In broadcasting religious programming, the Odyssey Channel operates as a business, much the same as other television networks. Individual production companies create and develop programs to sell to television or cable network companies, who in turn invest in the programs they hope will be successful on air. For primetime network television programming, staying on the air translates to large loyal audiences which advertisers covet. Think, for example, of Frasier or Friends , two popular, long-running television programs. A large viewing audience brings high Nielsen ratings.
High ratings allow a network to charge more for advertising time.
A long-running program, then, contributes to the network's bottom line by attracting advertising. Even a cursory reading of media trade journals such as Variety and the Hollywood Reporter reveals the urgency for network success as the networks acquire and develop new programming. For some networks, their creative and technical talents, coupled with their ability to find and air popular programming, make success almost inevitable. Others struggle to build audiences for their shows. The Odyssey Channel faces similar challenges.