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This puts an actual smile on my face:
Media companies, including Time Warner Inc., 21st Century Fox Inc. and Viacom Inc., have started cutting back on commercials after years of squeezing in as many ads as possible.
The new strategy is an attempt to appeal to younger viewers, who are more accustomed to watching shows ad-free on online streaming services like Netflix Inc., and to advertisers concerned their messages are being ignored amid all the commercial clutter.
Time Warner's truTV will cut its ad load in half for prime-time original shows starting late next year, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said last week on an earnings call. Viacom has recently slashed commercial minutes at its networks, which include Comedy Central and MTV. Earlier this month, Fox said it will offer viewers of its shows on Hulu the option to watch a 30-second interactive ad instead of a typical 2 1/2-minute commercial break. Fox says the shorter ads, which require viewers to engage with them online, are more effective because they guarantee the audience's full attention.
(Score: 1) by Francis on Thursday November 12 2015, @08:32PM
Not to mention the fact that you've got an exponential decrease in ratings per branch as you go. Even if there are only 2 options per branch within 3 branches you're down to an eight of the viewership. And probably less as people will choose not to watch. But to get that eight of the viewership each, you're now financing something that's going to be at least 4 times as expensive and getting more and more expensive as the plots diverge and you're able to reuse less of the episodes.
It's kind of a cool idea, but you're absolutely right about the logistics of it.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday November 12 2015, @11:54PM
No, you guys are wrong. Think about it as a project manager. You already have the studio and talent booked. The time required to shoot "B" roll (as it's known) in that setting is far less costly than doing a separate, fresh shoot. Thus the marginal cost of producing that 3 minutes of sub plot is quite low.
Economies of scale is what it's about.
Repeat viewing plus engagement are arguable, given the loss in general audience and engagement.
Washington DC delenda est.