Will This Strategy Allow Cable TV to Succeed Where Network TV Has Failed?

AMC Networks now has "aftershows" tied to its two most popular dramas, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. It's an old strategy that may be paying off at a level network TV executives might find distressing, says Fool contributor Tim Beyers in the following video.

We've seen aftershows since the heyday of MTV. More recently, Discovery Communications found a ratings winner in the aftershow, Shark After Dark.

The show, and AMC's comparables -- Talking Bad and Talking Dead -- have become important for engaging those on social media who've just watched live, and who therefore might be willing to keep watching live, Tim says.

Having this sort of live audience can be a boon for ad rates. Look at Breaking Bad. A recent report in The New York Times says the show is commanding network TV ad rates, which can range from $200,000 or more for a 30-second spot.

Should we expect a broader narrowing of the gulf between network and cable-TV ad rates? Which stocks stand to benefit if so? Tim addresses these questions in the video, so please watch for more.

And keep researching. The $2.2 trillion war to entertain you is in its nascent stages, after all. Our analysts give you a closer look at all the combatants in a new special report, and then name three stocks they believe will benefit most. Click here to get your copy of their research now -- it's free.

The article Will This Strategy Allow Cable TV to Succeed Where Network TV Has Failed? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Time Warner at the time of publication. Check out Tim's web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends AMC Networks and Discovery Communications. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.