I still have a major problem with TV right now. I absolutely HATE it when TV shows say "coming up" and give us a preview of what we are going to see, in the next five minutes after the break and before the next break.

What the hell? I am already watching the damn show. You don't need to show me something to keep me hooked for 5 MINUTES. I'm already watching dammit. It happens on most shows now. Mythbusters, Scare Tactics, America's got Talent, Last Comic Standing....and the list goes on.

I love the fact that I can fast forward through that crap. But here is a novel idea...instead of giving us over 5 minutes of previews in the show that we are already watching....give us 5 more minutes of the show. Just a thought.

[BabyJane]

Don't get me started on that! This seems to be a particularly American thing - I only know that because when we visit our daughter in the States we find it annoying that (a) there are so many commercials and (b) why do they break for a commercial 5 mins just before the end of a programme then come back to finish it off? I mean, what is all that about

But here in the UK, this kind of thing is happening to our programs too and it's annoying.

But what I find really, really annoying is if you are watching something like Wife Swap, before the program starts they give you all the highlighted clips - right up to the outcome - and then do it again once the commercials are over and just before the program recommences.

Do they think we are all thick and can't remember what we've watched 5 mins before, are they catering for those who come in half-way through the program and finally, do they really think it really necessary to show us what's going to happen BEFORE we watch the progam?

We close our eyes and sing 'la-la-la-la!" or turn the sound down during the highlight clips so it doesn't spoil the program for us.

[Binkleywalker]

This is just another reason to watch most TV on DVD when the sets come out. I've said it before but watching that way spoiled me in that I love uninterrupted viewing. And if they still weave previews in and out of those, its not bad because I'm still not watching commercials.

[aperio]

I actually find myself refusing to watch live tv more and more. The DVRs at least help cut through some of the annoyance. When i actually do watch live tv, I find myself trying to fast forward through the commercials .. which is always a little embarassing. Heh.

I hate how they are getting more and more obnoxious with the overlay ads... and I wasn't sure if this is what you were talking about in terms of the 'what's coming up next' ads... but first it was just the ghost logo in the bottom right corner, now they are doing preview ads and such all along the entire width of the bottom. That is what's starting to annoy me as much as anything.

As you said, let us watch the current program in peace. We're already tuned in.. why annoy us the point of driving us away?

[LadyShelley]

Originally Posted by aperio

I hate how they are getting more and more obnoxious with the overlay ads... and I wasn't sure if this is what you were talking about in terms of the 'what's coming up next' ads... but first it was just the ghost logo in the bottom right corner, now they are doing preview ads and such all along the entire width of the bottom. That is what's starting to annoy me as much as anything.

And this is why I won't watch anything on TV any more; I will wait for the DVD or find <ahem> other means. The overlays are distracting, annoying, obnoxious, and if I were the production company for the show being over run with the crap I'd be mad as hell.

[alexis]

This is why I have a dvr that will fast forward through all the muck and yuck. I don't want to watch any, if its for something I am already watching or not. When I want to see whats coming up I have a guide for that.

[purplefdu]

I don't have a DVR and won't be getting one anytime soon. Its not worth the cost with only basic cable, and we refuse to pay out the butt for anything unless we can just add Sci-fi and Discovery

That being said if you don't have a huge HDTV or whatnot these days you get the shaft. We have a small 20inch in the bedroom for when we nap during the day or want to watch something different than the other person and if they use one of those dang overlays its about over. Just as bad as the preview of next week that gets squished by the "next on the news" thing.