Stripping (television)

Strip programming or stripping is a technique used for scheduling television and radio programming to ensure consistency and coherency. Television or radio programs of a particular style (such as a television series) are given a regular time slot during the week, so that it appears as a strip straight across the weekly schedule. For example, radio and television broadcasters may program a news program at rush hours every day, or at least every weekday.

Strip programming is used to deliver consistent content to targeted audiences. Broadcasters know or predict the times at which certain demographics will be listening to or watching their programs and play them at that time. Most television dayparts outside of prime time use strip programming five days a week, with the same programs being broadcast every day at the same time to target specific demographics. Strip programming is sometimes criticized as making programming too predictable, and reducing diversity and uniqueness.

Strip scheduling often applies to any program that airs on multiple consecutive days during the calendar week (most commonly Monday through Friday), whether carried through a television network (such as with a talk show, news program or soap opera) or in syndication. However, it is commonly restricted to describing the airing of television programs that were originally broadcast on a weekly basis during their original run: The West Wing could be stripped but not Jeopardy!, as Jeopardy! was originally intended to be run daily. However, it can also refer to shows in prime time that run daily, such as with the short-lived The Jay Leno Show in 2009 and 2010.

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