Why is there a break every 15 mins on every single TV channel?

H

Harry A

New member
Say my favourite TV show is on at 6pm. At 6:15pm there'll be a break, so I switch to another channel to watch another program for a few minutes, but every other TV channel also has a break at 6:15. But why? Why does every single TV channel with a decent show have a break at this time? How do TV channels expect us to discover new shows if there is an advert every 15 mins? Most British TV ads are sooo annoying (e.g. that fat man singing "go compare!") that I can't stand them? And don't even get me started on the length of breaks on Sky 1.

Is there some sort of agreement that there should be a break every 15 mins?
BBC? I'm sorry, but I have had enough of boring shows about antiques!
 
Commercials are what the independent TV companies do to make money. Nobody pays for the programmes - all the revenue comes from commercial breaks and sponsorship. If they could get away with it, they'd show a lot more advertisements, but they are limited to how many they can show. The 15 minute breaks (the rules are actually more complicated than that) are based on the maximum advertising ITV and Channels 4 & 5 are allowed to show. If the programs start at the same time and they all show the maximum, they'll coincide. Sky and Eurosport come under different regulations which is why they can get away with more adverts AND charge you to watch them.
 
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