Splintering of the Consumer Market

Before the 2010 Super Bowl, what was the most watched television show? Surprisingly, it was the final episode of "M-A-S-H." The record stood for over 25 years, even with a growing population. In 1983 there were essentially three networks, so the television audience didn’t have many choices. This was a marketer’s dream. Not only could you reach a massive audience, but you could count on these significant shared experiences as common points of reference.