Structure,
Functions and
Working of a
Broadcast Channel
Off-screen positions
General manager
News director
Sales manager
Production manager
General manager
Supervises station’s management and operations tasks
Establishes and implements station policy and often has the final word in
decisions affecting the station’s programming and production work
If the station is an affiliate of a nationwide network, the general manager
coordinates local programming schedules with the network to prevent
any scheduling conflicts
The general manager also works with the news, sales and technical staff
members to ensure that the station’s operations run smoothly
News director
Coordinates station’s news-gathering efforts
May be called on to write news stories, edit stories from reporters
and coordinate schedules for covering breaking news stories
For stories with nationwide impact, the news director for the local
station coordinates efforts with the network news staff and
determines how to cover the story to show its effects on the local
community
Sales Manager
Works with ad sales staff … takes care of client relations … sells the station’s
available commercial time
Hires and trains new sales staff, finds the best sales opportunities for the
station’s programming and creates sales plans and objectives
Works with the general manager to determine the station’s revenue needs
and the best methods to meet those needs
Production manager
Supervises each live local newscast and assigns news stories to anchors
Setting the order of stories for each newscast and selecting when and
where any live remote reports occur
Works in the operations booth, alongside the director and technical
staff, to ensure that the lights, camera angles and sound cues all work
together to present a professional and informative program
5 basic departments under president and a general manager
guidance
News
Programming
Engineering
Sales and advertising
Business administration
News
News anchors, reporters, meteorologists, sports anchors
Behind the scenes: News director, producers, editors, content writers,
makeup artists
Assignment desk
Monitoring desk
Programming
Led by a manager and assistant staff
Coordinates with other departments - production or
engineering departments
Ensures scheduling and local television listings are
accurate and up to date
Engineering
Handles technical aspects of broadcasting and on-air time
A chief engineer (director of broadcasting operations), managers, engineers and
studio crew members including show directors, cameramen, audio board
operators, teleprompter operators, photographers, videographers, tape room
editors and engineering technicians
Master control supervisors oversee master control room and all switchboard
operators
Monitor transmitter readings, align satellite receiver equipment and make sure
video airs in proper sequence
Sales and advertising
Revenue-generating department
Sales Director oversees managers (national and local)
Art directors, electronic graphic artists and voice talent,
as well as market researchers who review and interpret
ratings
Business administration
Handles day-to-day business of a TV station
Station managers oversee clerks, receptionists and other help staff
Accountants oversee the station’s financial transactions, reports and budgets
Consult with other department heads regarding cash flow and expenditures
HR manager hires employees and ensures a safe workplace in all departments
Studio (Floor manager - link between director and others; provides cues and signals
to actors and presenters)
Control room (Mixing)
Video post production (On-air area and edit suites)
OB Van (Studio control rooms on wheels)
