NBC - Adverts & Syndication

Oh, I was talking about syndicators.

CBS/Viacom owns KingWorld, which is the syndicator of "Oprah," "Jeopardy," "Dr. Phil," "Martha Stewart Living" and other programs.

ABC and Fox don't syndicate directly, though both their parent companies (Disney & Newscorp) do have program production arms.

Paramount and Sony both produce a lot of programming as well.

In the US, you are only authorised to receive channels from your local market on satellite or cable. This is designed to protect local ad revenue and syndication rights. Here in Canada, where I live, we are allowed to receive US network feeds from the Eastern and Pacific timezones on cable and satellite. The Superbowl is shown live across the country and the times would be promoted like 6pm ET, 3pm PT

Also, here's a few tidbits of information. ABC uses the same satellite feed for both Eastern and Pacific primetime programmes, so once the show finishes at 11pm ET, the entire programming block repeats. During local ad opt-outs, the network's still transmit promos and things in case the local station fails to or is not capable of opting out. ABC will show Public Service Announcements, and usually an extra trailer. NBC does a logo animation with the peacock, followed by a trailer. CBS will show extra trailers on its regular feeds. On its HDTV feed, it will air one of the CBS 'Its All Here in HDTV" adverts. FOX usually puts up an animating FOX logo.

Wow, a US TV thread and i forget to check these boards, damn tv mergers! (G4techTV)

Anyway, everyone has got all the info covered on the networks. The only useful thing i can add is this list of TV stations who are now broadcasting in digital: NAB. Take a look at the Primary Network Affiilition to see how the affiliates are holding up with the digital transition.

Yeah, and it looks like Call For Help isn't migrating over to the new channel! (sniff!) -- No word from Leo yet on whether he'll go back over to The Screen Savers on the new channel.

Except, in the case of cable: when a Canadian station on the particular cable system is showing the same program as the US station, the cable operator is mandated by the CRTC to replace the US station with the Canadian station for the duration of the broadcast.