Documentaries selling us short !

Discuss relevant News,TV Programmes and any good reads
Post Reply
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Richard »

This mainly relates to Commercial Channels, but some BBC docs are also guilty.

The programme starts, we see about 2 minutes of what's coming, then up to 4 commercial breaks, before each break we're shown what's coming next and after the break, what was on before.

Then right at the end we get a couple of minutes of what's coming next week !

I timed one x 60 minute documentary the other night, take out the ads it was 50 mins, then take out the what's coming and what's been = 43 minutes !

Richard
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
KathJ
Longlasting Laner
Posts: 934
Joined: 12 Sep 2012, 13:13
Gender: Female
Location: Shropshire

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by KathJ »

Oh, don't get me started on this yike* I totally agree and it really annoys me. I record most things to watch when I can and you can easily get through an hours programme in about 40 ish minutes by fast forwarding. They must think we're so stupid that we can't remember what went on before the adverts that they have to repeat it again after the break }hairout{ }hairout{
Kath xx

Mum to my beautiful girls Lucy, Holly, Rosie, Hettie, Polly, Ruby, Lily, Penny, Gracie, Maisie, Molly, Evie and my gorgeous boy Toby

RIP my beautiful Ranger, Roxy, Bluebelle, Poppy, Speckle, Daisy and Honey xxxx
User avatar
Spreckly
Legendary Laner
Posts: 5826
Joined: 26 Mar 2011, 14:21

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Spreckly »

Not just the documentaries Richard. A lot of the programmes run for less than five minutes and then the adverts.
wildlifemad
Lively Laner
Posts: 435
Joined: 22 Mar 2017, 09:40

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by wildlifemad »

In total agreement with you all. I agree about recording things & then forward the talking & adverts, I watch Dragons den in about 40 mins!!
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15368
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Mo »

Not to mention all the chit-chat that I fast forward on quizzes, and the annoying loud music on Pointless.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Richard »

Yes Wildlifemad, BBC and all !!
The beginning and end of Michael Portillo's Railway Journeys come to mind !

Richard )t'
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
Mo
Legendary Laner
Posts: 15368
Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Mo »

I also record radio programmes and get really annoyed at the Folk Programme - the only thing I listen to on radio 2 but have to put up with trailers in the middle of it. And jingles. BBC seems to have imitated commercial channels - no adverts so they advertise themselves!
Can't whizz radio on a) you can't see how far to go like FF tv, b) I usually listen when washing up or cooking so would have to dry hands and go into other room.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
User avatar
sandy
Legendary Laner
Posts: 9915
Joined: 13 Oct 2008, 21:59
Gender: Female
Location: Bristol

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by sandy »

wildlifemad wrote:In total agreement with you all. I agree about recording things & then forward the talking & adverts, I watch Dragons den in about 40 mins!!

What adverts W? isnt DD on BBC2?
The Pink Ladies..Audrey,Ingrid-Bergman,Madeleline,Norma-Jean,Dora,Janice,Jo,Robyn,Chrissy and Joyce
The Peds…Mork,Mindy,Bell,Saphire &
Vorky ,Blueped,Ginger,Ninger &Linky

Sunny Clucker was ere July 12-21 2012
Sunny Clucker was ere July 6 2016 to Sept 9th 2017
Sunny Clucker is here , rehomed Aug 18th 2018/
User avatar
sandy
Legendary Laner
Posts: 9915
Joined: 13 Oct 2008, 21:59
Gender: Female
Location: Bristol

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by sandy »

I dont mind the ads but I get really annoyed when they squeeze up the cast list at the end of a show when you have been trying to work out the name of the actor in the show you have just been watching and its too small to read.
The Pink Ladies..Audrey,Ingrid-Bergman,Madeleline,Norma-Jean,Dora,Janice,Jo,Robyn,Chrissy and Joyce
The Peds…Mork,Mindy,Bell,Saphire &
Vorky ,Blueped,Ginger,Ninger &Linky

Sunny Clucker was ere July 12-21 2012
Sunny Clucker was ere July 6 2016 to Sept 9th 2017
Sunny Clucker is here , rehomed Aug 18th 2018/
wildlifemad
Lively Laner
Posts: 435
Joined: 22 Mar 2017, 09:40

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by wildlifemad »

Yes Sandy DD is on BBC2 I was meaning programmes in general but didn't word it very well did I!!!!!!!! I blame it on my age!!!!!!!
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by Richard »

I've just timed George Clark's Amazing Spaces.

With Intro, adverts, look backs etc = 38 minutes 50 secs.

Looks like when commissioning Documentaries, Producers are asked to make a 40 minute programme !!

The ad breaks are 4mins 5secs each x 3.

Richard

PS. Dragons Den do the same with long intros, what's coming up, what's been etc.
I reckon it's with a mind to sell it to Commercial Channels home or abroad.

Richard
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
KathJ
Longlasting Laner
Posts: 934
Joined: 12 Sep 2012, 13:13
Gender: Female
Location: Shropshire

Re: Documentaries selling us short !

Post by KathJ »

Yes Sandy it annoys me too when the make the cast list really small at the end when you've been waiting to see who someone is. Luckily I've usually recorded it so can rewind but I have to get right up to the TV to read it and them sometimes it's blurred so you can't see it anyway }hairout{
Kath xx

Mum to my beautiful girls Lucy, Holly, Rosie, Hettie, Polly, Ruby, Lily, Penny, Gracie, Maisie, Molly, Evie and my gorgeous boy Toby

RIP my beautiful Ranger, Roxy, Bluebelle, Poppy, Speckle, Daisy and Honey xxxx
Post Reply