23 August 2008

She wanted to be a mechanic

Internet telly is a wonderful thing. You can watch programmes when you want (within certain limits) - and, if necessary, you can pause them when the telephone rings or when you need to visit the loo.

But they are far from perfect. Habitually, I watch Newsnight Scotland (sad, I know) the following day on the BBC's i-player. (And Mr Brewer's smirk when, at the end of the programme, he mentions that it is available on the i-player really pisses me off.) But this week - for reasons unexplained - Newsnicht for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is simply not available. But, hey, I'm cool; I can live without it.

But ITV's 'Catch-up' equivalent takes the biscuit. This week, ITV3 has been re-showing various episodes of Rebus, for which much credit. But do not, for heaven's sake, try to watch last night's episode on Catch-up (here). Leave aside the obvious difficulties with the sound level. Focus on the fact that in an episode that lasts 90 minutes there are four ad breaks. The show is preceded by two showings of an MOD ad for the Royal Navy; the same ad is repeated three times during the first ad break, three times during the second ad break, four times during the third ad break and four times during the fourth ad break. Just in case you missed it, the same ad is then repeated twice at the end of the show.

I just hope that the MOD is not paying per showing ...

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