Killing the goose, chapter 3,672
In an excellent MediaDailyNews commentary, In Pod We Trust, John O’Connor wonders if there’s “an advertising threshold at which people will just stop watching television.” He says no, but…
…technology is providing consumers the simple methodology to stop watching advertising. As marketers move their dollars to other, more effective alternatives, their TV budgets will decay, demand will fall, and fewer commercials will air. At that point the networks’ golden goose will become just another animal in the barnyard.
With now one-third of prime time filled with selling, the networks have shifted to five shorter breaks instead of four longer ones. Don’t bet on those shorter breaks staying that way.
I’ve written in the past that convenience or dislike of commercials aren’t the major reasons people skip the ads with their TiVos. It’s all about time. We’re working longer hours and spending less time for ourselves these days. Who has time for commercials?
