I think this is going to be the trend from here on out. The cable networks and cable premium channels are already airing " half-seasons " and rotating them out twice a year. Shows like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, The Borgias, etc. either split their 20 episodes up into two runs per year or run only 10 episodes a year. SciFi ( refuse the SyFy moniker ) have been doing this for years and they started that way back with Stargate. Running 10 episodes allows them to get better deals on programming and allows them to try out twice as many shows to see if one sticks. Both Showtime and HBO as well as AMC ( Walking Dead ), TNT ( Falling Skies ), USA, etc. rotate out 10 episodes four times a year and introduce new series at least twice a year.
I don't think breaks in airing shows has as much impact now, with DVRs, as it did before we had the ability to schedule recordings based on program name. The only impact it might have is with folks that were " on the fence " about devoting time to watching a program. Most of those folks will see the break as an opportunity to delete it and move on. I did that with the new V series. Watched the first set of 10 episodes and decided that the characters would always be two-dimensional and wooden. 10 episodes went by without a single visitor swallowing a rat. It would have been nice to see Anna ( Morena Baccarin ) swallow a rat.