Accelerating the flow: A transition effect in programming theory?

Examination of 240 transitions between prime‐time programs on the four broadcast networks demonstrated the existence of a modest transition effect and revealed differences in transitions over time, suggesting that a transition effect associates with the new fall network schedules but not with familiar spring schedules. It showed that program endings had a significant impact on duplicated viewers in subsequent programs but that standardization of approaches to program starts had taken place in the early 1990s. As the locus of control shifts between the industry and the viewers, transitional strategies have joined lead‐in ratings and competitive factors as significant impacts in models of inherited viewership and audience choice.