Final answer:
The term for the television time period available to local stations right before or after network programming is called Adjacencies, which can be used for local programming and targeted advertising. Affiliates are local stations that carry the national network programming and fill these valuable slots with local content or ads.
Step-by-step explanation:
The television time period available to local stations right before or after network programming is known as Adjacencies. These slots are valuable for local stations as they attract viewers who are either tuning in early for or continuing to watch after a network show. Affiliates are local stations that broadcast national network programming and often fill adjacencies with local news or other programming that caters to the local market. The priority for these stations is to adhere to the scheduling given by their associated national network, such as ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox, but they do have the flexibility to inform their viewers about urgent local issues through these slots.
Given the powerful reach of television, with most U.S. households owning a TV and the significant number of hours spent watching it, companies find television advertising through these local and national broadcasts an effective way to reach their target demographic. Television advertising is strategically used during these adjacencies to maximize the impact of marketing efforts. Local and national sponsors can tailor their advertising during these slots based on sophisticated viewer data provided by the television companies.