Ads on NBC.com Video

[OfficeFangirl]

I like to watch the Office online. Adblock used to work but then they did something to where they ask that "adblocker" be turned off. They are doing something tricky that I'm sure I can block with adblock or noscript but I can't figure out how.

The address is:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/episodes.shtml

What should I block to get all the commercials to stop playing? Please help they are so annoying and loud and take forever and they are so constant and I'm going crazy

[fanboy]

try this,

Code: Select all

@@.doubleclick.net/adx/nbcu.nbc/

[Hubird]

What filter subscriptions are you using ?

That is very helpful to know so any problems can be fixed by the subscription author (save you having to add anything).


@Rick:

I noticed you have the following whitelist for that site

Code: Select all

@@http://www.nbc.com/*/video/episodes.

When I disable it, the videos still appear to be playable (I can't tell for sure because it wont let me watch them because of the region I live in) but it looks like the whitelist is also allowing 3 items that would otherwise be blocked.

http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js

an image that would normally be blocked by: ?*&*mozilla$image

http://www.nbc.com/assets/includes/video/ads/blank.html


Several other whitelists seem to kick in when the main one is disabled, is this really needed and if so can the whitlist be made more specific so it does not affect the whole page ?

[OfficeFangirl]

try this,

Code: Select all

@@.doubleclick.net/adx/nbcu.nbc/

This kind of worked. It blocks the ad, but I still get the 30 second countdown timer on a blank frame. This helps alot though because they are so loud and noisy and obnoxious. Now, just to get rid of this timer^^

[OfficeFangirl]

What filter subscriptions are you using ?

That is very helpful to know so any problems can be fixed by the subscription author (save you having to add anything).


@Rick:

I noticed you have the following whitelist for that site

Code: Select all

@@http://www.nbc.com/*/video/episodes.

When I disable it, the videos still appear to be playable (I can't tell for sure because it wont let me watch them because of the region I live in) but it looks like the whitelist is also allowing 3 items that would otherwise be blocked.

http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js

an image that would normally be blocked by: ?*&*mozilla$image

http://www.nbc.com/assets/includes/video/ads/blank.html


Several other whitelists seem to kick in when the main one is disabled, is this really needed and if so can the whitlist be made more specific so it does not affect the whole page ?

Oops, I'm not a member so I couldn't edit my other post to answer this but I'm using Rick's easy list and EasyElement.

[OfficeFangirl]

SOME commercials still get through even with that exception added. They'll play in the box.

If anyone can help block these ads I can't thank you enough They are awful

[rick752]

When I disable it, the videos still appear to be playable

They are not, Hubird. It can be fixed, but only with 'questionable' whitelisting. I think the time would still run anyway, so you might as well just let the commercial run.

The general whitelist is the best and most hassle free so far. It is similar to Hulu .. no matter whether you block the ads or not, the allocated time for them will still run. There may be a way to do it, but it would be time consuming and would need "pinpoint" accuracy.

[Officefangirl]

Well I'm sure if someone doesn't figure out a way to block these better, it won't be but a matter of time before other sites start using the same method

[rick752]

Well I'm sure if someone doesn't figure out a way to block these better, it won't be but a matter of time before other sites start using the same method

Other sites already do. It really isn't intentional, but rather it is the way that certain video feeds are set up to run. And it's not a problem of blocking the ads (that can be done), but rather a problem of "fast-forwarding" thru the ad's "time" in the feed itself .. Adblock Plus is not Tivo

Unlike regular web page ads, video is a 'linear' type feed. It is like television. Some video feedrolls are preset to run items after each other (ads & content) at certain intervals that are based on time. Blocking the ad in cases will get rid of it, but the feedroll will still run the same allocated time for it ... the player would just run as a blank screen, minus the ad. Simply put, you would just get a "black" video player for that amount of time ... and then it would resume the content again after that time has passed. In cases like these, I've found that it is better just to let the ad run so you don't think that your player (or your connection) is broken.

I am not done looking at those yet, so maybe there is a way. Also, Adblock Plus is always coming up with new features. If something becomes to much of a problem, more thought from our end will have to be put into it. Right now, my biggest concern is that the videos work to begin with.

ps: I really don't think that a 15-30 second movie-break ad is unreasonable to watch an entire show or movie through considering the technology involved by the site to offer it (that's right, guys .. you heard it here ). Even television was not that nice about it 40 years ago! Unlike other web ads, they are not using it ON the video itself like a web page would. But if these sites try to push it a little farther, I will work to find a way .....

[Officefangirl]

Well I'm sure if someone doesn't figure out a way to block these better, it won't be but a matter of time before other sites start using the same method

Other sites already do. It really isn't intentional, but rather it is the way that certain video feeds are set up to run. And it's not a problem of blocking the ads (that can be done), but rather a problem of "fast-forwarding" thru the ad's "time" in the feed itself .. Adblock Plus is not Tivo

Unlike regular web page ads, video is a 'linear' type feed. It is like television. Some video feedrolls are preset to run items after each other (ads & content) at certain intervals that are based on time. Blocking the ad in cases will get rid of it, but the feedroll will still run the same allocated time for it ... the player would just run as a blank screen, minus the ad. Simply put, you would just get a "black" video player for that amount of time ... and then it would resume the content again after that time has passed. In cases like these, I've found that it is better just to let the ad run so you don't think that your player (or your connection) is broken.

I am not done looking at those yet, so maybe there is a way. Also, Adblock Plus is always coming up with new features. If something becomes to much of a problem, more thought from our end will have to be put into it. Right now, my biggest concern is that the videos work to begin with.

ps: I really don't think that a 15-30 second movie-break ad is unreasonable to watch an entire show or movie through considering the technology involved by the site to offer it (that's right, guys .. you heard it here ). Even television was not that nice about it 40 years ago! Unlike other web ads, they are not using it ON the video itself like a web page would. But if these sites try to push it a little farther, I will work to find a way .....

CBS ads aren't that bad, but the ones on NBC are just plain obnoxious. The CBS ones are easy to block though. The NBC ones after the show starts play 2 ads during the commercial break of 30-40 seconds a piece. The volume of these ads is differnet from the volume of the show, so much so that my dog has literally started barking when they start. (Particularly that stupid restaurant ad) These ads add about another 7 minutes to the show. NBC. If they were anything like CBS ads they wouldnt be such a headache. But CBS is easily blockable so it doesnt matter.

Well, I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed. I've seen all of this season's episodes so I don't even have to really worry about it until the new fall season. I hope its fixed by then and I'll just do without the Tonight Show on the web.