TV Broadcasting NAICS 516120
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Industry Summary
The 712 television broadcasters in the US operate studios and facilities for the programming and transmission of TV programs to the public. Firms may also produce or transmit programming to affiliated television stations, which broadcast programs to the public. They generate revenue primarily through advertising sales, which include on-air and digital media.
Cyclical and Seasonal Sales
Advertising sales, which are the main source of revenue for television broadcasters, are seasonal and cyclical and driven by political campaigns and major events, such as the Super Bowl.
Competition from Alternative Media
Television broadcasters compete for advertising revenue with a variety of alternative media, including newspapers, magazines, outdoor ads, direct mail, multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD), over-the-top video distributors (OTTD), and online media (Google, Facebook).
Recent Developments
Jul 7, 2025 - Streaming Viewership Overtakes Cable And Broadcast
- Streaming has surpassed broadcast and cable as a share of total television viewing, according to audience measurement firm Nielsen. Streaming accounted for 44.8% of viewership in May, while broadcast (20.1%) and cable (24.1%) together represented 44.2% of viewership. YouTube had four straight months of TV share increase through May, Nielsen said. The platform, owned by Google and its parent company, Alphabet, boasted the highest share of TV consumption among all streamers in May, with a 12.5% share. Netflix, Disney-owned platforms including ESPN and Hulu, Amazon's Prime Video, and the Roku Channel were also in the top five. The three largest FAST (free ad-supported) channels — Paramount's Pluto TV, the Roku Channel and Fox's Tubi — combined for 5.7% of total TV viewing in May, more than any individual broadcast network.
- President Trump has signed an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private nonprofit that serves as the steward of the funding to public media, to cease federal funding for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). The order would impact roughly 1,500 public media stations nationwide, according to PBS. PBS gets 15% of its funding from the federal government but that figure is an aggregate number, according to PBS CEO Paula Kerger, with some stations in small communities receiving up to 40% or 50% of their funding from the government.
- Several local broadcast groups are leading a venture to accelerate the commercial launch of the ATSC 3.0 Framework Authority (A3FA), the driving force behind the RUN3TV platform, according to Comscore. RUN3TV allows broadcasters to integrate essential and advanced features like 'Start Over', viewer content discovery, and advanced emergency alerts across various platforms, while also allowing for the customization of unique services and content. It also enhances broadcasters' ability to gather detailed viewership data, offering insights that help tailor content directly to viewer preferences.
- TV broadcasting industry revenue increased 7.6% year over year and 11.5% quarter over quarter during the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the US Census Bureau. TV broadcasting industry employment and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first five months of 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). TV broadcasters slightly decreased their prices during the first half of 2025, according to the BLS. Television broadcasters generate revenue primarily through advertising sales, which include on-air and digital media.
Industry Revenue
TV Broadcasting
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average television broadcaster employs about 206 workers and generates about $104.5 million annually.
- The television broadcasting industry consists of about 712 firms that employ about 147,000 workers and generate $74 billion annually.
- The industry is highly concentrated; the top 20 companies account for about 86% of industry revenue.
- Large firms include Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar (Tribune Media Group). The major television broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW) also own and operate local television stations, primarily in major media markets. Major media companies, such as Gannett and Hearst, also own stations that operate as network affiliates.
- About 1,760 television broadcast stations exist in the US, including almost 400 educational stations, according to the FCC.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
TV Broadcasting Industry Growth
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