Cable episode vs. downloaded episode

[theSubieMan]

I've recently been introduced to this fabulous TV series by a friend of mine. I've gotta say, I'm hooked!

I've taped all shows this season. I did download a few episodes of last season. Is it just me or the ones that are being broadcast over cable are missing 1/3 of the actual episode?

The ones I downloaded were 59.xx minutes. I doubt that they had commercials in it . I watch Top Gear on BBC Canada and last night, they interrupted in the middle of a sentence one of the hosts (can't remember their names yet) in order to go to commercial. It sounded like a segment I was gonna like (something about weird cars). I couldn't help but think that I'm getting screwed watching it on BBC Canada .

Instead of cutting content, they should just make the show 1:30 instead of 1 hour.

[BlaRo]

What you saw was Top Gear on BBC World, which is half the length and mostly just highlights of the full version, which cuts out the news, the Star in a Beater part, and almost all of the studio bits. There's also the Discovery Channel versions, which are retaped with new studio bits and without the news and Star for a full hour.

[Blythy]

The BBC world version is a godsend when you've got a TV in a remote part of the world.

[theSubieMan]

Thanks for the welcome!

For those whom download them, what version are they?

I was looking on Discovery Channel and wasn't able to find any listing for Top Gear. I'll keep looking in case that I missed something in my haste

[mgkdk]

Most of us stick to VUK's rips (a very nice guy ) but there are some 700mb around.

Discovery don't air TG anymore.

[Dins]

As you were watching in Canada, Discovery Channel does not broadcast TG. As you said, you were watching the 2004 season on BBC Canada. Those shows are cut in several places for commercials, and as far as i can remember the news are cut as well. Download the season, it is far better than the BBC Canada version.

[theSubieMan]

I'm wondering if I was even watching what I thought I was watching. The site said that the latest episode just finished airing... I thought I watched it yesterday! LOL!

[ltlowe]

Actually, BBC Canada does air Top Gear now, and not the hack'n'slash version from BBC World. BBC Canada's even has the news segments, which is one of the things I thought they'd cut to make room for commercials.

I watch it, it's about two series (seasons) behind BBC2, and it's damn close to the original. I would like to know exactly what they are cutting since they do have commercials, but i haven't put a VUK rip and a BBC Canada one side by side yet. I can tell that the stig's laps are cut a little because they don't refer to his music, but that's not enough of a cut to make room for the commercials.

Anyhow, for any that don't know yet, if I had never seen the BBC2 feed, I would think the BBC Canada one was full! (as opposed to the BBC World one, which is just crap.)

Todd

[toma_alimosh]

for summary purposes:

BBC World's version cuts 50% of the material
BBC Prime's version cuts the news section and current events such as surveys
Discovery Channel USA's version cuts all the bad stuff they say about american cars
BBC Canada's version is interrupted by commercials that cut through the material

BBC2's version: uncut and commercial free
VUK's version: ^same as above

[theSubieMan]

Originally Posted by vladmitu

for summary purposes:
Discovery Channel USA's version cuts all the bad stuff they say about american cars

Heh, there must not be much left in that case! LOL!

[neojohnson]

Originally Posted by vladmitu

for summary purposes:

BBC World's version cuts 50% of the material
BBC Prime's version cuts the news section and current events such as surveys
Discovery Channel USA's version cuts all the bad stuff they say about american cars
BBC Canada's version is interrupted by commercials that cut through the material

BBC2's version: uncut and commercial free
VUK's version: ^same as above

Can't believe that!
We Chinese people are very lucky to watch the uncut and AD free version all the time, thanks to Vuk and BT eMule.

Why don't you Canadians move to China and enjoy the uncut TG? You're welcome!

[dutch_designer]

Um, you can download the uncut version outside of China as well you know

[No Boss]

Originally Posted by Dins

As you were watching in Canada, Discovery Channel does not broadcast TG....

I wrote Discovery not too long ago when they cancelled TopGear, and asked them all the "why's" and "what if" questions. The person that responded to me said that we should expect TG to come back on discovery in December. I know, I know, I know, it is a pitiful version once you have seen the real thing...but some TopGear is better than not.

[theSubieMan]

Originally Posted by No Boss

I wrote Discovery not too long ago when they cancelled TopGear, and asked them all the "why's" and "what if" questions. The person that responded to me said that we should expect TG to come back on discovery in December. I know, I know, I know, it is a pitiful version once you have seen the real thing...but some TopGear is better than not.

Totally agree. However, why not make the show 1:30 instead of chopping it up? I want to see the WHOLE thing, not bits and pieces.

I watch WRC content on SpeedTV and it lasts 1:30...

[toma_alimosh]

^you mean make it 1:00, right ? it isn't any more than that.

[ESPNSTI]

Originally Posted by vladmitu

^you mean make it 1:00, right ? it isn't any more than that.

I'm sure he means make the time slot be 1:30 (1 hour for the show, 30 minutes commercials).

[theSubieMan]

Originally Posted by ESPNSTI

I'm sure he means make the time slot be 1:30 (1 hour for the show, 30 minutes commercials).

Exactly.