This Business of Television

Broad in scope and rich in detail, This Business of Television is an invaluable sourcebook for producers, writers, broadcasters, network executives, and other television professionals. The essential reference for anyone working in the television or video industries, it is a comprehensive guide to the inner workings of the business, examining how television programming is financed, produced, and distributed; how FCC regulations and federal law shape the form and content of broadcast, cable, and satellite television; and how producers, networks, cable companies, and local stations work together to create or acquire programming.

This Business of Television includes 50 chapters and three useful appendices: legal documents and forms; concise boilerplate contract forms for the most common business transactions in television; and a list of useful industry contacts and addresses. The legal documents and the ready-to-use contract forms are included on an enclosed disc, so they can be easily accessed for home use.

Part 1 covers distribution; Parts 2 and 3 explain FCC and federal regulations, as well as legal concepts such as copyright, the right of privacy, libel and slander, and the protection of society; Part 4 discusses program production and financing; Part 5 examines audience measurement and advertising; Part 6 explains contract basis, legal entities, and tax issues; and Part 7 offers an overview of the television industries in countries around the world.

All of the chapters have been revised and completely updated in this second edition, in addition to brand new chapters on religious television, home shopping, satellite TV, and the every more important international marketplace.