What's Killing Traditional TV? Terrible Commercials Repeated Endlessly.

There are a number of obvious reasons why cable and network TV is dying. Along with streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, fewer young people addicted to news and sports, a lack of intriguing dramas and hilarious sitcoms, commercials have become a repetitive, unfunny, and infuriating poison that makes "old-school" TV nearly impossible to watch. Sure, there are occasional exceptions that provide a clever brand of marketing, but after watching the same ad every single commercial break during Redskins game, these exceptions become just as irritating as a marketing ploy where driving cars randomly electrify Christmas lights or "Flow" makes another corny pun (plus, the Redskins don't help too much either).

What do we see as a reaction from TV programmers? Terrible ads repeated endlessly at every commercial break that repeat for weeks on end clearing lacking any semblance of an interest in entertaining viewers. At a time when anyone with half a brain would see the need to at least provide more clever, entertaining commercials with more variety, TV executives are cutting corners, forcing viewers to watch more ads of lesser quality which repeat every commercial break. I know, there are two obvious way to get around this as a viewer ... DVR and On Demand. But, think about what most people watch on TV at this point ... news and sports. So, what's the deal?! Is it just that marketing companies have become more lazy, or that celebrities like Ariana Grande cost so much that they blow their entire budget on one ad and have no choice but to use it endlessly.

If traditional TV wants to climb out of the gutter it is currently sinking deeper and deeper into, they have to bring back commercials that are entertaining. Marketing campaigns like the "rock, paper, scissors" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYxpX3N20qU) of Android or the countless heartwarming ones out of Thailand (here is an amazing one ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZGghmwUcbQ) are possible, and they don't require any celebrities or massive expense. If traditional TV wants to survive even for the near future, they need to put forth a little effort. Don't infuriate viewers with pathetic, irritating ads. Use the opportunity to provide entertaining ads that don't repeat at every commercial break. Use it to make us think about life, maybe crack a smile or actually consider buying your product for good reason. Maybe ads could be a reason to watch traditional TV programming rather than avoid it altogether.

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