Why do so many cable channels show "block" programming?

[debodun]

a.k.a. a marathon
Examples
"Seinfeld" aired for a 6 hour block, "Three's Company" on for 5 hours, "M*A*S*H' has a 4 hour block.
On holidays, some channels devote the whole day to episodes of one program.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Maybe you haven’t paid for the channels so they don’t show up ? I don’t know

 

[Paladin1950]

Oh, I never complain about that many episodes of Seinfeld back to back. I get a bag of popcorn or something similar, and just sit and laugh. No matter how many times I've seen the episodes.

 

[Paladin1950]

a.k.a. a marathon
Examples
"Seinfeld" aired for a 6 hour block, "Three's Company" on for 5 hours, "M*A*S*H' has a 4 hour block.
On holidays, some channels devote the whole day to episodes of one program.

This has been going on for years. Especially with The Big Bang Theory.

 

[Nathan]

a.k.a. a marathon
Examples
"Seinfeld" aired for a 6 hour block, "Three's Company" on for 5 hours, "M*A*S*H' has a 4 hour block.
On holidays, some channels devote the whole day to episodes of one program.

Two things come to mind, local market demand, and the cable company could get a favorable contract for that programming.