4 ms·

I don't get it. Who's broadcasting the signal? How do they get paid?

by dyeje 11y ago

csbrooks 11y ago
This is a joke, right? :) Commercials, same as radio.
ForHackernews 11y ago
You must be young. Television stations (e.g. the local NBC affiliate) broadcast the signal; they get paid by advertisers who give them money to air commercials on their station.
abtinf 11y ago
This must be one of my favorite comments ever on HN. The more I look at it, the more I can't decide if its serious or satire.
EdwardMSmith 11y ago
Local television stations (__not__ networks - although there are a small number, limited by law, of network owned-and-operated local stations - usually the biggest markets), which may or may not be affiliated with a network (CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC), broadcast the signals. If a local station is affiliated with a network, they've agreed to broadcast the network's prime-time feed (7pm - ~midnight) including the national ads that the network has sold to large brands. The local tv stations get (not very many) ad spots to insert in between national ads. The local tv station does not generally get any revenue from the national ads (the big ads for big brands - Coke, Apple, Nike) and only receive revenue from local ads (Stu's burger shack down on main street). There are also open slots where the national network does not have shows scheduled and local stations can broadcast locally produced shows, News, and, sadly, tons of infomercials. This is the non-prime-time - daytime, weekends and late night. If the show being broadcast is locally produced, there are generally more open ad slots for local ads. It is possible that the local station also gets a cut of national advertising during that show. The local TV station has purchased the exclusive right to use the frequency/channel (in a particular "market") from the Federal Government, but has to provide, as part of the agreement, a number of things, "to promote the public welfare" - such as educational programming, community service programming, and a few other things.
dear 11y ago
Same idea as Google, Youtube, Facebook, etc. The business model has existed for far longer than the internet.
legitster 11y ago
This sounds like a line from Silicon Valley.

I don't get it. Who's broadcasting the signal? How do they get paid?

by dyeje 11y ago

I don't get it. Who's broadcasting the signal? How do they get paid?

csbrooks 11y ago

This is a joke, right? :) Commercials, same as radio.

ForHackernews 11y ago

You must be young. Television stations (e.g. the local NBC affiliate) broadcast the signal; they get paid by advertisers who give them money to air commercials on their station.

abtinf 11y ago

This must be one of my favorite comments ever on HN. The more I look at it, the more I can't decide if its serious or satire.

EdwardMSmith 11y ago

Local television stations (__not__ networks - although there are a small number, limited by law, of network owned-and-operated local stations - usually the biggest markets), which may or may not be affiliated with a network (CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC), broadcast the signals. If a local station is affiliated with a network, they've agreed to broadcast the network's prime-time feed (7pm - ~midnight) including the national ads that the network has sold to large brands. The local tv stations get (not very many) ad spots to insert in between national ads. The local tv station does not generally get any revenue from the national ads (the big ads for big brands - Coke, Apple, Nike) and only receive revenue from local ads (Stu's burger shack down on main street). There are also open slots where the national network does not have shows scheduled and local stations can broadcast locally produced shows, News, and, sadly, tons of infomercials. This is the non-prime-time - daytime, weekends and late night. If the show being broadcast is locally produced, there are generally more open ad slots for local ads. It is possible that the local station also gets a cut of national advertising during that show. The local TV station has purchased the exclusive right to use the frequency/channel (in a particular "market") from the Federal Government, but has to provide, as part of the agreement, a number of things, "to promote the public welfare" - such as educational programming, community service programming, and a few other things.

dear 11y ago

Same idea as Google, Youtube, Facebook, etc. The business model has existed for far longer than the internet.

legitster 11y ago

This sounds like a line from Silicon Valley.