In my country, everyone has the same TV channels, so U.S. television confuses me.
For example, I know that there’s a station in Minneapolis called KMSP-TV (whatever that means), or Fox 9, I guess because it’s 9 on the channel list. I’ve also heard of stations that are e.g. both Fox *and* ABC.
Do these stations just, broadcast the channel(s) of one/multiple networks, meaning the programming is the same across the country? Or are they local channels with their own programming? What is “cable”?
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The prime time dramas, comedies, and national news are the same across the country on the networks, but local news and some other programs are different. Cable is pay TV that you can’t get over the air for free.
The number on channels is not the same, like when I was younger and we have to move I had to figure out which channel Nickelodeon was on. Before it was I think like channel 70, but when I moved it became 44
There are nationwide channels and local channels. In your example, that is a local channel for that area. The main difference is what news is played (local news channel), ads (more local ads for that specific area) and the timezones difference.
There are nationwide channels that air the same shows and content but ads will be different (again, more local ads).
Channels aren’t available to everyone because we have multiple cable / channel providers who seek deals for different channels so you choose them over a competitor. Most channels are the same though but you’ll see providers who may have NikeToons added or different sports channels.
In this day and age of streaming cable services, most of this is irrelevant as you can just have streaming providers that offer packages for what used to be more exclusive channels such as a kids package with Nick or Cartoon Network or an International Package that has SBS or TV Japan.
Norway is a small country compared to America and others with more options so I assume that there is only one major provider, so everyone has the same channels as the range isn’t large enough to offer more local options. Though I’d hope you’d have streaming options to add some variety and competition.
We have broadcast networks, or “over the air” channels, that have call signs like KVXM or WPRP or whatever. K is west of the Mississippi, W is east of the Mississippi. Most areas have a handful of these stations, and generally there is one each affiliated with ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS, and maybe some more.
In some small markets (that is, smaller cities) you might not have all of these channels, or they might share programming. Often each one has its own local news show, which is how they differentiate themselves.
Cable is a whole set of channels that you get via an actual cable hooked up to your house. Most people who have TVs have cable, although not everyone. This is basically alllllll the other channels besides the handful of networks.
Programming is generally the same across the country on any given channel, other than the rare local programming like the aforementioned news shows. The actual numerical identity of the channel is different from place to place. My ESPN will be 29, your ESPN might be 34.
It’s more complicated, but that’s the basic idea.
The major broadcast networks broadcast over the “public” airwaves. This means that if you have a digital antenna, you can get these channels free of charge.
They reach your local area because a local station makes a deal with the major broadcast network saying “hey, I’ll host your nationwide content but we get to run some of our own programming too”. So if you want to see the Fox (broadcast) Network show like The Simpsons’ newest episode, you have to tune in to your local Fox affiliate. But the local affiliate will run things like their own morning program, news broadcast, and local public affairs content.
Many of these local stations may also air 1-2 other channels that may contain things like minor league or high school sports, public domain movies, and syndicated reruns.
These broadcast networks and their affiliates are also the most regulated in terms of content. They often will be overly cautious in terms of sexual content, violence, and strong language, especially before 10pm or so.
Then you have the cable networks which you have to pay for, often in some sort of bundle.
Then you have the premium networks like HBO which you have to pay individually for.
Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc are our major networks–this is equivalent to what you probably think of when you think of networks in your country. Networks have local affiliates though, which is where those letters (callsigns) come in. Stations in the east start with W and those to the west [of the Mississippi River] start with K. And the number after will refer to the channel number, yes.
KMSP, for example, is the local affiliate of the Fox network for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. They will broadcast the same major shows as Fox stations do across the country, but will also have programming specific to that area like local news.
I don’t know if any stations that are both Fox and ABC for example.
In the U.S. we have 5 major Networks of TV: ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC (and PBS if you like). Those channels are all privately owned (except for PBD which is public broadcasting and paid for by the government and donations – but let’s put PBS aside for now.) All of those channels are free to the public, so long as you have a TV and a digital antenna you can watch them 24/7 for free. They also have commercials which pay for the programming, thus making it free to you and me.
In most cities in the U.S. they have local stations called “affiliates.” Each of those are independently run (or sometimes part of a larger group) that are affiliated with one of the 5 Networks. For example in Chicago Channel 2 WBBM is our CBS affiliate. Channel 11 WMAQ is NBC etc. Each of those local affiliates get to decide what programming they want to show most of the day but then at night they broadcast the networks programming.
There is a government regulations group called the FCC that monitors those networks to make sure they aren’t showing nudity, swearing etc.
Now.. cable is a system that has additional channels like VH1, HGTV, TLC, FX, ESPN and literally hundreds of others. You can subscribe to those for a monthly fee. It’s called cable because it used to come to your house over a co-ax cable. Now it’s mostly digital or wi-fi but the name still applies.
There are also premium channels you can do a la carte like HBO, Showtime etc. Those are an additional fee ON TOP of cable. You must have cable to get these. They are add-ons.
This is the TV system in a nutshell. This does not include streaming like Netflix, Disney+ etc. That is separate.
(I may have missed some points but that’s the gist of it.)
So there are major networks like FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS. There’s also PBS which is a public broadcast. You can get all these channels for free through antennae on your tv. These networks have local affiliates which show local news and local advertising. So Fox 9 is a local affiliate that plays for a small region of the country on the same channel as FOX. So sometimes that channel will be playing FOX programming and sometimes it will be playing FOX 9 programming. KSMP is probably a local affiliate for one of the other 3 major networks. Cable is a method of getting tv through a cable which allows you access to more channels. When you hear people talk about cable channels they’re talking about channels that you can’t get from regular tv antennae. There’s also satellite tv which can also get you cable channels, but people call them cable channels anyway. If you have satellite, your channel numbers are going to be the same across the country for people who use the same satellite service. However cable channel numbers are going to be different by company and by region. So ESPN might be on Channel 23 for me, but Channel 35 for my neighbor who uses a different service and channel 41 for my friend in another state.
>In my country [Norway], everyone has the same TV channels, so U.S. television confuses me.
Broadcast TV is the same in the US as far as networks and programming. The channel numbers and call signs (your example of KMSP is a call sign for a broadcast station in Minneapolis) are different throughout the US but the content and timing is usually the same (except for some weird reason *Jeopardy* and *Wheel of Fortune* are switched in some places but *Jeopardy* comes on first at 7PM here around Philadelphia.
>For example, I know that there’s a station in Minneapolis called KMSP-TV (whatever that means), or Fox 9, I guess because it’s 9 on the channel list.
Addressed above.
>I’ve also heard of stations that are e.g. both Fox *and* ABC.
I don’t know what this means. Fox and ABC are different networks.
>Do these stations just broadcast the channel(s) of one/multiple networks, meaning the programming is the same across the country?
You might be thinking of the new digital broadcasting, where channels are subdivided.
>What is “cable”?
Cable TV is a private paid paradigm where people pay for programs particular to the payment tier which are unavailable to those who don’t pay. Cable programming often includes things like nudity, blood, violence, and profanity which are forbidden by regulation from broadcast TV.
The networks are served by local stations. They show network programming for some time slots and their own content for others. Each of those local stations has a call sign, starting with K or W. Thats a simple explanation for you.
Stations use 4-letter call signs. If they’re easy of the Mississippi the call sign starts with W. West of the Mississippi the call sign starts with K.
Local stations generally run primetime content from the network they’re affiliated with (NBC, ABC, CBS, or FOX), and supplement with local news and sometimes other local content.
I lived in Chicago and had around 10 good over the air channels, and another 40 niche.
Local channels will have some national shows and local programming.
And then there is cable or digital. I subscribe to a digital option for the DVR. No idea how many channels it has.
Most people do not watch TV through broadcasts, they watch through cable. Local channels like NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS and Fox have a mix of local programs and national programs. The evening and morning news is local, but most regular programs are national.
Cable tv has a hundred or more channels. However, it’s on it’s deathbed. Many people (like me) cut the cord and watch exclusively through streaming services.
Well, because the country is so large, television and radio stations have to cater to individual communities. In your country, the TV station caters the entire nation.
And how we differentiate those different stations, since the country is so large, isn’t by channel number. There aren’t enough channel numbers to go around the country. So KMSP channel 9 would be channel 9 in one area, and another city would have another channel 9 that is far away from KMSP. So we have to use individual call letters to differentiate between channel 9 and Minnesota, and channel 9 in Indiana.
And call letters often have meanings. KMSP stands for station that is in a state that is located on or west of the Mississippi, (K) and Minneapolis St Paul (M-SP).
Another station in the area is known as KSTP which stands for located a state that is located on to or west of the Mississippi River (K) and St Paul (STP).
Then there is another station in the area known as WFTC it means it’s a station that is located in a state that is on or east of the Mississippi River (W) and FTC (Fox Twin Cities, which was the former Network affiliate of the Fox network)
The reason why they have to call letters, is determine which side of the country the TV or radio station is.
Generally, TV and radio stations that start with the letter K, are west of the Mississippi, and radio and TV stations that are east of the Mississippi, start with W.
I got into a debate with a radio guy about this, who insisted that also applied hard and fast to Minnesota. Until I showed him all of the K letter radio stations in Duluth, which is about 2 hours east of the Mississippi, and a large chunk of their stations start with the letter K
Each media market has specific channels, they have the option of remaining independent or picking a national network to affiliate with.
If they choose the second option they have to conform to their programming standards but are still allowed some time slots for syndicated and local programming.
Not all major networks will exist in all markets but they will exist in most.
We have several different networks with thousands of different channels under each network. The US is a big country so my local station is completely different than a town 2000 miles away
Terrestrial over-the-air television is free in the US, with several national networks as well as various independent stations. Networks provide national news and entertainment shows which will be the same nationwide, but network-affiliated stations also have some local content such as local news. The exact set of channels available will vary across the country, but almost everyone can receive the major networks.
Cable means a paid TV service delivered by coaxial cable to each home. Cable TV usually includes hundreds of linear channels, most of which are nationwide networks, and also retransmits local over-the-air channels and provides video on demand. There is an extra fee for premium channel packages and premium video on demand content. Cable companies also often charge an extra fee for retransmitted broadcast signals, so cable customers may still use an antenna for them. Cable companies are now also the most common providers of Internet access in the US.