Annoying R3 Trailers

[Ein Heldenleben]

BBC uses promo and trailer apparemment (or did - that was 2017):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38919482

That piece would have probably been writing by an online journalist not a tv or radio producer . Let’s put it this way in thirty four years in 10 different departments I never heard any one use the word trailer but I must have heard the word trail every day unfortunately. I even witnessed a spectacular row when a R2 news producer dropped“ the f***ing sports trail “. I kid you not.
In a competitive environment it’s amazing how the trivial takes on a life of its own.
But there are very many areas I didn’t work in and it’s perfectly possible that others use different terms .
Incidentally there were a lot of people in the Beeb who thought those anti -English rugby trails a big mistake esp the fee fi fo fum one which seemed to encourage on pitch violence.

[french frank]

Etymologically speaking, I think 'promo' is more appropriate, as it implies moving forward ('pro - motion') to the full-length programme. But I'm beginning to sound like Margo in 'The Good Life' who imitated the Christmas Cracker by saying 'crack!' instead of 'bang!' '...because crack is the stem of cracker'.

Maybe we should have a thread on 'conversation-stopping remarks'.

BBC uses promo and trailer apparemment (or did - that was 2017):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38919482

[Ein Heldenleben]

Etymologically speaking, I think 'promo' is more appropriate, as it implies moving forward ('pro - motion') to the full-length programme. But I'm beginning to sound like Margo in 'The Good Life' who imitated the Christmas Cracker by saying 'crack!' instead of 'bang!' '...because crack is the stem of cracker'.

Maybe we should have a thread on 'conversation-stopping remarks'.

Promo is an American term . I’ve sometimes heard it used in broadcasting usually to refer to the presenter live promoting an upcoming programme .Thie is also called a “talk up “or “talking up.”Interestingly this is often thought to be the most effective form of plugging a programme and as a consequence it is now somewhat overdone.It happens on Radio 3 a lot.

I ought to write a book on this but no one would buy it. There are so many TV jargon terms that a lot of the better run programmes run a multi page glossary for new people . Believe it or not the terms for the same thing vary across different places because people insist on using the brand name for a device rather than what it does . So what is an Aston in one place is chyron (that’s going back a bit) in another. This is the device that puts a caption on a picture.

[smittims]

Etymologically speaking, I think 'promo' is more appropriate, as it implies moving forward ('pro - motion') to the full-length programme. But I'm beginning to sound like Margo in 'The Good Life' who imitated the Christmas Cracker by saying 'crack!' instead of 'bang!' '...because crack is the stem of cracker'.

Maybe we should have a thread on 'conversation-stopping remarks'.

[french frank]

....our guru, our guru we bow down to your regathered powers....

Me especially. What about promos? Or is that too like Proms?

[oddoneout]

As we are getting into linguistics - the verbal construct used in broadcasting is to “trail ahead” there is no “trailer ahead” equivalent. Trail as in a short clip for promotion purposes is in all the modern dictionaries. But then what do broadcasters know ? In Radio 1 they used to spell segue - “Segway”

The power of advertising... Mind you it does mean that the pronunciation is consistent!

[Ein Heldenleben]

In my ignorance (or indifference to precision on the matter) I'm pretty sure I use "trailer" in respect of both cinema films and radio programmes. It is not an appealing word - conjuring up an image of an entirely functional wheeled receptacle towed along by a tractor. Neither does its use to refer to a preview seem appropriate, since a trail is essentially something which comes after something else .

As we are getting into linguistics - the verbal construct used in broadcasting is to “trail ahead” there is no “trailer ahead” equivalent. Trail as in a short clip for promotion purposes is in all the modern dictionaries. But then what do broadcasters know ? In Radio 1 they used to spell segue - “Segway”

[oddoneout]

In my ignorance (or indifference to precision on the matter) I'm pretty sure I use "trailer" in respect of both cinema films and radio programmes. It is not an appealing word - conjuring up an image of an entirely functional wheeled receptacle towed along by a tractor. Neither does its use to refer to a preview seem appropriate, since a trail is essentially something which comes after something else .

Or something laid out beforehand to lead you on - in whatever way you choose to interpret that...

[gurnemanz]

In my ignorance (or indifference to precision on the matter) I'm pretty sure I use "trailer" in respect of both cinema films and radio programmes. It is not an appealing word - conjuring up an image of an entirely functional wheeled receptacle towed along by a tractor. Neither does its use to refer to a preview seem appropriate, since a trail is essentially something which comes after something else .

[Old Grumpy]

Many years ago I was corrected by a horsy woman when I referred to the equine conveyance towed behind a vehicle as a horse box. "You mean a trailer" she said - a horse box is apparently one of those clapped out lorries one sees being driven at a top speed of 20mph in county counties.

[Serial_Apologist]

To me "trailers" are things towed behind vehicles, and sometimes conjures up the rather unpleasant term "trailer trash". If we are going to be inaccurate, then why not "adverts", which at least has the merit of being less likely to cause confusion with traffic or healthy outdoor pursuits. It's also what they are as far as I'm concerned.

As long as not adverTISEments!

[oddoneout]

”You say trails , I say trailers ..let’s call the whole thing off “ as Ira Gershwin didn’t quite put it….

To me "trailers" are things towed behind vehicles, and sometimes conjures up the rather unpleasant term "trailer trash". If we are going to be inaccurate, then why not "adverts", which at least has the merit of being less likely to cause confusion with traffic or healthy outdoor pursuits. It's also what they are as far as I'm concerned.

[eighthobstruction]

Perhaps a little leeway from technical exactitude may be tolerated so all - near and far - know what the thread is about?

However if there is a majority view in favour of changing it back, happy to do that too, using my newly regathered powers

Don't get all Evangelical mate....yeah, yeah, we'll all start believing in God, and carving aphorism on the door of R£3 kunst....

....our guru, our guru we bow down to your regathered powers....

[Ein Heldenleben]

Perhaps a little leeway from technical exactitude may be tolerated so all - near and far - know what the thread is about?

However if there is a majority view in favour of changing it back, happy to do that too, using my newly regathered powers

”You say trails , I say trailers ..let’s call the whole thing off “ as Ira Gershwin didn’t quite put it….

[Old Grumpy]

Perhaps a little leeway from technical exactitude may be tolerated so all - near and far - know what the thread is about?

However if there is a majority view in favour of changing it back, happy to do that too, using my newly regathered powers

It appears we have all lost the trail...


...perhaps richardfinegold can guide us out