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)