Video sites (Youtube, etc.) with annoyingly long, pre-clip advertisements

[OCNewbie]

Does anybody else get annoyed when they try to watch a video clip online, on Youtube, etc., and have to sit through a 30-second advertisement for their ~1 minute video? One of the perks of transitioning to broadband was that you didn't have to wait forever to buffer videos before you could watch them. Having to wait a full 30 seconds, which is the length of your average television commercial, is somewhat akin to being back on dial-up.

I think online ads should be capped at a max of 15 seconds. I honestly don't even bother watching 90% of the videos/clips I attempt to watch if I see I have to sit through a 30-second ad before I get to do so.

 

[Arcadio]

Or maybe youtube should charge money. That would solve your problem.

 

[Taejin]

i spam refresh

or i just go back and say fuck it.. not gonna sit through their ad unless its something i truly want to see

 

[OCNewbie]

I think it would behoove advertisers to consider the average attention span of those who are seeking near-instant gratification, which is what a site like Youtube provides. I (and others like me, I presume) will see a full 15 seconds of their advertisement if that's all I have to sit through. If it's a 30-second ad, I will see however much of it I need to before I realize it's 30 seconds and move onto other things that require less patience. The internet is about getting information as quickly, and abundantly as possible, and having such lengthy ads is counterintuitive to that theme.

 

[DominionSeraph]

I just use a custom hosts file
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

 

[olds]

If an ad comes up, I do one of two things.
Close the video and never watch it.
Open another tab and browse for 30 seconds then go back to the video.

 

[Jeff7]

I just use a custom hosts file
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

Yes. Adblock plus a good hosts file makes things better online.


Paraphrasing from my old list of things that advertisers should avoid:
An ad should not be exceedingly annoying or intrusive, nor should it require the use of an entire processor core on an i5 CPU. That's a fast way to earn that entire adserver a place on my blacklist. My browser also shouldn't look like a Nascar racecar, so webhosts need to know when to stop shoving more ads into their site. Ads should also avoid conveying the primary message of "I'M AN ATTENTION WHORE LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!" They should try to make the product and company look appealing.
Instead, many ads are far more effective at generating a very strong dislike of a company's marketing department.

Or maybe youtube should charge money. That would solve your problem.

Maybe - if they'd go back to showing video ratings before clicking on them. It's much easier to avoid the trolls and fake videos that way.

 

[shortylickens]

Yes. Adblock plus a good hosts file makes things better online.


Paraphrasing from my old list of things that advertisers should avoid:
An ad should not be exceedingly annoying or intrusive, nor should it require the use of an entire processor core on an i5 CPU. That's a fast way to earn that entire adserver a place on my blacklist. My browser also shouldn't look like a Nascar racecar, so webhosts need to know when to stop shoving more ads into their site. Ads should also avoid conveying the primary message of "I'M AN ATTENTION WHORE LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!" They should try to make the product and company look appealing.
Instead, many ads are far more effective at generating a very strong dislike of a company's marketing department.

Bingo.
I understand companies need to make money, and ads are better than forcing me to pay for every little thing I use. But if you annoy the crap out of me be prepared to not sell anything.

 

[Pardus]

I have a rule, any company that runs a commercial online or on tv and annoys me, will never buy your product.

It's like car commercials on tv, sometimes the same one will appear 7-8 times in a few hours. Guess what, i don't care the Lincoln MKX is only $699.99 with 5 grand down to lease.

 

[Anubis]

Does anybody else get annoyed when they try to watch a video clip online, on Youtube, etc., and have to sit through a 30-second advertisement for their ~1 minute video? .

no i dont because i use ad blocking addons for my browser and i never see them

 

[Sluggo]

Or maybe youtube should charge money. That would solve your problem.

Maybe youtube should charge a dollar or two to upload a video, it would probably improve the content considerably. More watchable vids, less of idiots lighting themselves on fire for youtube fame.

 

[Anubis]

Maybe youtube should charge a dollar or two to upload a video, it would probably improve the content considerably. More watchable vids, less of idiots lighting themselves on fire for youtube fame.

the videos of people setting them selfs on fire are the best ones on there

 

[abaez]

Ad muncher forever.

 

[deanx0r]

I have noticed that those video ads never show up when I browse YouTube from the iPad. Similarly, they don't show either when browsing with Adblock.

 

[DaTT]

adblocker works for me.

 

[OCNewbie]

Just installed Adblock Plus on Firefox and it blocked a video advert CNN was trying to share with me. I've never really bothered to educate myself about all the various addons for Firefox.

 

[TridenT]

Adblock plus never shows that shit.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I've never seen an ad on Youtube.

 

[rh71]

adblock addin for Opera apparently available too... testing.

 

[Anubis]

adblock addin for Opera apparently available too... testing.

been avail since version 11 i believe. works fine can sub to easy list just like FF

you can also individually block stuff the same way you always could before (right click on page - block content)

 

[Printer Bandit]

even with adblock plus in safari, i'm still seeing the ads in youtube.

 

[secretanchitman]

adblock plus with fanboys list and easylist enabled in firefox works wonders for me. never seen an ad in youtube - i actually didnt know youtube started playing ads before watching their videos until someone happened to tell me about it. i only watch youtube on my computers at home (that all have firefox + adblock with both lists), iphone, or my parents ipad.

 

[Jeff7]

adblock plus with fanboys list and easylist enabled in firefox works wonders for me. never seen an ad in youtube - i actually didnt know youtube started playing ads before watching their videos until someone happened to tell me about it. i only watch youtube on my computers at home (that all have firefox + adblock with both lists), iphone, or my parents ipad.

Same here - I wanted to quick pull up a video for something at work, but it started out with someone in a bikini, which was rather unexpected. That's when I learned that Youtube had ads.

 

[DrPizza]

I don't see those ads on firefox. I just started using chrome & have to find the add-ons to take care of that little problem there too.

 

[DirkGently1]

Ad muncher forever.

This. Been using it for years and it's perfect. I can't remember the last time i saw an ad on my home PC!