Television channel

Traditionally, TV stations made their broadcasts by sending specially-encoded radio signals over the air, called terrestrial television.

Individual television stations are usually granted licenses by a government agency to use a particular section of the radio spectrum (a channel) through which they send their signals.

Local programming TV stations in an area can sign-up or even be required to be carried on cable, but content providers like TLC cannot.

From the definitions above, use of the terms network or station in reference to nationwide cable or satellite channels is technically inaccurate.

Indeed, the term cable network has entered into common usage in the United States in reference to such channels, even with the existence of direct broadcast satellite.

There is even some geographical separation among national pay television channels in the U.S., be it programming (e.g., the Bally Sports group of regional sports channels, which share several programs), or simply regionalized advertising inserted by the local cable company.