### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/1 "2013-10-25T00:17:33Z")
It started with a discreet, transparent logo on the bottom right of the screen indicating what network you were watching.
Now on some networks an \*animated \*(no less!) ad often crawls across the bottom of the screen, taking up 1/4 to 1/3 of the real estate. This makes me nuts, as I usually have the captioning on, and it’s practically impossible to read through the ad.
Do we really need to know that tomorrow or in an hour or a week from now there will be an all new episode of _\_??
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### Author:  [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/2 "2013-10-25T00:23:38Z")
Some of them aren’t so bad.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkyVJ3KglZU)
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/3 "2013-10-25T18:57:42Z")
Large, animated graphics jumping across the screen are evil. Perpetrators should be served up in Hell with an undending supply of things getting in their way, distracting them at the worst time, and generally being harrassed and annoyed by constant in-your-faceness.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/4 "2013-10-25T19:02:07Z")
“Bottom fungus.” You’re welcome.
I particularly like the ones that tell you the show you’re watching is on now.
I am so glad I cut the cable.
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/5 "2013-10-25T19:07:09Z")
Yeah, I tend to avoid the channel I’m watching if I see this on one of its shows. “Bottom fungus” is a highly useable term.
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/6 "2013-10-25T22:41:37Z")
It’s why I’ve given up on broadcast/cable television. If a show is good, it’ll come out on discs and Netflix takes care of the need to see it nicely. True, it’ll be a year or two later so not quite so topical but it’s worth it.
Another vote for bottom fungus.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/7 "2013-10-25T23:32:04Z")
> [@DesertDog](#):
>
> It’s why I’ve given up on broadcast/cable television. If a show is good, it’ll come out on discs and Netflix takes care of the need to see it nicely. True, it’ll be a year or two later so not quite so topical but it’s worth it.
You can get nearly all shows for about $2 an episode, which is reasonable if you’re selective about which ones you watch. You can subscribe to any 2-3 much cheaper than maintaining cable. And no ads. At all.
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### Author:  [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/8 "2013-10-26T02:02:27Z")
It’s been a while since I watched it but I believe there’s a scene in _Idiocracy_ where a guy’s watching a big screen TV from his toilet/recliner and the screen is almost completely covered with ads, only a small square in the center showing the hit series _Ow,My Balls_.
It’s NOT a documentary!!! It’s not, it’s not, it’s not!!!
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### Author:  [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-that-take-up-1-4-the-tv-screen-grrr/672171/9 "2013-10-26T02:54:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> It started with a discreet, transparent logo on the bottom right of the screen indicating what network you were watching.
>
> Now on some networks an \*animated \*(no less!) ad often crawls across the bottom of the screen, taking up 1/4 to 1/3 of the real estate. This makes me nuts, as I usually have the captioning on, and it’s practically impossible to read through the ad.
>
> Do we really need to know that tomorrow or in an hour or a week from now there will be an all new episode of _\_??
You are not alone in your disgust by far - both _The Simpsons_ and _Family Guy_ have spoofed these ads on their shows.