Question Episode run-times were 42-43 minutes, why not 45? Was it a network time limit?

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Angelus Domini

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When Buffy was transfered to another network, it was still running on 42 minutes each episode.

Angel ran on 43.

What's up with it being 42 or 43? Was it the maximum limit or something? Because most shows last for 45 minutes if it were to surpass the 40 minute mark.
 
Actually, it's fairly usual for US shows to run something between 40-43 minutes. It has to do with advertisements. I can't think of any show (except Dollhouse's first season) to run longer than that.
 
"Once More, With Passion" was significantly longer, of course.

Note though when you're watching them on Region One DVDs, they don't have the 'previously' on them. That could run a minute or so.
 
Well I'm sure the network would request a more-or-less fixed length, in order to schedule advertising in advance. Not knowing how long the episode would be would mean they wouldn't know how many ads to schedule.

The thing is that both networks Buffy was on (I can't remember their names - I'm not American - WB and what?) were broadcast networks - in other words advertising was their sole source of revenue. Programs that air on HBO for example can be longer because HBO gets its revenue from subscribers.
 
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