Fox executives didn't mention it in their press conference call yesterday morning, but in the afternoon (after my Friday column was filed), when they presented their fall schedule to advertisers, the execs announced a plan they're calling "remote-free TV."

On two shows next season -- "Fringe" in the fall, "Dollhouse" at midseason -- there will be substantially fewer commercials and promos, maybe just five minutes of ads per hour (plus time for promotional spots).

It's no doubt an effort to draw viewers back to TV, an attempt to be "the populist network," Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said.

According to The Washington Post, "Fringe" and "Dollhouse" will be allowed 46-to-48 minutes of program time per hour. Most shows these days contain just 42 minutes of program.

Under "remote-free TV," that means each hour-long program will have about 12 minutes of ad/promotions, down from 18 minutes for most current one-hour series.