What is "Hammocking" in the context of programming strategies?

In programming strategies, "hammocking" refers specifically to the practice of scheduling a weaker or less popular program between two strong or highly rated shows. This strategy can be effective because it allows the weaker program to benefit from the strong leads, ideally retaining the audience that might otherwise switch channels during that time slot. By placing a program with lower ratings in this "hammock," networks hope to boost its viewership by associating it with the more popular shows before and after it.

This technique can be a part of more extensive strategies to elevate the status of a less popular program and is particularly useful for promoting new or underperforming content in an otherwise competitive programming landscape. The aim is to create a sort of safety net for the weaker show, taking advantage of the audience influx generated by the successful shows framing it.