this entry has been preempted
This entry from customers_suck brought up something that has annoyed and confused me for my entire TV viewing existance.
Programs being preempted by the news.
Many programs on TV run only once, so if you didn't record it or it's preempted, you'll never get to see it all. Some programs have reruns, but reruns usually don't air until X months later which doesn't help you if there's a new episode next week that continues the story.
When a local station preempts a program for news coverage, they are doing their job. News can be important and TV is a great way to inform a vast audience. Some would say, "If you don't want to watch the news coverage, change the channel." That my friends is not an option. The issue here is that we as viewers do not have a choice. While we can choose what channel to view, we do not have a choice to watch Program Of Choice over ZOMG Important News Coverage!
While a bar with scrolling text at the bottom of the screen is slightly annoying because it changes the picture it is 100% acceptable 100% of the time. The program I'm choosing to watch is still running and I am given the choice to read the notice or ignore the notice. Either way I still get to see my program.
Preempting shows needs to stop or viewers should be given the option to watch the news coverage or the program you are engaged in. Too bad they can't preempt commercials.
~In a far off world I can just picture it now...~ Someone is watching *show* and a bar appears at the bottom of the screen. The bar contains a quick blurb on a ZOMG Important News Alert as well as "press *button* on your remote to view Live coverage." After *time* the alert will disappear on its own if *button* has not been pressed.
Programs being preempted by the news.
Many programs on TV run only once, so if you didn't record it or it's preempted, you'll never get to see it all. Some programs have reruns, but reruns usually don't air until X months later which doesn't help you if there's a new episode next week that continues the story.
When a local station preempts a program for news coverage, they are doing their job. News can be important and TV is a great way to inform a vast audience. Some would say, "If you don't want to watch the news coverage, change the channel." That my friends is not an option. The issue here is that we as viewers do not have a choice. While we can choose what channel to view, we do not have a choice to watch Program Of Choice over ZOMG Important News Coverage!
While a bar with scrolling text at the bottom of the screen is slightly annoying because it changes the picture it is 100% acceptable 100% of the time. The program I'm choosing to watch is still running and I am given the choice to read the notice or ignore the notice. Either way I still get to see my program.
Preempting shows needs to stop or viewers should be given the option to watch the news coverage or the program you are engaged in. Too bad they can't preempt commercials.
~In a far off world I can just picture it now...~ Someone is watching *show* and a bar appears at the bottom of the screen. The bar contains a quick blurb on a ZOMG Important News Alert as well as "press *button* on your remote to view Live coverage." After *time* the alert will disappear on its own if *button* has not been pressed.