Broadcast/Cable/Satellite... So confusing!

This week’s topic of broadcast/cable/satellite systems was a tough one but also very interesting. It was cool learning about something that we use on a daily basis. In fact, I had two different conversations about how service was provided to TVs around the country, after classes this week and it felt so cool that I knew everything about it! The most confusing concept to grasp was how they work together, who owns what, and what ads they sell. To sum it up, broadcast systems work with local stations to distribute national content while cable has an agreement with cable system operators and satellite providers to distribute the national content. As for where they create revenue, Broadcast networks and stations get almost all their revenue from ads while cable networks and systems get it from advertising and subscription fees. So confusing!