Silly Question about British TV from an American!

[MrsDuck]

Hi all!

My fiance and I are BIG fans of the BBC show "Merlin" and have been downloading the most recent episodes from BBC One. (It doesn't air in American until January and we simply can't wait that long! )

Yesterday we were watching an episode and after the credits an announcer stated what was up next. We were surprised to hear that a show started at 8:40.

On our side of the pond, shows usually start on the hour or every half hour. Then we noticed that there were no commericals during the show!

So, now we need to know.. are there commercials during the show? We thought maybe the commercials were all aired before/after a show which would account for a start time that was not on the hour or the half hour?

Sorry to invade your board-- we are just curious!

Thanks!

 

[15isto2]

No commercials on the BBC

Hi all!

My fiance and I are BIG fans of the BBC show "Merlin" and have been downloading the most recent episodes from BBC One. (It doesn't air in American until January and we simply can't wait that long! )

Yesterday we were watching an episode and after the credits an announcer stated what was up next. We were surprised to hear that a show started at 8:40.

On our side of the pond, shows usually start on the hour or every half hour. Then we noticed that there were no commericals during the show!

So, now we need to know.. are there commercials during the show? We thought maybe the commercials were all aired before/after a show which would account for a start time that was not on the hour or the half hour?

Sorry to invade your board-- we are just curious!

Thanks!

 

[kirstinemma]

BBC programmes don't have commercials. They only advertise their own shows, which usually run for less than a minute before and after the full programmes.

 

[Terkina]

BBC is owned by the state so people pay to be able to have a TV and BBC is commercial free.

 

[Dimplenose]

BBC is owned by the state so people pay to be able to have a TV and BBC is commercial free.

... unless you count the endless trailers for future programmes, radio programmes, children in need and reminders to buy a TV Licence!!

 

[MrsDuck]

Ahh! Interesting! Thank you!

So other stations do have commercials then..? We were all set to pack up and move to the UK to avoid the horrible commercials over here!

 

[irisheyes123]

Ahh! Interesting! Thank you!

So other stations do have commercials then..? We were all set to pack up and move to the UK to avoid the horrible commercials over here!

Yes but not as often most times we only have 1 commercial break in a half hour show

 

[MrsDuck]

Yes but not as often most times we only have 1 commercial break in a half hour show

Wow! Very nice!

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[A Small World]

As a complete aside - Merlin is filmed in a small village in France not far from Disneyland Paris

 

[MrsDuck]

As a complete aside - Merlin is filmed in a small village in France not far from Disneyland Paris

Really? That's very cool!

We are just in love with the show and knowing that it's close to DLP makes it even better!

Is Merlin fairly popular in the UK?

 

[queendisney]

yes Merlin is VERY popular here...its def one that I never miss anyway...Love it.

 

[paulh]

a lot of the uk bbcshows are 40-50 min long,so when they sell to the USA and padded out with adverts makes them the full hour.We get USA imports, Pan Am, heroes,the Kennedy s and the like on BBC and we get no adverts in them
Paul

 

[Chilly]

Hi Faith nice to see you over here!

We have much stricter rules over here about advertising than in the USA and any BBC channel is completely advert free except for self advertising because the licence fee (which everyone who owns a TV must pay) pays for the BBC (where I work).

A typical 30 minute slot on a commercial programme would have adverts before the programme started for around 3 minutes, you'd then see half the programme, another 3 minutes of adverts, then the second half of the programme, another 3 mins of adverts, then the next programme starts etc.

Pan Am which is currently showing on the BBC is in a 45 minute slot.

When American Idol is shown here they have to shade out the coca cola glasses as that is not allowed in the UK, although recently they have relaxed this rule but it still doesn't ever happen that i've seen.

When we visit the USA the adverts drive me mental. Another difference is we don't tend to have local adverts, its all national major companies that buy adverts on TV.

 

[Pegasus928]

the licence fee (which everyone who owns a TV must pay) pays for the BBC (where I work).

I'm sure that someone will be able to correct me if I am wrong but I don't think you even have to have a TV anymore to be liable for the TV licence.
If you have a PC or laptop that is capable of picking up an internet connection - therefore capable of watching BBc iPlayer - then you also have to have a licence. I have also read somewhere recently that the same rule applies if you have a smart phone (e.g. an iphone). These can download the apps for watching BBC programs and if you do this then you need a licence.

 

[fizz13]

I'm sure that someone will be able to correct me if I am wrong but I don't think you even have to have a TV anymore to be liable for the TV licence.
If you have a PC or laptop that is capable of picking up an internet connection - therefore capable of watching BBc iPlayer - then you also have to have a licence. I have also read somewhere recently that the same rule applies if you have a smart phone (e.g. an iphone). These can download the apps for watching BBC programs and if you do this then you need a licence.

You are correct sir, you need a tv license to watch on a laptop, pc, smart phone, xbox, any medium that a tv show can be watched...unfortunately

 

[Chilly]

I'm sure that someone will be able to correct me if I am wrong but I don't think you even have to have a TV anymore to be liable for the TV licence.
If you have a PC or laptop that is capable of picking up an internet connection - therefore capable of watching BBc iPlayer - then you also have to have a licence. I have also read somewhere recently that the same rule applies if you have a smart phone (e.g. an iphone). These can download the apps for watching BBC programs and if you do this then you need a licence.

Yep that's correct.

 

[paulh]

You are correct sir, you need a tv license to watch on a laptop, pc, smart phone, xbox, any medium that a tv show can be watched...unfortunately

only need a licence for live feed, if watching on iplayer no licence required as
Paul

 

[Dimplenose]

only need a licence for live feed, if watching on iplayer no licence required as
Paul

I agree - we looked into this for DS who is at university. He watches live programmes so needed a licence but if he just watched old ones on his PC he wouldn't.

Student TV licences are a bit of a money spinner. We have 3 TVs/ computers in our house - 1 licence. He is in a university flat of 3 students and they need one licence each plus a 4th if they put a tv in the communal area.