Subliminal Ads are a part of MSNBC now?

[marked50]

Don't know if anyone else has noted lately that MSNBC has been hitting us with very, very brief ad clips right before they return to their regular program. I've noticed this for the last week or so. They don't consistently do it but about 2 or 3 times in their broadcast we will see a fractional second of some advertiser before the regular show returns. First, I thought it was some programing glitch but since it is now consistent I doubt it is error. Really weird and disturbing. Anyone else see this?

[Ian David]

1. It's a glitch. Local ads over-riding national ads, or vice versa.

<snip>

The fact that there is almost no empirical support for the usefulness of subliminal messaging has not prevented numerous industries from producing and marketing tapes which allegedly communicate directly with the unconscious mind, encouraging the "listener" not to steal, or coaching the "listener" to have courage or believe in his or her power to accomplish great things. Consumers spend more than $50 million each year on subliminal self-help products (Journal of Advertising Research, reported by Dennis Love, Sacramento Bee, 9-14-2000). A place called Hypnotictapes.com offers a wide array of such tapes developed by James H. Schmelter, a hypnotherapist with an MBA and self-proclaimed expertise in synergistic science. If Schmelter's stuff is not to your liking, try Mindwriter Subliminals... A Breakthrough In Human Reprogramming.

<snip>

Despite the fact that there is no body of empirical support for the notion that subliminal advertising is effective, in 1974 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order saying that broadcast outlets that knowingly carry subliminal ads are operating "contrary to the public interest." In September 2000, Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and John Breaux of Louisiana complained to the FCC about a Republican ad that flashed the word ''RATS'' (or "BUREAUCRATS") across the screen for 1/30 of a second. ''We have reason to believe that broadcasters are airing television advertisements that contain subliminal messages in violation of the public interest,'' they said, apparently oblivious to the fact that something which can't be registered by the brain is unlikely to have any effect on viewers and is unlikely to violate anything except the reasonable bounds of credulity.

More:
http://www.skepdic.com/subliminal.html

[marked50]

4. I know that subliminal advertising is not very effective but

I don't think it is a glitch. Since this is a cable/satellite broadcast there is no local channel interference. And it is now "routine" and the ad is setup to play to the fractional second visual spot, not some "longer" ad play. It might be just someway to gain a marginal ad revenue but it is disturbing in its' intent.

[Ian David]

7. Does the same thing happen with your Rice Krispies? n/t

[marked50]

13. what? nt

[Tunkamerica]

17. you're wrong. this is my job. see my comment below.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. If subliminal advertising is so ineffective, what's the idea behind

product placement?

[Ian David]

12. Product placement is NOT subliminal. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Of course it is. The object being advertised is not the focus of the

picture - it is not pointed out, it doesn't even register consciously. But that coke can on the counter top as the hero walks by is registered subliminally by the viewer.

It is not the momentary flash of a hidden message, but the concept is the same - to make an appeal directly to the subconscious.

[Ian David]

19. Product placement registers consciously. It's not subliminal. n/t

[Tunkamerica]

16. yeah, as an MCO I find it annoying when automated cable stations miss their mark

it's no conspiracy, just productivity at work

[just55650]

20. +1

[ClassWarrior]

2. It's consistent because it's network automation systems failing to sync with local ones.

NGU.

[marked50]

5. how can local interfer with satellite feed?-nt

[Tunkamerica]

18. the commercials are usually half national half local and the local block has a

set time or a signal sent to trigger the local break (in automated stations; read all national cable channels on local cable). A breakdown in the system causes the local break to trigger early or late. Like I said above: productivity in action.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Switching glitch

Plus, if you can see it, it is not subliminal. Words have meanings.

[marked50]

6. granted- wrong term to describe but close to it-nt

[emulatorloo]

8. It is your incompetent local cable provider.

MSNBC has national commercials.

Your local cable company is showing a local commercial during MSNBC's national commercial. Your local ad last a fraction of a second less than MSNBC's national ad.

[lbrtbell]

11. Exactly.

We don't have that problem with our cable company. MSNBC ads look just fine here.

[marked50]

14. my MSNBC ain't cable fed-nt

[zeemike]

10. People's attention spans are getting shorter all the time.

perhaps they are trying out a new thing...the snipit commercial.