Final answer:
The lack of penetration is a disadvantage of cable television for advertisers, as it does not reach as broad an audience as network television, which has a more uniform and wider viewership through its over-the-air broadcasts and local affiliates. Thus, the option A is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
For advertisers, the lack of penetration is one disadvantage of cable television as compared to network television. While cable networks are capable of specializing and targeting specific audience groups due to the advanced data regarding their viewers, cable television does not reach as wide an audience as network television, which can broadcast over airwaves and have many local affiliates across major cities.
Cable is a niche medium that thrives on specialized content and subscriber fees. Although some channels like USA, TNT, Fox News, A&E, and ESPN can draw large numbers of viewers, the overall reach of cable is still less compared to network television's broader audience. One of the main impacts of cables' specialization is that it leads to a more fragmented audience, which can be a disadvantage in terms of advertising reach compared to the more uniform and larger audience of network television.