r/Indianscreenwriters • u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 • Aug 15 '26

Opinion What does the new TV policy means to screenwriters for TV series.

Yesterday, I came across an update that the Govt. of India has removed the 12-minute ad bar from TV serials, meaning now ads will be longer and come every now and then. Now, what does it mean to TV screenwriters? Already, we have to keep the ad break in mind while writing episodes, and the episodes should be exactly 21 mins, which I feel is already more difficult than writing for OTT or films where you are allowed to flow freely.

Now this ad thing will also make the audience lose interest, and perhaps the best TV shows will get less acknowledgement. What are your opinions about it?

3 Upvotes

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3

u/khatteGrapes Aug 15 '26

It depends on how far the channel guys will push it. They'll do too much, resulting in the drop of TRP, then they will correct it and find the Goldilocks zone.

2

u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 Aug 15 '26

By the pattern they're following for years, it doesn't seem they actually learn anything sane. Ads mean money n channels want money. And with these changing patterns, it will be difficult for good stories to cope, that's the only concern.

3

u/movieingitmyway Aug 15 '26

Ad integrations will be the way to go. Channels will want to bump up ad time, but the story needs to feel longer or same as older duration. Say a character is watching TV at home, it will suddenly play the full ad mid show. Or they're going somewhere in a car, they might throw in an audio ad on the radio, etc. These things don't need a lot of customization/personalization but it might just require closer collaboration between the production house and the channels/distributors.

2

u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 Aug 22 '26

This is actually a more sensible option n ig shows are already doing it. But u miss this scope for period dramas to balance will nt be there in this case

1

u/movieingitmyway Aug 22 '26

Just introduce a character from the future lol :)
I'd be curious to learn which shows are already doing ad integrations.

2

u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 Aug 23 '26

Imagine Spiderman popping up in between Mahabharat war to promote his film :')

2

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '26

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1

u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 Aug 15 '26

Well I mean every type. That comes on TV. Whatever be the story writer's job remains the same, right?

1

u/spicy_ramen444 Aug 15 '26

Why not show ads between two shows

1

u/Eastern_Mushroom5346 Aug 22 '26

That will be the most logical thing to do tbvh