Final answer:
The 'sandwich' programming strategy involves placing an unpopular show between two popular shows to increase viewership. Networks use this technique for newer or risky programs, such as the risky decision to commission 'The Simpsons'. The strategy, however, faces challenges due to the changing media landscape with cable and the Internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
A technique that puts an unpopular program between two popular programs in the hope that viewers will watch it is often referred to as a 'sandwich' programming strategy. This approach capitalizes on the audience's tendency to stay tuned through a less popular show due to inertia, or because they are looking forward to the next popular program. Television networks have been known to employ this strategy as a way to boost viewership for new or struggling shows.
Using this technique, networks and channels that may be doing poorly in the ratings can take risks with unusual and potentially risky programs. For example, the Fox network's decision to commission The Simpsons was considered risky at the time, yet the show went on to achieve significant success and deliver pointed political messages, highlighting how figures of authority might not always have the public's best interests at heart.
The past few decades have seen great changes in how media is consumed, with the invention of cable in the 1980s and the expansion of the Internet in the 2000s. Such advances have made it easier for viewers to bypass traditional viewing habits and commercial breaks, which in turn impacts how effectively political and news content reaches the public, as evidenced by the falling viewership numbers for events like the president's State of the Union address.