When television executives decide which shows to renew, they do so primarily in terms of the shows' ratings among people aged 25 and under. The expense of television advertising slots makes it crucial for companies to target people who are most likely to purchase their products. Those who make decisions about television advertising believe that people older than 25 almost never change their buying habits. When companies advertise consumer products in print media, they focus primarily on people aged 26 and over.
People aged 46 to 55 spend more money per capita than people of any other age group. So it is puzzling that when companies advertise consumer products on television, they focus almost exclusively on people aged 25 and under. Indeed, those who make decisions about television advertising think that the value of a television advertising slot depends entirely on the number of people aged 25 and under who can be expected to be watching at that time.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the puzzling facts stated above?