"Doug" wrote in message
news:hKWEh.1977$RN6.124@trndny07...
Hey Josh,

Yeah, I set up the Tivo to record the Anglers Edge here just a couple days
ago, and it is some quality programming. With the others, I understand
they have to have sponsors, but I don't understand why so many. They need
paid too, BUT there has to be another way so as to alleviate so many adds.
There's 12 minutes of fishing, and 18 minutes of commercials.
Well, on the plus side, old man spring is knocking on our door, so we'll
not have to resort to watching THEM fish here pretty soon!

I covered this somewhat in another post, but here goes.

In most cases, the producers purchase air-time from the network, and the
only way to cover production costs is to sell advertising time to sponsors
and advertisers. The expenses needed to cover videographers, production
assistants, writers, directors, sound technicians, film editors, plus the
staff to actually take care of the business is tremendous without even
considering the air-time costs. These air-time expenses go up exponentially
in proportion to the number of viewers in the market. The last time I
talked to OLN (now Versus), the cost for a weekly 30 minute program was
$14,000.00 a week, just for the purchase of the air-time. I'm sure ESPN is
even higher!

And, with a relatively soft economy, plus the fact that the fishing market
has been pretty flat the past couple years means that the sponsoring
companies are cutting back on marketing budgets. So, with sponsors
unwilling or unable to pay high advertising rates, they must take on more
sponsors to cover the costs of production.

There really isn't a way to reduce the number of ads, short of charging more
for each ad spot. Then, the liklihood of selling those spots goes down!
There isn't an easy answer to the situation.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com