• 1 Types of Television Programming
    • 1.1 Network programming
      • original programming funded by, produced for, and distributed by the major TV and cable networks
    • 1.2 cable programming
      • originates and distributes directly to its franchisees
    • 1.3 syndication
      • TV programming sold by distribution companies to local TV stations and cable services
      • off-network
      • first-run
    • 1.4 local origination
      • programs produced by local TV stations or cable companies for their own viewers
      • local news
      • local sports
      • local talk shows
  • 2 Network Television Programming
    • 2.1 Television Networks
      • Big Four
        • CBS
        • NBC
        • ABC
        • Fox
      • Netlets
        • CW
          • WB
          • UPN
        • MyNetwork TV
        • Paxson
      • Affiliate System
        • 200 independently owned stations
        • national coverage
        • large audiences for national advertisers
        • affiliate agreements with a network
          • network compensation
          • affiliates charge retransmission consent fees
          • networks allow affiliates to sell additional ad time during network programs
          • cleared vs. preempted programming
    • 2.2 Broadcast Season
      • Fall
        • late-September
        • mid-December
      • Spring
        • late-January
        • beginning of May
      • runs
        • once 39 episodes
        • most common is 22 episodes
          • 6 or 13 guaranteed
          • if 6, then order 7 more for 13
          • if performing well, order “back 9”
        • short runs for cable
          • as few as 6
          • as many as 13
    • 2.3 Production
      • Majors (Movie Studios)
        • Sony
        • Twentieth Television
        • Warner Brothers
        • Paramount
        • NBC Universal
        • Walt Disney Studios
      • Independents
        • Chuck Lorre
          • Two and Half Men
          • Big Bang Theory
        • Dick Wolf
          • Law and Order
        • Jerry Bruckheimer
          • Amazing Race
          • CSI
        • Imagine Entertainment
    • 2.4 Program Development
      • the “pitch”
        • written synopsis
        • concept
        • script
      • development
        • producers
        • agents
        • lawyers
      • “step-deal” for a “property”
        • producer holds option to develop the program
        • studio accepts project for development
          • right of first refusal
          • revise or “punch up” the script
          • creates a “log line”
        • network orders a “pilot” episode
        • producer produces a pilot
        • network evaluates pilot
          • test audiences
          • program executives
          • orders changes or cancels development
        • series appears on network schedules
    • 2.5 Production is Expensive
      • multipart network miniseries
        • common on HBO and Showtime
        • cost between $7–12 million per hour
      • movies of the week
        • “made for cable”
        • cost $5–8 million per hour
        • personal tragedy, disease
      • hour-long dramatic series
        • adventure
        • action
        • cost $2.5 and 4 million per hour
      • half-hour comedies
        • situation comedies
        • cost $1.5–3 million per hour
      • reality television programs
        • game shows
        • news documentaries
        • competition programs
  • 3 Cable Programming
    • 3.1 Theatrical Movies
      • released to cable a year after theatrical
      • multipay platforms
      • exclusive deals with pay channels
      • package deals with studios
    • 3.2 Original Movies
      • keeps cable channels competitive
      • couples cable showing with theatrical run
    • 3.3 Cable Series
      • regularly scheduled high profile series
      • more TV production is for cable than network
      • lower costs than broadcast networks
        • independent production companies
        • runaway productions outside California and New York
      • shorter runs
      • more frequent showings
  • 4 Public Television Programming
    • 4.1 Public Broadcasting System
      • member stations
      • charges members a fee
      • funds production of programs
      • stations decide what and when to broadcast, unlike network model
      • “core schedule”
      • reruns contribute to cumulative audience
    • 4.2 programming
      • news and public affairs
      • cultural programs
      • children’s programming
      • special interest shows
      • “the idea of providing the public with an independent point of view is sometimes controversial” (Dominick, Messere, Sherman)
  • 5 Syndication
    • 5.1 marketplace
      • insatiable hunger for content
      • syndicators: companies that sell programs directly to stations
      • estimated to be $9 billion annual business
      • buyers: stations that acquire content from syndicators
        • local television stations
        • cable services
      • programming
        • movies
        • network reruns
        • talk shows
        • music videos
        • how-to shows
        • competition series
    • 5.2 NAPTE Convention
      • National Association of Television Programming Executives
      • early January
      • trade show for connecting syndicators and buyers
      • mostly US-based but increasingly international
    • 5.3 MIPCOM markets
      • normally in October
      • Cannes
      • largest international television syndication market
      • also MIPTV in the summer
    • 5.4 movies
      • usually sold in packages
      • arrangement in the post-World War II era
        • television stations need content
        • movie studios needed revenue from people staying home watching TV
      • pricing varies
        • “A” pictures
        • “B” movies
    • 5.5 off-network syndication
      • programs once on a network
      • pricing varies
        • size of television market
        • popularity of show in network run
        • number of programs available
      • stripping
        • historically 100 episodes is necessary
        • ideal number is 130 episodes
        • 260 weekdays a year
        • showing a series each weeknight in a daypart
    • 5.6 first-run syndication
      • programs that debut that did not premiere on a network
      • cheap and easy-to-produce
        • game shows
        • talk shows
      • occasional dramatic series
    • 5.7 syndication payments
      • cash
      • barter
        • syndicator provides the program
          • free
          • reduced cost (“cash plus”)
        • syndicator places own ads
    • 5.8 market clearance
      • syndicators try to patch together many markets
      • large market clearance means large national audience for advertisers
  • 6 Local Origination
    • 6.1 local television stations producing own programming
      • local news
      • local talk shows
      • local sports
    • 6.2 local programming forms resemble AM radio programming
    • 6.3 programming reflects local interests
  • 7 Programming Strategies
    • 7.1 define potential audience
    • 7.2 audience flow
      • tuning inertia
      • lead-in
    • 7.3 counter programming
      • attract an audience different from competing stations
    • 7.4 challenge programming
      • head-to-head with same type of programming