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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: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday November 12 2015, @08:40PM
Yes, it's true. http://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/commercial-advertising-as-propaganda [www.bl.uk]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 13 2015, @12:36PM
All that shows me is that there were attempts to do so, not how effective it was. Studies on this sort of thing are usually bogus and unscientific because there are simply too many variables to consider and the issue is quite subjective, so being rigorous and getting objective results is difficult.
The FBI used to hire 'psychic' detectives and waste millions of taxpayer dollars on that (some police departments still do). Does that mean psychic detectives are a real thing? No. Pseudoscience/new age nonsense doesn't become reality merely because people believe it or make use of it.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday November 13 2015, @01:49PM
Well - think back, or just do a search. How many pairs of stupid canvas/cotton/plastic sneakers or tennis shoes have sold at prices exceeding $100. How many people have been killed for their tennis shoes? How many women have spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on stupid handbags. And, why on earth do they DO such things? There's not a pair of shoes, or a handbag in the world that's worth that much. Yet - brainwashed fools spend that much and more on a few scraps of cheap fabric.