ABC1

As they did with Star Trek TNG, which often rather spoiled the cresendo of dramatic music, used so skillfully to puctuate the 'atcs'.

It also shaves a 44m total programme length to a more orderly 40m.

EDIT: On reflection perhaps my memory is flawed about the running times. I know my box-set versions run at 44 mins, but can someone confirm what Next Gen ran on the BBC. 4 minutes does seem a long time to cut.

ENTERING TREKKIE MODE

On BBC2 with TNG - it was done in two ways. Sometimes they'd fade to black and fade back in again, other times they'd fade directly between the two acts with a cut off of music. Certainly on Voyager this also happened.

From what I've noticed though, there often is a fade at exactly the point where other UK channels insert their intermediate commercial break - in all likelihood ABC1 are running from tapes designed for transmission under 'normal' UK conditions and so have allready had the long pause inserted in the middle and the gaps for breaks at other points in the programme tightened up.

As much as I like ABC1's presentation in general, the moved breakpoints are done for no other reason that to try and introduce some quirky American feel to the channel. It was liveable when the channel had no commercials, but now it's just annoying.

No one but a pres anorack seriously wants to watch a title sequence followed by a commercial break, and then have another break inserted at the end with less than a minute to go than to simply have a single break in the middle and the programme bookended with a pair of breaks.

I wish they'd act like any other UK channel - the day will inevitably come when all our TV will be presented in the same annoying way anyway, ABC1 don't need to pretend that it's allready here.


And Star Trek. One of the worst things they ever did, so many tense scences were ruined when fades were removed causing two sections to messily crash into each other.


On the BBC, TOS will get a 50 minute slot (since it's episodes are slightly longer), all other series will get a 45 minute slot. I don't remember them ever scheduling Star Trek to run in 40 minutes.

Indeed I remember the scheduling:

TNG - Wednesday 6PM-6:45
DS9 - Thursday 6PM-6:45
TOS - Friday 6:40-7:30
VOY - Sunday 7:15-8PM

I'm watching the channel at the moment. How long have it's ad breaks been in widescreen? Also does it show any programmes in 16:9?

I think if they altered the break sequence it would help the channel as it's simply too much of a jump from normal British proceedure

I do like the lack of adverts between shows but the break just before the credits is infuriating.

The ads have always been in widescreen since they began in Autumn.


As for the structure. I did like the structure alot before the ad breaks were introduced, but must agree the ad break before the closing scene/credits is infuriating.

I don't mind the one after the titles, but I think the second would be better placed in the traditional mid-point of the programme, with perhaps just a "Next, Then, Later" trailer inserted before the credits.