MediaPost: Commercial Data Reveals Cable Nets Reserve Best Inventory For Themselves

A Media IQ study reports cable networks generally fail to provide fair rotations of commercials into the favorable "A" slots, as their contracts require. Networks like E!, Comedy Central and VH1 tend to run their own promotional spots in the best inventory slots. But the study also fails to take into account the degree to which these networks run promotional spots versus paid advertising. If E! sold only 29 percent of its avails, then the 71 percent rate of promotional ads in "A" slots would seem appropriate.