When BBC commissions go to 'retire'

Australia is almost as bad (if not worse) than the US when it comes to the number of ads permitted per hour, and let's not forget the promos, bumpers, stings, not counted as ads, which take up time

The UK is lucky to have the "12 minutes per hour" rule as dictated by EU laws.. well, let's hope Brexit won't do this any damage

Said that, I think the likes of UKTV still shouldn't edit 60-mins long (particularly BBC) shows for the ads, particularly when it comes to dramas

I'm curious as to why this is in force for TV but not for commercial radio. I'm sure there used to be a maximum 10 minutes of ads per hour rule many years ago under the IBA, but nowadays it's not uncommon for some radio stations to be running 16/17 minutes per hour.

Commercial radio became more self-regulating with adverts, though some of the networks tried various things over the years. They seem to have to find their own balance/trade-off between "content" and ads, though these days much of what is "content" is just back-to-back music with a news bulletin and the odd phone-in competition. At breakfast/drive its more music with more news, travel bulletins and the odd bit of inane banter.

Likewise most of off-peak is networked now across a network of stations so the entire concept of "local" radio disappeared down the tube years ago outside of breakfast and drive time.

Also certain stations were able to place where the local content went so heart has local shows between 12 and 4. While smooth had local show from2 to 5 during the week..

All true. I just wonder why radio was allowed to self-regulate its commercial minuteage while the rules remained in place for TV.

Add to that local TV

I suppose because it needs more of that, seeing people use radio less than TV

BTW you might be interested to know that in the meantime, things in the US ads-wise have gone quite crazy

https://hotair.com/archives/2012/08/16/why-you-should-boycott-the-greedy-s-at-comedy-central/

Viacom channels in particular, are squeezing so many ads per hour that the classic schedule based on "the hour" and the "half hour" has become unstable; some broadcaster schedule 20/21 mins shows and 40/41/42 mins show in 35 (and similar) and 70 (and similar) slots

Those damn programmes, getting in the way of the adverts.