TV networks vowed to cut back on commercials but stuffed in more
As a non-American who hasn&#x27;t really watched over-the-air television for a decade, what strikes me most is how commercials affect the content. Mainstream American TV often has a weirdly fragmented quality - the writers seem acutely aware of the fact that they&#x27;ll lose the attention of their viewers every seven minutes and have to fight to regain it. A lot of programmes (especially comedies) seem like a series of short vignettes, with an absolute minimum of context being carried across the commercial break. Even without the commercials, there&#x27;s a palpable difference in the pacing compared to a Netflix, HBO or BBC programme.