Sailor Moon effect

In 2016, the anime Sailor Moon began to see success on U.S. syndicated television, becoming the first non-E/I children's television program to see success on U.S. syndicated television in nearly 20 years. The success also branched out into new merchandising and helped boost sales of the already existing merchandise such as T-shirts and DVD's.

Accomplishments for the franchise as a result of the effect
In mid-2016, four restaurants (Sonic, Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's) had given away toys based off the show, a feat that has never been accomplished before by any anime that has been exported to North America, or any syndicated childrens program for that matter. Later that year, Jack in the Box, Arby's, KFC and Taco Bell, (all of whom have not done licensed tie-ins since their Yo Gabba Gabba!, The Mr. Men Show, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie and Almost Naked Animals promotions, respectively) gave away toys based on the show, making it the shortest time tie-ins based off an anime appeared at nationwide restaurants that have/had licensed tie-ins in kids' meals.

Examples of it's success for the stations airing it
When Winter Storms Nico and Orson struck the Eastern United States on (respectively) February 9 and 11, 2017, WNQT (the station credited with starting the "effect") held unannounced marathons of Sailor Moon SuperS and Sailor Moon Crystal (two seasons of the Sailor Moon anime) on said days to entertain children who were grounded by the bad weather.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah in 2016, Sailor Moon aired the whole day on WSSN in Boston and only three other shows (Vision99 NewsBeat, Hee Haw: Return to the Kornfield, and three cherry-picked episodes of ULTRA Guts) aired throughout the festivities.

Stations airing the series

 * WSSN
 * WDOSP
 * XRKOMR
 * WNQT