Does anybody know how to open a television station and get it on air?

Question

When you open the station, how do you get the television networks (NBC, ABC, etc.) to notice you? Also the same for the FCC. Thanks!

Answer 1

You pretty much cannot is the bad news. You have to buy the rights to a frequncy from the FCC (usually sold for millions and millions of dollars at auction). The problem is, all over the airways frequencies in all major markets are already purchased- which is part of the reason that if one does become available, they sell for so much. It is also the reason that when they started stations like the WB (now the CW), they didnt start up a bunch of new stations- they went into the few remaining independant stations that were already on the air. Your best shot is to buy an existing station- if you have that kind of big money available.

Answer 2

The licensing is controlled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) http://www.fcc.gov/

Start here: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/cdbs.html
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tv.html

Most applicants hire a lawyer who specializes in communications law to get the necessary paperwork done in order to file an application with the FCC.
If !!! you get on the air and a network affiliate is not serving your market you can contact a network and see if they would be interested in letting you broadcast their programming.

More BAD news for you ...On the FCC web site it says. ..No new station application may be filed. Until the conversion to digital TV broadcasting is complete, the Commission is not accepting applications for new television stations....

The transition to digital will ends in January 2009 (subject to Congress not extending the deadline yet again)

NOTE: The networks allow only one affiliate in a given market and ALL the major and most of the minor markets have an affiliated station.

That is why a TV station affiliated with a network sells for millions of dollars.

Answer 3

First ya gotta be richer than God,or at least as rich as the Devil ! The only way you're gonna get noticed is with money !
Mr. Murdoch is as rich as the Devil,why don't ya ask him?