Broadcast Media Organizational Structure Outline & Definitions
Broadcast Media Organization Chart Template
Learn MoreBroadcast Media
Broadcast media typically refers to information (speeches, documentaries, interviews, advertisements, daily news, financial reports, etc.) distributed through radio and television. Due to these channels, broadcast media has become the most expedient means to transmit information immediately to the widest possible audience. That said, the Internet has recently been challenging broadcast media groups, especially television, as the primary source of news. As a consequence, pressure on broadcast media groups have increased to deliver high quality information with minimum cost. Improving operations is more important for these groups now than ever before.
Common Broadcast Media job titles: Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Marketing Officer
Transmission & Infrastructure
The Transmission & Infrastructure team is responsible for developing, monitoring and maintaining the infrastructure in place to broadcast both live and recorded programming to audiences throughout the corresponding viewing (or listening) area. This includes managing high definition broadcasting technology, content compression and modulation, various content distribution platforms (live, on-demand, streaming, etc.), and related engineering and technical support tasks to support broadcasting operations. Within broadcast media organizations that offer telecommunications services (e.g., internet, phone, cable television, etc.) to their customers, this function may take on a variety of other roles (other those of a traditional broadcasting company that does not offer these services).
Common Transmission & Infrastructure job titles: Engineering Maintenance Technician, Engineering Operations Technician, Broadcast Operations Manager, Transmission Supervisor, Control Center Engineer
Content Management
The Content Management function is responsible for driving content strategy across the company's intellectual properties. This entails understanding the strategic goals of the organization, as well as the current market landscape with the goal of leading the development of creative content to position the brand in a favorable fashion.
Common Content Management job titles: Director of Content Management, Chief Content Officer, EVP/SVP of Content Management
Licensing
The Licensing function is responsible for all aspects of the license negotiations, administration, and operations related to the licensing & collection of license fees in all platforms including radio, broadcast television, cable television, digital content and music. This function also oversees the syndication of content that belongs to other entities and ensuring the distribution of that content is not in violation of intellectual property law.
Common Licensing job titles: Licensing Contract Specialist, Licensing Manager, Intellectual Property Attorney, Syndication Sales Analyst, Music & Media Licensing Coordinator
News Operations
The News Operations division is responsible for overseeing content creation, broadcasting operations and reporting/journalism activities within the company's news production division. The reporters and journalists within this function, as well as senior leadership, work together to set the news agenda and determine which stories receive the most, or least, run.
Common News Operations job titles: News Anchor, Reporter, Assignment Editor, Newscast Director, News Writer, News Camera Operator
Radio
Radio Broadcasting oversees the operations within a group of radio stations operated by the organization. These operations include, scheduling advertising spots and attracting advertising clients, producing content to attract new listeners and retain current listeners, identifying programming opportunities, and research on strategies to improve ratings, among other things. This function manages radio content development and strategy, work to recruit and manage on-air talent (including contract negotiations), and monitors the performance of each of the properties (i.e., radio programs) under management. In most cases, this function is also tasked with developing partnerships with local media outlets, sports teams, universities, and/or content publishers (e.g., music labels, artists, etc.) to improve the quality of on-air content, and off-air events (e.g., sponsored events, concerts, etc.).
Common Radio job titles: Music Director, Maintenance Engineer, Promotions Coordinator, Sound Designer, Technical Producer
Television
The TV arm is responsible for carrying out TV content distribution strategies, growing partnerships with various brands to increase viewership, and monetizing the company's properties across TV and digital channels. This function is also responsible for attracting top talent to the television arm of the company, developing and executing TV content distribution strategies, growing partnerships with various brands to increase viewership and engagement, and monetizing the company's properties across both TV and digital channels. This division also oversees various operations-related functions, including aspects of engineering/transmission, content support, logistics and production management.
Common Television job titles: Television Research Analyst, Programming Manager, Strategy Associate, Production Accountant
Content Production
Content Production is responsible for ensuring that content is created efficiently from idea generation to a finished product distributed to the public. Content Production includes casting directors, staff writers, script editors, video editors, audio engineers, negative cutters , and compositors, among other things.
Common Content Production job titles: Casting Directors, Staff Writers, Script Editors, Video Editors, Audio Engineers, Negative Cutters, Compositors
Studio Operations
The Studio Operations unit is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations within studio sound stages, sets and offices. This includes managing operations within production facilities, set lighting, set design, wardrobe, hair, make-up, art direction, and post-production processes, among other things. This group is responsible for ensuring that the needs of content development, support and management staff are satisfied, and that their daily activities are in line with the broader strategic goals of the organization. Many times, they must work to foster relationships between on-screen talent, content production, content support and senior management staff to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the content being produced.
Common Studio Operations job titles: Production Coordinator, Director, Location Manager, Camera Operator, Data Wrangler, Boom Operator, Key Grip, Production Assistant
Digital Operations
The Digital Operations function is typically tasked with overseeing design, development and user experience related to the company's digital offerings, including mobile applications, on-demand services, live content streaming and "second-screen" experiences, among other digital plays. This function, furthermore, oversees various initiatives to improve the company's digital presence across its various intellectual properties. This typically includes developing ideas for new digital experiences, improving currently existing on-demand and streaming content options for consumers, managing the functionality and design of the company's web properties, and overseeing the company's overall digital strategy with the goal of providing consumers with various options to view content and related information across various devices and technology platforms.
Common Digital Operations job titles: Digital Media Planner, Digital Media Buyer, Digital Operations Analyst, Digital Business Development Manager, Back End Developer
Advertising Sales
The Advertising Sales function is responsible for leading revenue generation, primarily through advertising sales and content distribution partnerships. Employees within this function work with senior leadership to develop overall sales strategy and objectives and manage day to day ad sales operations to meet those objectives. This function, furthermore, is typically responsible for developing advertising pricing structures, sales performance management standards, sales and market research practices, and relationships with high-profile brands to improve profitability through ad sales and extended partnerships.
Common Advertising Sales job titles: Account Executive, Account Manager, Advertising Sales Representative, Advertising Sales Executive, General Sales Manager