When it comes to advertising and commercials, viewers often don’t give much thought to what commercials they are watching, or even when they’re seeing them. However, as it turns out, there is a rather complex science behind what commercials you see and when you see them.

The primary goal of any commercial is to influence the viewer to purchase or use the product or service being advertised. Therefore, the effectiveness of a commercial relies on the viewership. To increase viewership, the commercial must be aired in times when viewers are most likely to see the commercial, in addition to the commercials being aired regularly throughout the time slot. For example, for a commercial to be completely effective, it should be aired during primetime hours on a major network that many people watch.

To ensure that both the commercial and its sponsoring corporation get the maximum benefit from a similarly effective ad campaign, advertising executives must understand the target audience. Knowing the target audience for a commercial can help them decide which time slots will have the highest viewership and what types of commercials may be more conducive to the target demographic.

When corporations are considering commercial choices, they must also consider the placement of the commercials. Placement refers to the specific episode or program containing the commercial. Many corporations want their products to appear in connection with something that is widely accepted and popular, such as sports or action movies, to increase the chance that viewers will be paying attention to the commercial, remember it, and thus, purchase or use the product or service being advertised.

From choosing the right time slot to understanding the target demographic and selecting the right placement, there is a complex science behind what commercials you see and when you see them. Proper analysis yields the best results, ensuring that corporations get the maximum benefit from their ad campaigns while viewers can enjoy entertaining commercials in the meantime.