1. A system for providing globally distributed promotional information to television units on a given channel and allowing local promotional information to be inserted in place of the globally distributed promotional information during local insertion opportunities, comprising: means for providing the globally distributed promotional information; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each having an operator, and each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the globally distributed promotional information and providing the globally distributed promotional information to the television units on the given channel so that the globally distributed promotional information is displayed by the television units; and means for providing a given one of the television distribution facilities with local insertion opportunities, the local insertion opportunities being the maximum period of time allowed for the given one of the television distribution facilities to insert local promotional information that is displayed by the television units associated with the given one of the television distribution facilities in place of the globally distributed promotional information, wherein durations of the local insertion opportunities are selected by the operator.