Monday night's broadcast of NBC Nightly News featured a modern incarnation of old-school advertelevision — the entire broadcast was "underwritten" by consumer electronics concern Philips, resulting in fewer commercials, thus longer segments. The show only had to stop for three commercials, totaling a scant 1:15 rather than the typical 7:00 of ads for drugs and sensible sedans. Newswatchers were so thrilled with the change that they're buying up new pacemaker batteries by the gross, even if Brian Williams had to pause and briefly demonstrate the BG2020 Men's Bodygroomer by trimming his taint.

What do you think of fewer ads, longer stories? [MSNBC]

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