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More and more television programmes are doing it and I am getting more and more frustrated. 'Coming Up' - It's a phrase that most television presenters have to use at the start of their program or just before the commercial break. Just hearing those words now sets my nerves on edge. It's a signal that the program you have sat down to watch is about to be ruined because they are going to show clips of what will be in the program.
Can anyone please tell me why they do it? Whenever I mention this to someone, they also invariably agree that it is really annoying. I guess somebody out there must like programmes to be presented in this way... why else would they do it?
The programme 'I'm a Celebrity get me out of here' is a prime example of this kind of thing. They'll show you the best bits at the start and then they will screen one of the challenges, but will immediately spoil and kill any tension by showing clips of what's going to happen and then go into a commercial break. After the break they start the screening of the challenge from the very beginning. I cannot relax at all while watching this programme as I have to keep leaving the room so I don't hear them spoiling it for me. More often than not it's too late and they've already spoiled it though.
I think I may have to give up watching these types of programs and ITV will lose me as a viewer. That means all the advertisers who pay huge sums of money to place adverts during the break will lose out as well because I've already left the room and won't see any of them. I'm sure I'm not the only one!
What makes me mad is that the TV producers, Editors, or whoever show absolutely no respect for the loyal viewer, i.e. me! 'I'm a Celebrity...' has been on for years and everyone must know by now what it is about. Are they using this spoiling tactic to keep me from changing channels? Do they think my attention span lasts no longer than 5 minutes or are they hoping that a 'channel hop has just tuned in and this mini montage of what's 'Coming Up' is going to make them stay? I really hope they are not pandering to the channel hopper, because there must be more loyal viewers than hoppers.
Now, some programs are presented fantastically and are a joy to watch. Grand Designs being one of them. Kevin McCloud just does a monologue to the camera saying what we can expect, but no clips are shown. I can safely sit down for an hour (including adverts!), relax and watch it all. I am treated like a loyal adult.
Now, that brings me to the BBC... Why on earth do they also employ the 'Coming Up' tactic when there are no adverts getting in the way? Half way through Dragons Den, we get the 'Coming Up' thing and of course the clips. Even the latest series of Bargain Hunt, which has been going a zillion years and must have a huge daily loyal band of viewers, have changed the format and show clips of what going to happen at the start.
I could go on and on mentioning loads of programs, but what I really want is to see lots of comments from people saying what they think. It may just be a trivial thing to most, but to me its really affecting my nerves. But most of all I would like to here the actual reason why they do it!
By: DooRon
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So annoying, I suppose like most things it originates in the USA and we copy? I usually resort to moving up a channel for the first two minutes before returning to watch the program.
this and how easy it is. The program has become so boring and pathetic. So keep sending those letters every week. They will take notice eventually. P.s get your m.p to talk in the house of commons
The trouble is, we as a viewing public are locked into whatever they throw at us, they know we will endure something we want to watch so pandering to the "the man who mistook his wife for a hat" won't hurt them, they know they have the core viewers regardless.
Even more inexplicable from a BBC programme - the constant "coming up's" are, I'd concur, to keep people on a channel despite (yet another) advert break, but on the BBC where there are none it makes zero sense at all.
Other than of course, dumbed down TV.
Let's face it, television today is largely for unwashed masses who live on diet coke and burgers then wonder why they're fat, pimply and find it an effort to reach the remote 3 feet away.
DJ SkorpX