A Novel System for Automatic Detection of TV Commercial Breaks

Authors

Keywords:

TV Commercial Break Detection, Image Hashing, Video Hashing

Abstract

This paper explores the problem of automating the detection of commercial breaks in live broadcasts and video recordings, distinguishing them from regular channel content with a focus on the use of visual signals, commonly referred to as “bumpers”, to clearly distinguish commercial content from regular programming. Accurate measurement of commercial break duration is crucial for regulatory compliance, ensuring timely airing for advertisers, and maintaining verifiable records for broadcasters.  Through an examination of regulatory frameworks in various countries, such as Spain, Uruguay, and the United States, this paper discusses how these regulations are applied and explores the potential for automated detection technologies to aid broadcasters and regulators in monitoring compliance. The paper describes the results of the implementation of a system for automatic TV advertising detection, including its design and performance analysis.

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Author Biographies

Nicolas Rondan, Universidad de Montevideo

NICOLAS RONDAN holds a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh awarded in 2018 and a Bachelor's degree in Telematics Engineering from Universidad de Montevideo, 2014. Currently, he serves as a Senior R&D Team Leader at Digital Sense, specializing in computer vision and machine learning, with a strong focus on deep learning and optimization algorithms. He is also a lecturer in computer vision at Universidad de Montevideo, has contributed as a researcher to several academic projects and is enrolled in a Ph.D program in Electrical Engineering at Universidad Católica del Uruguay.

Marcos Juayek, Universidad de Montevideo

MARCOS JUAYEK was born in Salto, Uruguay, in 1989. He received a Master's degree in Applied Research in Engineering from Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay, in 2020, and a degree in Telematics Engineering from the same university in 2012. He is currently a Solution Architect and Business Development Lead at Quantum-South and a Director at Viento Fortuna. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership roles in software development, logistics, and business development, combining technical expertise with strategic vision to deliver innovative solutions. His research and professional work include optimization algorithms, video quality assessment, and applications in digital television and artificial vision. He has co-authored several scientific publications and participated in projects related to digital television for the Uruguayan government. He is also a Scrum Master (PSMI), certified by Scrum.org.

Jose Joskowicz, Universidad de Montevideo and Universidad de la Republica

JOSE JOSKOWICZ. (M’09, SM’10) was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1969. He received the Ph.D. degree in Telematics Engineering from Universidad de Vigo, Spain, in 2012. He is an Electronics Engineer specialized in Telecommunications from Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay since 1995. He is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Montevideo and Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay, a member of the National Researchers System, and a Consulting Engineer at Isbel. Throughout his professional career, he has conducted various consultancy projects and has led the design and implementation of various national and international projects in the field of information and communication technologies. His research interests include multimedia applications and quality of experience. Dr. Joskowicz is internationally certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute.

Rafael Sotelo, Universidad de Montevideo

RAFAEL SOTELO. (M’05, SM’13) holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Vigo, Spain, an MBA from Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay, and an Electrical Engineer degree from Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay. He is the Dean of Engineering at Universidad de Montevideo. Cofounder and President at Quantum-South. He has been an Administrative Committee Member at the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, and a Distinguished Lecturer and Board of Governors Member at the IEEE Consumer Technology Society.

Santiago Quincke, Universidad de Montevideo

Santiago Quincke is a Telematics Engineer, graduated in 2024 from Universidad de Montevideo. He has extensive experience in software development, specializing in front-end and back-end technologies. Currently, he works as a Software Developer at Quanam, contributing to innovative solutions in a hybrid work environment.

Andres Patrone , Universidad de Montevideo

Andres Patrone is a Telematics Engineer, graduated in 2024 from Universidad de Montevideo, with a strong interest in information and communication technologies (ICT), programming, data networks, and telecommunications infrastructure. He is currently an Industrial Automation Engineer at Secoin. Previously, he worked as a Software Developer at ANII and Qualabs

Maximiliano Aguerre , Universidad de Montevideo

Maximiliano Aguerre is a Telematics Engineer, graduated in 2024 from the Universidad de Montevideo. He is currently a Technical Engineer at Foxsys.

Gastón Gonzalez , Universidad de Montevideo

Gastón Gonzalez is a Telematics Engineer, graduated in 2024 from Universidad de Montevideo. He is currently a Full Stack AI Developer at Effectus Software, where he specializes in building and integrating artificial intelligence solutions into full-stack applications

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Published

2025-10-01

How to Cite

Rondan, N., Juayek, M., Joskowicz, J., Sotelo, R., Quincke, S., Patrone , A., Aguerre , M., & Gonzalez , G. (2025). A Novel System for Automatic Detection of TV Commercial Breaks. IEEE Latin America Transactions, 23(11), 1109–1120. Retrieved from https://latamt.ieeer9.org/index.php/transactions/article/view/9985

Issue

Section

Electronics