Local television stations: what next?

There are 1750 television stations in the US, almost all of whom are affiliated with one of the following networks:

* ABC
* CBS
* Fox
* NBC
* PBS

The affiliate relationship means, basically, that the network supplies N hours of programming a week, and the affiliate supplies 168-N hours. (Yes, PBS is an exception, because it's a non-profit alliance and weird.) For most -- sometimes all -- of those N hours, the network also dictates when the programs air. As a result, you can go across the country and expect that you can find an NBC affiliate that is showing Law and Order at 10PM on Wednesday.

Generally, 7PM until midnight is nailed down. Sometimes there's an hour in there for a local news show. There's always room for two local news shows: one early in the morning, before a national show (Today, Good Morning America, etc) and one at or around early dinner time.

So. Local customization consists solely of the local news show, and what syndicated shows one might buy to air in the midafternoon, after the network-supplied soap opera and before the news.

Clearly there are opportunities here.

Local television stations: what next?

There are 1750 television stations in the US, almost all of whom are affiliated with one of the following networks:

* ABC
* CBS
* Fox
* NBC
* PBS

The affiliate relationship means, basically, that the network supplies N hours of programming a week, and the affiliate supplies 168-N hours. (Yes, PBS is an exception, because it's a non-profit alliance and weird.) For most -- sometimes all -- of those N hours, the network also dictates when the programs air. As a result, you can go across the country and expect that you can find an NBC affiliate that is showing Law and Order at 10PM on Wednesday.

Generally, 7PM until midnight is nailed down. Sometimes there's an hour in there for a local news show. There's always room for two local news shows: one early in the morning, before a national show (Today, Good Morning America, etc) and one at or around early dinner time.

So. Local customization consists solely of the local news show, and what syndicated shows one might buy to air in the midafternoon, after the network-supplied soap opera and before the news.

Clearly there are opportunities here.