ABSTRACT
The basic unit in US radio and television is the local outlet. Thousands of relatively small radio and television outlets, owned by hundreds of licensees and operators, provide programming for millions of Americans. This chapter concentrates on the local commercial radio or television outlet. It looks at station licensees—types of owners, limits on ownership, and the difficult task of getting, keeping, and transferring a license. It examines station income and expenses. The chapter reviews the organization of a cable system and local outlets in other forms of TV. It discusses unions in radio and TV, and looks at some of the major trade associations pledged to protect the interests of radio and television. A licensee is the person or corporate entity entrusted with operation of a broadcast station by the FCC.
