Re: What's Up With Dogs?

From: chance <chance_at_unix.infoserve.net>
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 07:05:39 -0800

>
>
>>Huh....wha...? How do the ones shown on TCN differ from the
>>versions shown on TBS?
>
>Along with the opening "Today on SK..", and the Secret Files, there were
>also bumpers before & after commercial breaks. A still frame of some action
>scene with "Take a break" or something, and a voice over saying "Nice flying
>guys! Now, take a break!". A similar intro bumper was inserted after the
>commercials (except it was "Back to the action!")

Ah, okay. There's a rule for broadcast programming in kiddie-land (Sat-AM)
that states the broadcaster has to insert 'bumpers' like this at the act-breaks so
that kids clearly realize where the teleplay ends and the commercials begin. There
was great fear when the kid-TV industry was deregulated (i.e., dropping the
"no half hour commercials masquerading as cartoons" rule) that shows would
simply become "buy-buy-buy" subliminal seduction for the kiddies, and the bumper
thing was introduced to help limit it. I think there's still a ruling that prohibits marketing
of the toys catering to the show in commercials *during* the show (that is, you shouldn't
see "Super Silly Silver Surfer" action figures promoted during the Super Silly Silver
Surfer Show), but for some reason TCN gets away with murder.
_____________________________________________________
"Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed
 antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters,
 through Arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in
 the winter of 1925. Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence." -- "Balto"
_____________________________________________________

Received on Tue Mar 12 1996 - 10:09:14 PST