MTV and TBS were never commercial-free. MTV perhaps had a lack of commercials when it first came on the air until it could prove its audience, but I don't believe they were intentionally commercial-free.
TBS has always run commercials, even dating back to the days when it was known at WTCG, Superstation 17. Most notably were the number of per-inquiry product purchase commercials run on the station, where orders would all go to the same P.O. box in Atlanta.
Re:
TBS has always run commercials, even dating back to the days when it was known at WTCG, Superstation 17. Most notably were the number of per-inquiry product purchase commercials run on the station, where orders would all go to the same P.O. box in Atlanta.
That said, these days TBS is speeding up the play of programs like Seinfeld to increase the number of commercials they can play, which is just obscene to think about. http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/19/cable-networks-speeding-up-shows/
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