A television station is an organization or facility that transmits video and audio content via terrestrial radio waves from a transmitter on the Earth's surface to receivers tuned to its frequency.
This content can include news, entertainment, sports, educational programming, and advertisements. The term can refer to both the physical broadcasting infrastructure and the entity that operates it.
Unlike cable or satellite providers, terrestrial television stations broadcast over publicly regulated airwaves and typically require a government-issued license that defines their coverage area, frequency, and programming obligations.
Television stations can be categorized in several ways, often based on their ownership, purpose, and audience.
Commercial stations are operated for profit, funded primarily by advertising. Public money, donations, or grants fund non-commercial educational (NCE) stations. Examples include PBS member stations in the United States and TVO in Canada. Religious stations focus on faith-based programming. Specialty or niche stations target specific audiences, such as children's programming, sports, or cultural content.
A television network is a national or regional organization that produces and distributes programming to multiple stations. Affiliate stations are locally owned stations that have contractual agreements to carry a network's programming. Stations that are directly owned by the network itself are known as owned-and-operated (O&O) stations. For example, WABC-TV in New York is an O&O of the ABC network, carrying the ABC brand. Affiliates benefit from the network's national programming and brand recognition, while networks rely on affiliates to reach local audiences.
Television broadcasting emerged in the late 1920s and 1930s, evolving from experimental mechanical systems to fully electronic formats. In 1928, W3XK in Washington, D.C., operated by Charles Francis Jenkins, became the first U.S. station to offer regular broadcasts. That same year, RCA's W2XBS (now WNBC) in New York began experimental transmissions, later achieving milestones like the first televised presidential speech in 1929 and the first NFL game broadcast in 1939. In 1931, W6XAO in Los Angeles (now KCBS-TV) began regular programming. Following World War II, the rapid expansion of commercial television led to a significant increase in the number of U.S. households owning TVs, jumping from under 6,000 in 1946 to over 12 million by 1951.
Today, the largest television stations in the world include, in the United States: WABC-TV (ABC, New York City), WCBS-TV (CBS, New York City), WNBC (NBC, New York City), KTLA (CW, Los Angeles), and WLS-TV (ABC, Chicago); in Canada: CBC Television, CTV Toronto (CFTO-DT), Global Toronto (CIII-DT), Citytv Toronto, and ICI Radio-Canada Télé; in the United Kingdom: BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4, and Sky Showcase; and in Australia: Seven Network (Channel 7), Nine Network (Channel 9), Network 10 (Channel 10), ABC TV, and SBS.
Even in the time of streaming television, television stations remain a cornerstone of mass communication.
Recommended Resources
America's Public Television Stations
APTS is a non-profit membership organization established in 1979 when the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) board of directors commissioned a public television system planning project to consider the most appropriate organization of national service functions for public television for the 1980s. Its chief role is to represent America's 170 public television licensees in federal legislative, regulatory, and related matters in Washington, D.C. Member stations are listed.
https://apts.org/
KAET (channel 8), branded Arizona PBS, is a PBS member station in Phoenix, Arizona, owned by Arizona State University and operated by ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Its signal is relayed across Arizona on a network of 13 translator stations. Its programs and content are highlighted, and visitors to the site may stream its audio-video content or listen to the latest programs. Memberships and sponsorship opportunities are discussed.
https://www.azpbs.org/
The Cape Media Center is a non-profit community media center and public-access television station serving Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, and Chatham. Its stated mission is to build community through media, enhance democratic communication, and facilitate free expression by providing a state-of-the-art resource center for these five towns. Its hours of operation, services, membership benefits, meeting schedules, and content guidelines are posted on the site.
https://capemedia.org/
Channel 4 is a streaming portal where live television and on-demand shows from Channel 4, E4, and Walter Presents may be viewed through its "Live TV" tab. A free account allows viewers to bookmark favorites, and a Channel 4+ upgrade unlocks ad-free viewing, early access to full seasons, and exclusive extras. Its All 4 App is available on iOS, Android, smart TVs, and streaming sticks, supporting offline downloads and user profiles. Sister channels and current affairs programming are featured.
https://www.channel4.com/
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, KETV (channel 7) is affiliated with ABC and owned by Hearst Television, with studios in the historic Burlington Station. Founded in 1957, it was Omaha's third television station and has been an ABC affiliate from its debut. Its news policies, local experts, contests, and advertising opportunities are set forth, along with news reporting, weather, traffic, politics, and sports stories. EEO reports, captioning contacts, and licensing data are included.
https://www.ketv.com/
KITV (channel 4) is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of ABC. Along with KIKU (channel 20), it is owned by Allen Media Group, and the two stations share studios on South King Street in downtown Honolulu. Rebroadcasters on the islands of Maui and Hawaii extend the station's signal. Its website's content is sorted into News, Watch, Video, Weather, Sports, Kakou, Island Life Live, Contests, KIKU, and Contact.
https://www.kitv.com/
KQED (channel 9) is a PBS member television station licensed to San Francisco, California, and serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Organized in 1953 and first on the air in 1954 as the fourth television station in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the sixth public TV station in the United States, its programming is dominated by children's programming during the early part of the day, with news and other programs dominating the remainder of the day, mainly those provided by PBS.
https://www.kqed.org/
KTVB (channel 7) is a Boise, Idaho television station, affiliated with NBC and owned by Tegna, Inc. On the air since 1953, it is the oldest continuously operating station in Idaho, and the first to be fully licensed. It delivers local news, weather, traffic updates, sports coverage, and investigative reports from its headquarters in Boise. It maintains a YouTube archive on which its segments are available after airing, covering everything from high school sports to regional issues.
https://www.ktvb.com/
The free online directory helps viewers discover local over-the-air television stations in the United States. Users can search by zip code, city, address, or station callsign to see which high-definition channels are broadcasting near you. Currently, its coverage data shows 2,595 TV stations and 11,130 free HD channels, updated continually. "Find Your Metro Area" shortcuts are available for major U.S. markets, and clear distinctions between indoor and outdoor antennas are included.
https://tvstationsnearme.com/
WABI-TV (channel 5) is a Bangor, Maine television station affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by Gray Media, the station has studios in West Bangor, and its transmitter is on Peaked Mountain in Dixmont. Founded in 1953, WABI-TV was the first television station in Maine and the first in northern New England. Of the big-three network-affiliated stations in the area (WABI, WLBZ, WVII), it has often earned more viewership than its competitors combined. Advertising opportunities are presented.
https://www.wabi.tv/
WLMB (channel 40) is an independent religious television station in Toledo, Ohio. Owned by Dominion Broadcasting, it was founded in 1992. It was an affiliate of Pax TV from 2000 to 2002, but the station only carried selected original and religious programming. Today, its lineup features religious programming in the mornings and early afternoons, classic TV series in the late afternoons and early evenings, more religious shows in prime time, overnights, and all day on Sunday.
https://www.wlmb.com/
This is the online home for News 8, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which delivers up-to-the-minute local, state, and national news, alongside weather, sports, and community coverage tailored to West Michigan audiences. Its main content categories include News, Weather, Sports, Community, Digital Series & Guides, and Deals & Reviews. Its News App and Storm Team 8 Weather App are available for iOS and Android. News tips, photos, and videos may be submitted through the site or its apps.
https://www.woodtv.com/
