Dayparting is the practice of dividing the

day into several parts, during each of which

a different type of radio programming or
television programming appropriate for that
time is aired. Programs are most often
geared toward a particular demographic,
and what the target audience typically
engages in at that time.
Television Dayparts

Early morning – 7 to 10 am
Daytime -- 10 am to 5 pm
Early fringe -- 5pm to 7pm
Prime Access -- 7pm to 8 pm
Prime Time -- 8pm to 11pm
Late fringe – 11pm to 1130
Late night -- 11.30pm to 12.30 am
Overnight -- 12.30am to 7 am
 Theming
Having special theme days (such as
for a holiday), or theme weeks such
as Discovery Channel's "Shark
Week".
 Stripping
Running a syndicated television series
every day of the week. It is commonly
restricted to describing the airing of
shows which were weekly in their first
run; The West Wing could be stripped,
but not Jeopardy!, as daily is the
schedule for which it is intended.
Stacking is a technique used to
develop audience flow by grouping
together programs with similar
appeals to "sweep" the viewer
along from one program to the next
(Vane and Gross, 1994, p.175).
Counterprogramming is used when
a time period is filled with a
program whose appeal is different
from the opponent program
because it is a different genre or
appeals to a different demographic.
Bridging is being used when a station tries to
prevent the audience from changing channels
during a junction point - the main evening breaks
where all channels stop programs and shift gear.
This is achieved in a number of ways including:
having a program already underway and
something compelling happening at a junction
point, running a program late so that people
‘hang around’ and miss the start of other
programs, or advertising the next program
during the credits of the previous.
Tentpoling
In tent pole programming the
programmers bank on a well-known
series having so much audience appeal
that they can place two unknown series
on either side, and it is the strength of
the central program that will bring the
others along to victory.
Hammocking
A technique used by broadcasters
whereby an unpopular program is
scheduled between two popular ones in
the hope that viewers will watch it.
Public-service broadcasters use this as
a way of promoting serious but
valuable content.
 Crossprogramming
Cross-programming involves the
interconnection of two shows. This
is achieved by dragging a storyline
over two episodes of two different
programs.
 Hotswitching
In hotswitching, the programmers
eliminate any sort of commercial break
when one program ends and another
begins; this immediately hooks the
audience into watching the next
program without a chance to change
the channel between programs.