While Antenna TV's credit crunch isn't nearly as bad as what a lot of other channels do with the end credits of reruns, and I just disagree with the decision to not watch a show you'd otherwise watch because of the crunch, I do hate it. I wouldn't mind it so much if it was like it was for Antenna's primetime shows, where the opening and closing seconds of the theme are left alone and the middle part is pushed to the side while a promo airs. I mean, I'd like it if the end credits were left alone altogether, like MeTV does, but the opening and closing seconds are better than nothing, and it also lets the opening credits of the next show air full-screen.

Well, this afternoon I tuned into Antenna and it turns out they were doing just that. The credit crunch was how it was when Antenna first started doing it; the end of the first show in the back-to-back block had the crunch, but the end of the second one was left alone. Mostly, anyway. There was the promo like during prime time shows, but it was still nice to hear the first few moments of the One Day at a Time end theme, for example, or to see the Three's a Crowd theme full-screen, or to see the familiar early '80s Paramount mountain. I wondered if this was a new switch, coinciding with the start of Antenna's fall schedule this past Monday. Fridays are my day off from work, so it's the only time I see Antenna during the day.

Alas, starting with the second Family Ties episode, Antenna was back to the full-time credit crunch again, for both shows. So I'm guessing this was just a mistake, never to be repeated again (much like when someone was asleep at the switch for the first few episodes in their One Day at a Time marathon when Pat Harrington Jr. passed away; the end credits were completely untouched). Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.

Mike

I've noticed that in July and August of this year, the noon (CT) showings of "Leave it to Beaver" always had the opening credits intact and full-screen, unlike the rest of the shows around that time block. For the ending they were doing as you mentioned, though, where only portions of the closing theme played before a promo pushed it aside.

But on a few occasions, the ending credits were complete as well without a credit-crunch to be seen. I thought that was great that "Beaver" was getting such high respect for a show not even in prime time. I'm not sure if this is still going on anymore since I unfortunately haven't been able to catch it lately.

I then got to thinking about the cutoff between the "moderate" and "severe" variations of credit-crunching. and wondered if it came down to episode run time. Seeing as the prime-time block is predominantly '70s-'80s shows, I would guess their run times are a few minutes shorter than the morning/afternoon '50s/'60s shows, and thus the newer shows can afford to show a bit more of the theme while filling the same time.

On that note I'm guessing Antenna's episode prints of "Beaver" are heavily edited and run even shorter than usual, but I can't be sure since I never timed it. All this is just speculation though.

Of course as time goes on I'm sure things will get worse where editing and crunching is concerned, as Antenna TV and friends yield to the wealthy advertisers at the expense of the viewers. :rolleyes:

It's possible Beaver doesn't have the split screen crunch because the opening is shorter than most of the other shows. If they crunched like the did in primetime on all their shows it's possible I would still watch even though I don't like that kind of crunching either. I wouldn't even mind that crunch if they just displayed a still silent ad or silent video while the main closing theme is still playing. What bothers me about the crunch is I don't get to hear the closing theme. But the split screen crunch that is done on most of their shows is just unacceptable. I want to finish one show before I start another. I don't like the opening credits being crunched into that little window either. It's just a shame Antenna gets all the good shows while MeTV gets mostly crummy ones or ones I already have on DVD.

It's possible Beaver doesn't have the split screen crunch because the opening is shorter than most of the other shows.
That might be the cause; I've never thought about that before.

I want to finish one show before I start another. I don't like the opening credits being crunched into that little window either.
I agree 100%. It's hard to believe that Antenna TV's original slogan was "TV how it was meant to be"! :eek: Times have changed, and not for the better...