?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Fpure.iiasa.ac.at%2Fid%2Feprint%2F4512%2F&rft.title=Optimal+Prime-Time+Television+Network+Scheduling&rft.creator=Reddy%2C+S.K.&rft.creator=Aronson%2C+J.E.&rft.creator=Stam%2C+A.&rft.description=This+paper+introduces+SPOT+(Scheduling+of+Programs+Optimally+for+Television)%2C+an+analytical+model+for+optimal+prime-time+TV+program+scheduling.+Due+in+part+to+the+advent+of+new+cable+TV+channels.+the+competition+for+viewer+ratings+has+intensified+substantially+in+recent+years%2C+and+the+revenues+of+the+major+networks+have+not+kept+pace+with+the+costs+of+the+programs.+As+profit+margins+decrease%2C+the+networks+seek+to+improve+their+viewer+ratings+with+innovative+scheduling+strategies.+Our+SPOT+models+for+scheduling+network+programs+combine+predicted+ratings+for+different+combinations+of+prime-time+schedules+with+3+novel%2C+mixed-integer%2C+generalized+network+flow%2C+mathematical+programming+model%2C+which%2C+when+solved%2C+provides+an+optimal+schedule.+In+addition+to+historical+performance%2C+subjective+inputs+from+actual+network+managers+were+used+as+input+to+the+network+flow+optimization+model.+The+optimization+model+is+flexible.+It+can+utilize+the+managers'+input+and+maximize+profit+(instead+of+ratings)+by+considering+not+only+the+revenue+potential+but+also+the+costs+of+the+shows.+Moreover%2C+SPOT+can+describe+the+scheduling+problem+over+any+time+period+(e.g..+day%2C+week+month%2C+season)%2C+and+designate+certain+shows+to%2C+and+restrict+them+from%2C+given+time+slots.+The+methodology+of+SPOT+is+illustrated+using+data+obtained+from+a+cable+network+during+the+first+quarter+of+1990.+The+optimization+model+produces+solutions+which+would+have+generated+an+increase+of+approximately+2+percent+in+overall+profitability%2C+representing+over+%2412+million+annually+for+a+typical+network+with+an+average+Nielsen+rating+of+18.+SPOT+not+only+produces+more+profitable+TV+schedules+for+this+network%2C+but+also+provides+valuable+general+insights+into+the+development+of+mixed+programming+strategies+for+improving+future+schedules.&rft.publisher=WP-95-084&rft.date=1995-08&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=text&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fpure.iiasa.ac.at%2Fid%2Feprint%2F4512%2F1%2FWP-95-084.pdf&rft.identifier=++Reddy%2C+S.K.%2C+Aronson%2C+J.E.%2C+%26+Stam%2C+A.+%3Chttps%3A%2F%2Fpure.iiasa.ac.at%2Fview%2Fiiasa%2F1588.html%3E++(1995).++Optimal+Prime-Time+Television+Network+Scheduling.+++IIASA+Working+Paper.+IIASA%2C+Laxenburg%2C+Austria%3A+WP-95-084+++++