The average hour-long program is 40-45 minutes once all the commercials are removed. Think about that, up to 1/3 of scheduled show is dedicated to advertising. I'm sure if you go back 10-15 years it was 1/4 and before that it was 1/5. This doesn't even count the inshow advertising that goes on.
It seems to be a sensible idea, I agree. But like government projects, sensible ideas tend to metastasize.
I disagree.
Speaking of PBS Nova specifically, the shows are 56 minutes (give or take 3min) long once commercials are removed.
I know this because I download my media and the commercials are removed for me so all I do to see how long a show is, is look at the remaining-time in VLC.
I wasn't speaking of PBS, but of normal network television. PBS shows usually run up to the mark or just a few minutes short to allow local stations to run their own advertising.