CNN International & Domestic

I was watching the stream on the website.

I saw one of those picture-in-picture commercials go out the other day on the broadcast channel, think it was for HBO Max.

Not Ofcom compliant, I suppose there's the defence that it's live incoming from the US but, on the other hand, it is their own production.

They're doing those kinds of ads more and more often in the US during live sport, it can be annoying when taking their feeds because, while the ADs will count to proper commercial breaks, quite often they won't even mention those ones and they'll just suddenly appear without warning.

As I said in the US election thread the coverage has been pretty impressive but the adverts have driven me absolutely crazy. I appreciate the ads are dictated by CNN US but the fillers they have on offer are unbearable. I think I'd rather just have music and weather like the Sky News international feed has.

I've always found their horribly Americanised ads about themselves and going on about their passion for news really off-putting and I can't see how they'd appeal to anyone other than Americans. I do wonder if they'd have been able to have had a bit more of an impact internationally than perhaps they do these days if the way they presented themselves was a little less American in style. Before Tuesday I forgot I even had CNN on my TV, it's just never on my radar.

It's a shame we presumably won't get to see any figures for how well it's rated in the UK over the last few days.

It would have been good for CNN International presenters to appear during the US breaks, with global Covid updates and other news - even if pre recorded and shown 'as live'.
There may be technical or other reasons why they don't do this, I'm not sure. Maybe timings would be difficult to work with.

As far as I've seen none of these overlayed ads have gone out on CNNI, at least not the feed we get. They have been on the online stream, which I think is technically is outside of Ofcom's remit, and of course the US feed.

I haven't seen the HBO Max ad myself but it wouldn't surprise me if that did go out as it was regularly seen on the ticker prior to the election. As it's the sister service to CNN (both owned by Warner Media) and carries CNN on it, I imagine their argument is that it's not an advert as they've not been paid for it, but rather an internal promotion.


Agreed, their filler content gets very tired and annoying very quickly. As for the ads promoting themselves, they're the same ads that air on the US service, hence the very American tone to them.

^ I definitely saw an HBO Max overlay ad on Freesat on Tuesday night just before the votes started coming in. Also there's been plenty of "via Cisco Webex" with that service's logo when they've been interviewing people via that service but don't know what the rules are there. I assume Cisco are paying for that logo to be there as the interviews they've done via Skype have said "via Skype" in text.

I've downloaded the CNN app and am Chromecasting the live stream which blissfully shows a "commercial break in progress" slide and silence so I don't have to endure the grating filler any more. And it's in HD. Wish I'd discovered this three days ago!

One for our American friends here, but what exactly is Cisco Webex? Is is some HD web conference call streaming app? Because the picture quality on those labeled with the Webex is very clear and hardly any picture and sound delay, picture mush, low bandwith nosedive of quality or sound breakups.

It's far better and more consistant that some of the low grade rubbish I've seen on BBC Breakfast or Sky News from contributers in the UK over the past few months.

Yes it's similar to Zoom, etc. I've used Webex for work before.

The RSGB use Cisco Webex to invigilate exams done from home.

Even in 'normal times', the 'via Cisco Webex' often appears during CNN US simulcasts on CNN International. It's not new. Same as 'via Skype'. It must be OK.

Yep, I use Webex in work too.

One ad for HBO Max definitely went out on CNNi on Tuesday but other than that it's been proper breaks mainly full of promos when I've watched (and I've watched a lot this week).

The app is great though for not having ads.