free proxy list Programming Free TV Shows
Free TV shows are broadcast by free television networks with oneprimary goal: to capture the greatest number of viewers and hold theirinterest for the longest time.These numbers are then used by thenetworks to persuade advertisers to place their commercials on thesetop-rated shows.
Sounds simple, but this kind of work is not the easiest job in the world.Programmingthe shows on a network has to consider so many factors.Capturing thegreatest number of viewers calls for a judicious spread of programsthat will interest all kinds of viewers.Factors about these viewers -age, gender, and their various cultural, religious, and politicalpersuasions - have to be carefully considered as well.
Veryimportant, too, would be the decision on what time slots these showsare programmed to be aired.Ideally, these would be the time segmentswhen the intended target markets for these free shows are thought to beconcentrated.(Surveys are done to pinpoint the precise time slots forall kinds of audience groupings.)
In short, the free TV showsthat you love so much are not there on a whim or through sheerluck.They are there precisely to MAKE you watch them at such a precisetime.
The following are some programming strategies that make upthe various decision points that network executives consider when theyair these shows.
Dayparting
Dayparting isthe practice of dividing the day into several parts.After which, theyassign particular shows to air in these time divisions (with the helpof survey results) hoping to catch and hold the interest of theaudience.
Tent pole programming
Here, theprogrammers identify the network's hit series and place two unknown orweak shows on either side of the program.Usually, the strength of thehit series (the network's tent pole) brings the other programs to rategood as well.
In the movies and in TV network programming, a tentpole is a film or a flagship series which is heavily promoted (andinvested on) and is expected to hold up everything that the moviestudio or TV network had produced.
The term is borrowed from theold traveling circus shows where tents were constructed in each townthey went to.The big circus tent was largely held up by the main tentpole in the center.
Hammocking
Workinglike a real hammock, this is the physical opposite of tent poleprogramming.This time, an unpopular program is aired in-between two hitshows, sort of "hammocking" the weak show using the two popular hits.
The main goal, of course, is to gather bigger audience or viewers to the weak show, carried as it is by two popular shows.
Counterprogramming
Thisprogramming strategy is usually employed by rival networks out toderail the competitor's program.It is airing a totally differentprogram that appeals to another group of audience.The goal is todiminish or wipe out a big portion of the rival's audience share.
Hotswitching
Theprogrammers deliberately remove any break between two consecutiveshows; one ends and the next one immediately begins.The tactical aim issimply to leave the audience no chance to change channels duringprogram or station breaks.
Bridging
Thisis somewhat similar to hot switching, with the same objective:preventing the viewer to change stations.Programs are run late so theviewers miss out the start of a rival program.Or, the next show isadvertised during the showing of credits of the previous show.
Today,most free TV shows are run and managed through a combination of thesetime-tested programming strategies.For the viewers, the promise of moreprogramming innovations in the future is always worth the wait.
Article Tags: Tent Pole
