Daytime TV & ad breaks

Some television programs are on in the middle of the day for a reason, this afternoon I crashed out on the sofa to watch House Gift with my mum, which I have to say I quite enjoy. During the advert break we both had a giggle and noted how we liked two of the adverts that come on -





The Dating Direct Advert is not quite the one currently being screened, but supposedly the video has been on here since 2008 but I have never seen the advert until recently so...
Both adverts are quite different in respects of what they are selling but a similar style of humour is used across the board. We all know commercials are about selling, but it's how you do it, these adverts have provided us with amusement while using a situation that people could easily associate to and obviously signing off with the brand. Other brands like Mr Muscle for instance is purely about selling the product, there is not necessarily any embarrassing scenarios and its a product that we don't necessarily want to spend money on but have to. Either way I was quite happy that a couple of adverts had made me smile, even though I know what was going to happen. However this did get me thinking about the recent change brought about by Ofcom, which will see an increase of seven minute of adverts to potentially up to 12 minutes during films and single dramas, that's nearly a 100% increase on ad time.

The idea is on a 12 month trial but it was also launched the same day as product placement is being introduced into British TV. This means on a range of programs minus ones like the news and children's shows you will see more brands, so next year you could see Cheryl Cole with a can of Coke Zero as she's judging the contestants... Don't get me wrong I enjoy adverts for the creative side and obviously if it attracts my attention like these two, but if were being honest we like having a few minutes break so we can nip to the bathroom, pop the kettle on, grab a biscuit and be seated ready for the second half without missing any of the show. I suppose we will have to see how it goes and complain either way as 12 minutes of adverts seems slightly excessive, I could be in bed those five minutes earlier without those breaks.