CHAPTER 8
BUSINESS PRACTICES

General Management
1. CEO
2. Multiple station ownership
3. Local Marketing Agreement
4. Group Managers

Human Resources
1. Same functions as with any company or business
2. Production companies run differently

Programming
1. Structure dependent upon type of facility (network, cable, local station)
2. Local stations program local shows
3. Network and cable program from NY or LA
Commercial Radio Networks/Syndicators
 Networks create their own
 Syndicators package deals
 Not as noticeable in radio
Commercial Radio Stations
 Formats
 Highly segmented audiences
 Specific target demographics
 Will become more targeted
 Use of a “clock”
 Dayparting
 News (AP/UPI)
 Non commercial and college
Commercial Television Networks







Established protocol from the early days of TV
In house production company
Independent prod company
Purpose of financial/syndication rules (fin/syn)
Definition of major and independent productions
License fees
How shows are conceived
1. First an idea
The ‘pitch’
Treatment
Script ordered
Pilot shot
2000 ideas = 200 scripts =
30 pilots = 6 to 8 hits
“Seasons”
1. Originally 30-39 shows into the late 60’s-early 70’s
2. Today 20-24 episodes (most average 22 per season)
3. 100 episodes is the magic number for syndication and back-end profits
Programming strategies
1. “block programming”
2. “hammocking”
3. “tentpoling”
4. “counterprogramming”
5. “bridging”
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.



Syndicators
1. Sell programs to anyone except the networks
2. Primary customers are local stations and local “O & O’s”
3. Types of syndicated shows
a.“off-net” (meaning off the network prime-time schedule and out of
production of new episodes – ready to air on local stations)
b. “first-run” (brand new episodes of shows licensed to separate markets
for airing at the discretion of the station scheduling preferences)

Commercial Television Station
1. What are affiliates
2. Independents
3. Made for TV
4. “Stripping”
5. Payment for programs
a.
Cash
b.
Cash plus barter
c.
straight barter

Public Television Networks
1. PBS
2. Non commercial
3. Enhanced programming
4. Enhanced underwriting

Cable TV Networks
1. Exclusive rights
2. Made for cable
3. “narrowcasting”
Other Departments








Engineering
Sales and Marketing
Account Executives
Research
Traffic
Public Relations
Promotion and Publicity
Promos (Internal/external)