The small amount of research I just did suggests that the networks pay the local stations the affiliate fees: http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-tv-bu

The small amount of research I just did suggests that the networks pay the local stations the affiliate fees: http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-tv-business-actually-works-and-why-its-going-to-take-longer-than-you-think-to-disrupt-it-2010-4 http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-tv-business-act... I had assumed the locals were paying to get content from the networks, but that doesn't seem to be the case (also indicated in another comment.)