4 ms·

My cynical and most likely incorrect theory is that a lot of people use commercials as an excuse to get up from the couch and go to the kitchen, bathroom, etc.

My cynical and most likely incorrect theory is that a lot of people use commercials as an excuse to get up from the couch and go to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. and the advertisers still want them to be able to hear the commercial. :P

iagooar 12y ago
Actually, that makes sense. This and waking you up so you focus your attention on the ads.
moe 12y ago
You are right. That is the reason why it's done this way. TV advertising is about hammering a memory into your brain through repetition. A significant portion of their audience does exactly what you say (go to the fridge or bathroom). Making the ads as loud as possible helps to compensate for some of that. The general idea is that next time you're in the shop and forced to choose between 30 detergent brands you will intuitively pick the one brand that you've at least heard of.
- tomjen3 12y ago
  Interesting, and fucking sad. You go with whatever brand you brought the last time, or whatever is cheapest.
wpietri 12y ago
I think that's a good start, and that we can go further if we get more cynical. From the advertiser's perspective, the main point of a TV commercial is to manipulate you into buying stuff; the show is just bait. We all know from personal experience that people pay more attention if we suddenly get louder. Presumably the people who make commercials know that, too. I'm sure some people even resisted, but once other commercials are loud, you sure don't want to be the quiet one that people can more easily talk over. Presumably volume levels will go up until more likely purchasers are put off by the level than are influenced by the now-heard message; it's only at that point they'd see a dip in the numbers.
- Retra 12y ago
  Advertising is the main reason I don't watch TV anymore. It just irritates me too much. (Also, if a website pops up an add, I immediately close the page.)
  - _delirium 12y ago
    Same, especially the repetition of pretty cringe-worthy content (stupid jokes and skits seem to be a mainstay of TV advertising). Many TV ads are just about bearable the first time, but I cannot stand to see them 5 or 10 or 50 times, which means that I can't watch TV regularly without becoming irritated about it.

iagooar 12y ago

Actually, that makes sense. This and waking you up so you focus your attention on the ads.

moe 12y ago

You are right. That is the reason why it's done this way. TV advertising is about hammering a memory into your brain through repetition. A significant portion of their audience does exactly what you say (go to the fridge or bathroom). Making the ads as loud as possible helps to compensate for some of that. The general idea is that next time you're in the shop and forced to choose between 30 detergent brands you will intuitively pick the one brand that you've at least heard of.

tomjen3 12y ago
Interesting, and fucking sad. You go with whatever brand you brought the last time, or whatever is cheapest.

wpietri 12y ago

I think that's a good start, and that we can go further if we get more cynical. From the advertiser's perspective, the main point of a TV commercial is to manipulate you into buying stuff; the show is just bait. We all know from personal experience that people pay more attention if we suddenly get louder. Presumably the people who make commercials know that, too. I'm sure some people even resisted, but once other commercials are loud, you sure don't want to be the quiet one that people can more easily talk over. Presumably volume levels will go up until more likely purchasers are put off by the level than are influenced by the now-heard message; it's only at that point they'd see a dip in the numbers.

Retra 12y ago
Advertising is the main reason I don't watch TV anymore. It just irritates me too much. (Also, if a website pops up an add, I immediately close the page.)
- _delirium 12y ago
  Same, especially the repetition of pretty cringe-worthy content (stupid jokes and skits seem to be a mainstay of TV advertising). Many TV ads are just about bearable the first time, but I cannot stand to see them 5 or 10 or 50 times, which means that I can't watch TV regularly without becoming irritated about it.