system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why do TV shows take seemingly random breaks in the middle of a season?

I understand if there's something big on (sports, Oscar's, Presidential address, etc.) that would divert views. But it seems like it happens a lot, and for other reasons. Doesn't this inconsistency hurt views?
gpt
The season consists of more weeks than there are episodes in a standard season buy (20-26, depending on the network). While ratings are kept all year, ad rates are typically set during the "sweeps" periods in which larger samples are collected: November, February and May (and the summer sweeps in July).


TV seasons are timed to begin shortly before the November sweeps, in order to give new shows a shot a building some audience and increasing their ratings and therefore their profitability.  They end with the May sweeps, so that the ratings are being set during big, season-ending content in which they pull out all the stops.  February is the time midseason where you see shocking plot twists, big guest stars, etc. 


The higher the ratings during this period, the more money the shows make.  It's in the network's interest to break up the seasons so they can keep viewers watching for 30ish weeks while still buying the lowest number of episodes they can get away with.