According to Harvard Business Review Polska, which published the study, two test groups were shown three types of programs:
- episodes of the comedy series *Taxi*,
- documentary nature films,
- and Bollywood productions.
One group watched the programs without ads, while the other saw them with ad interruptions. The results were surprising: the group that saw the shows with ads was more satisfied with the programs, regardless of the quality of the ads shown.
source: Harvard Business Review Polska, Why Do We Prefer TV with Ads?Surprisingly, viewers who watched the version with ads were also willing to pay more for DVD sets of productions by the same directors. The study published by Harvard Business Review Polska found that this difference could be as much as 30%.
- viewers of the ad-free version offered $4.18 for a DVD
- viewers of the ad-supported version were willing to pay up to $5.42 for the same DVD.
The study authors note that this principle is reflected in pay TV, even though it doesn’t include ads. These networks structure their programming with built-in breaks.
- What increases viewer enjoyment isn’t the ads themselves but the breaks in the show, - explains Prof. Leif Nelson in an interview with HBRP. - In series, the plot usually consists of six or more parallel storylines that producers continuously juggle. More complex and unpredictable shows, with twists that naturally introduce breaks, were rated higher than programs with a more linear narrative structure.
This is known as the adaptation effect. The researchers found that this effect is much stronger among younger people. As people age, they need less stimulation to feel pleasure and adapt more slowly.
Nelson, Meyvis, and Galak`s research was also published in the Harvard Business Review Polska special report Why Do We Prefer TV with Ads?
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Marketing and PR
How and why online stores lie. TrustMate report
Marek Jaworowski
Experts from the TrustMate.io platform analyzed the most common procedural errors and inaccuracies that lead Polish online stores to wrongly deny buyers their rights. They also prepared an appeal path for consumers who heard a refusal from customer service.
Online shopping in Poland. Report by the Chamber of Digital Economy
Patrycja Sołtysik, Izba Gospodarki Elektronicznej
For the fourth consecutive year, 100% of internet users declare making a digital purchase at least once, and 93% have shopped online in the last six months. 97% of purchases in Poland involve an internet-connected device at some stage - most commonly a smartphone.
Coffee for moms. This is how they recharge parents' batteries at the Wrocław children's hospital
Reporterzy support
24 hours, 7 days a week, for 3 months. Non-stop. That is the average time a mother spends in an oncology hospital, caring for her child during treatment. A new project has launched at the Przylądek Nadziei (Cape of Hope) children's oncology clinic in Wrocław. In a simple way, it helps parents reduce stress, calm their emotions, and boosts their energy for caregiving. And that directly translates into the effectiveness of the children's treatment.
See articles on a similar topic:
When Will Every Advertisement Become... a Store? Omdia Forecasts
KFi
Global consumer spending online is growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2025, it will reach $4.4 trillion, with the US alone accounting for $1.4 trillion. The boundaries between advertising, entertainment, and commerce are blurring, ushering in a new era of digital consumption.
Brand visibility in the age of algorithms
Aleksander Pawzun
A few years ago, everything was simpler. It was enough to have a good website, do SEO, run a blog, and publish on social media. Whoever was systematic was visible. Whoever invested in content and positioning gained customers. That world no longer exists.
7 facts about media relations. How to work with journalists
Bartłomiej Dwornik
In media relations, every mistake costs you attention. Every cliché wastes inbox space. Even a good and interesting topic might not be enough to break through. The way you present it also matters. Maybe even more than the content itself.
Cold Mailing: What is the Optimal Word Count for Best Results?
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Forget about popular guidelines for marketers that can be found on Google. An analyst from Hunter.io conducted a study of a massive database of 34 million emails requesting contact. It turns out that the world of marketing cold mailing looks quite different today.




























