Infomercials are television commercials that run as long as a typical television program. Infomercials, also known as pai programming (or teleshopping in Europe), are normally shown outside of peak hours, such as daytime or late night/early morning (usually 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Some television stations have undertaken to air such programming as an alternative to the former practice of sign-off.