20 minutes per half of commercials in NFL games

[renard_ruse]

There are 10 required commercial breaks per half in every NFL game, or about 20 minutes per half. That's 40 minutes per game. This does not of course, factor in the commercials at half time.

Will there come a point when this finally starts to turn fans away from the game, or will they always just grin and bare it or do they all have Tivo or whatever that is and don't care? I for one, find it unbearable with so many commercials.

 

[renard_ruse]

Compared with the NHL, there are three commercial breaks per period during NHL games, and I think the breaks are only 60 seconds (would have to confirm that though). That means there are only nine commercial stoppages during game periods (non-intermission) as opposed to 20 during NFL games. Also, unlike in football, NHL breaks are set at just after the 6, 10, and 14 minute marks in each period so you know when the break will be coming up and psych yourself up for it or have the remote ready to mute the sound. NFL breaks are not set and vary at the whim of the network carrying the game, though 10 must occur each half.

Compared with baseball, there are obviously many commercials in baseball, but these too are set at specific points, ie, between each half inning and during pitching changes. Basically, the game is NEVER deliberately stopped for advertising and commercial breaks and the flow of the game is never interrupted for ads.

Also, much as I hate it, soccer has no commercial breaks at all during gameplay, only at halftime and before and after the game. Same with rugby union.

For now, the NFL can get away with its excessive advertising stoppages but will there come a point when fans wake up and say "whoa, this just sucks, no more!"?

 

[renard_ruse]

I think I've seen on Mexican soccer games or such, they will have written advertising scrolling across the bottom of the screen during the game (I know I've seen that somewhere anyway).

Would this be a way to advertise products without actually stopping the game and cutting away to a conventional ad? In this day and age with remote control mutes, DVRs, etc, many people don't listen to the ads anyway, perhaps this would actually be a BETTER way to reach people??? Indy Car has a split screen thing it uses, though I find that quite distracting. Still better than a full blown cut away from the event though.

Perhaps its time for more creative ways for TV sports advertisers to get their message out than the traditional 30 second commercial. Win-win for everybody that way.

 

[RoryN]

I think I've seen on Mexican soccer games or such, they will have written advertising scrolling across the bottom of the screen during the game (I know I've seen that somewhere anyway).

Would this be a way to advertise products without actually stopping the game and cutting away to a conventional ad?

They already do this during NFL games.

You didn't know? Of course you didn't - because you don't watch football. You just talk about subjects you have no clue about.

Everyone: try and look surprised.

 

[renard_ruse]

They already do this during NFL games.

You didn't know? Of course you didn't - because you don't watch football. You just talk about subjects you have no clue about.

Everyone: try and look surprised.

Which networks? Like I said, I don't watch much NFL anymore because of the ads. I do watch a few minutes here and there, and never seen that.

Proof, links, anything, or is this just another one of your lies?

 

[RoryN]

Which networks?

Every network. Start with FOX.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Which networks? Like I said, I don't watch much NFL anymore because of the ads. I do watch a few minutes here and there, and never seen that.

Proof, links, anything, or is this just another one of your lies?

Just like in soccer there are advertisements on the player's uniforms. It's just that in American football the advertisements are more subtle.

 

[CNYCarol]

There are 10 required commercial breaks per half in every NFL game, or about 20 minutes per half. That's 40 minutes per game. This does not of course, factor in the commercials at half time.

Will there come a point when this finally starts to turn fans away from the game, or will they always just grin and bare it or do they all have Tivo or whatever that is and don't care? I for one, find it unbearable with so many commercials.

Turn fans away, NEVER. DVR to ff through the commercials, ALWAYS.

 

[renard_ruse]

Just like in soccer there are advertisements on the player's uniforms. It's just that in American football the advertisements are more subtle.

I'm talking about a written advertising strip running across the bottom of the screen during play. I have not seen that during any US sports broadcast. I may have missed it, but I've never seen it during American football.

The 30 second spot is not the only way for advertisers to reach people.

 

[Morcheeba]

You have to tie in all the injury timeouts, the stupid flags and the Coach's challenges - sure, they need to get their spots in but there's a lot more involved.

 

[Morcheeba]

Turn fans away, NEVER. DVR to ff through the commercials, ALWAYS.

But with spoilers at the ready, how do you do it?

 

[phrodeau]

I'm talking about a written advertising strip running across the bottom of the screen during play. I have not seen that during any US sports broadcast. I may have missed it, but I've never seen it during American football.

The 30 second spot is not the only way for advertisers to reach people.

Not likely. They would distract from the other ads on the screen.