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Television Broadcasting Stations

NAICS 516120 · Broadcasting and Content Providers · SBA size standard: $47 million average annual receipts

Television broadcasting stations produce and transmit daily newscasts, local programming and commercial breaks according to FCC-licensed schedules. Specialists convert story tips and assignments into verified scripts and rundowns, manage live and taped segment sequencing, coordinate remote feeds and satellite bookings, track commercial inventory and traffic logs, and maintain transmitter and EAS paperwork. Editorial judgment, on-air talent direction and final broadcast authorization remain with the news director and station management.

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What makes this business different

  • Daily news cycle with morning, noon, evening and late newscasts plus breaking coverage
  • FCC licensing, must-carry rules, EAS participation and political broadcasting obligations
  • Live remote feeds from bureaus, helicopters, ENG vans and satellite trucks with strict timing
  • Commercial inventory, avails, traffic logs and program-length advertising contracts
  • Script, closed-captioning, graphics and music clearance workflows that must be ready before air
  • Transmitter logs, tower lighting reports, quarterly FCC filings and public inspection file maintenance
  • Repeat advertisers, political campaigns and local event sponsors who expect precise placement

Specialist bots

  • a cluttered assignment desk covered with monitors, police scanners and printed story tip sheets under warm overhead lights

    Story Assignment Intake

    Convert every story tip and assignment request into a verified, actionable assignment card.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Email Buckets, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Story tip intake and assignment

    Automates

    • Reads incoming tips from multiple channels
    • Extracts location, timing and visual elements
    • Cross-checks for duplicate coverage
    • Drafts the assignment task
    • Routes to the assignment editor

    Stops for a person

    • Assignment editor approves or rejects every story
    • Standards questions are escalated to the news director
    • A person makes all verification calls to sources
  • a producer at a large curved newsroom desk adjusting colored blocks on a digital rundown displayed across multiple monitors

    Newscast Rundown Builder

    Assemble each newscast's timed rundown, insert commercial breaks and flag review items.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Process Optimizer, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Newscast rundown and script building

    Automates

    • Pulls overnight stories into a running clock
    • Allocates time for each segment and live shot
    • Inserts traffic-logged commercial pods
    • Flags stories needing legal review
    • Exports the final rundown to the newsroom system

    Stops for a person

    • News director approves the final rundown before it is locked
    • Anchor and producer can reorder segments live
  • a satellite truck parked on a grassy field with its dish raised toward the sky while a technician adjusts cables at the rear

    Remote Feed Coordinator

    Book and schedule all live and taped remote feeds from field crews and satellite providers.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Remote feed and satellite booking

    Automates

    • Identifies required technical resources for each remote
    • Books satellite or fiber windows
    • Sends technical cue sheets to field crews
    • Adds confirmed feeds to the master timeline
    • Creates backup cellular transmission plans

    Stops for a person

    • Master control supervisor confirms each booked window
    • Field crews and engineers approve technical plans
  • a traffic coordinator reviewing a wall of monitors showing commercial logs and program schedules in a dimly lit control room

    Commercial Traffic Manager

    Manage commercial inventory, match spots to avails and produce as-run logs for billing.

    Works in: Ambitious Sheets, Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Commercial inventory and traffic management

    Automates

    • Imports agency orders into the traffic system
    • Resolves conflicts with program and political inventory
    • Generates daily as-run logs
    • Prepares make-good lists for preempted spots

    Stops for a person

    • Sales manager approves all make-goods and preemptions
    • Station management reviews political advertising logs
  • a graphics operator seated at a workstation with multiple screens displaying news graphics and a script scrolling on one monitor

    Graphics and Captioning Specialist

    Turn finalized scripts into on-screen graphics, lower thirds and closed-caption files ready for air.

    Works in: Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Tasks, Process Optimizer · Workflows: Graphics and closed-captioning preparation

    Automates

    • Pulls script into the graphics platform
    • Generates supers and full-screen graphics
    • Creates or edits closed-caption files
    • Checks music and image clearances
    • Exports final package to playback server

    Stops for a person

    • Graphics supervisor reviews all branded elements
    • A person verifies caption accuracy before air
  • a broadcast engineer in a transmitter building noting readings from racks of equipment and a wall of gauges

    Transmitter and EAS Compliance Clerk

    Maintain daily transmitter logs, EAS records and quarterly FCC paperwork for the station engineer.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Transmitter and EAS compliance logging

    Automates

    • Generates daily transmitter and tower-light checklists
    • Logs required EAS tests and activations
    • Tracks public file and political file updates
    • Prepares draft quarterly children's programming reports
    • Flags upcoming license and inspection deadlines

    Stops for a person

    • Chief engineer reviews and signs all technical logs
    • Station management confirms which FCC rules apply
    • People file all official documents with the FCC

Workflows

Story tip intake and assignment

Starts when: A tip arrives by phone, email, social message or assignment desk note

  1. Capture source, location, time sensitivity and visual potential
  2. Cross-check against active coverage and competing outlets
  3. Draft assignment card with who, what, when and visual needs
  4. Route to assignment editor for approval and reporter pairing
  5. Create a task that follows the story through script and air

Watch for: Breaking news must interrupt current workflow immediately; Verification of facts before any on-air commitment

Newscast rundown and script building

Starts when: Four hours before each scheduled newscast

  1. Pull overnight and morning stories into a timed rundown
  2. Allocate time for packages, live shots, weather, sports and breaks
  3. Insert commercial pods from the traffic system
  4. Draft placeholder scripts and graphics requests
  5. Flag stories needing legal or standards review

Watch for: Total runtime must match exact broadcast length including breaks; Live segments require buffer time for technical glitches

Remote feed and satellite booking

Starts when: When a live or taped remote segment is added to the rundown

  1. Identify required crew, ENG van, helicopter or satellite time
  2. Book microwave, fiber or satellite window with the operations desk
  3. Send technical specifications and IFB details to the field team
  4. Confirm backup cellular or bonded connection
  5. Add the feed to the master control timeline

Watch for: Satellite windows are purchased in fixed blocks and cannot be easily moved; Weather or line-of-sight issues can force last-minute changes

Commercial inventory and traffic management

Starts when: Daily at 10 a.m. and after any schedule change

  1. Import agency and local spot orders into the traffic system
  2. Match spots to available avails by daypart and program
  3. Resolve conflicts with program-length commercials or political windows
  4. Generate as-run logs after each broadcast
  5. Draft make-good offers for missed or preempted spots

Watch for: Political advertising has priority and lowest-unit-rate rules; All spots must be logged for billing and FCC compliance

Graphics and closed-captioning preparation

Starts when: As scripts are finalized and two hours before air

  1. Pull approved script into the graphics and captioning system
  2. Generate lower-third supers, full-screen graphics and bumpers
  3. Create real-time closed captions or edit pre-timed files
  4. Verify music and image clearances are on file
  5. Export final graphic package to the playback server

Watch for: All newscasts must be closed-captioned under FCC rules; On-screen graphics must match the station's brand standards

Transmitter and EAS compliance logging

Starts when: Every broadcast day and on quarterly filing dates

  1. Generate daily transmitter power, modulation and tower-light checklists
  2. Log EAS tests and required weekly and monthly activations
  3. Track public file updates and political file entries
  4. Draft quarterly FCC Form 398 children's programming reports
  5. Alert before license renewal or tower-painting deadlines

Watch for: EAS equipment must be monitored 24 hours and logged; The station engineer confirms all technical readings

Advertiser and sponsor follow-up

Starts when: After each broadcast day and on a monthly cadence

  1. Compile as-run proof for each commercial client
  2. Draft post-buy performance summaries
  3. Flag upcoming avails for renewal or upsell
  4. Prepare quarterly political advertising reports for station management

Watch for: Proof of performance must be delivered before invoices are sent; All political spending and time must be publicly disclosed

Bot templates for this industry

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Size Standards, Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes, version March 2023 (effective 2023-03-17, NAICS 2022). Size standards are shown for reference only.