What Does a Broadcast Manager Do?

A broadcast manager is a person who manages the day-to-day operations of a television station or a radio station. The broadcast manager works behind the scenes to ensure that the station’s broadcasts run smoothly and that administrative tasks are completed properly. A team of managers oversees specific functions of the station in larger television or radio stations. Some broadcast executives are in charge of multiple stations.

In addition to those who work behind the scenes, television and radio studios have a large number of employees who sit in front of the camera or speak into the microphone. A broadcast manager, like a manager in almost any other type of office, assists in overseeing the job functions that everyone at the station performs. The manager of a television or radio station is also in charge of the station’s relationships with outside organizations, such as advertisers and the company that owns it.

When unusual situations arise at the station, a broadcast manager steps in to help. To find solutions to the station’s challenges, the manager draws on his or her extensive broadcasting experience. Because they must know the industry well, most people have several years of experience working for television or radio stations to qualify for the position.

Smaller television or radio stations may have three or fewer managers who are responsible for a variety of tasks. Managers who specialize in specific functions, such as accounting, advertisement sales, or public relations, are common in larger radio and television stations. Other employees, such as secretaries, production assistants, and clerks, assist the management team with administrative tasks at the station.

A general broadcast manager is in charge of a large radio or television station’s management team. The general manager ensures that everyone on the team is working toward the same organizational goals, regardless of which managerial functions they are responsible for. The general manager also serves as a liaison between the station and its owners, reporting station activity to them and relaying messages from the owners to the employees.

The landscape of broadcast journalism has shifted, and some broadcast managers now oversee multiple stations rather than focusing solely on one. Broadcast companies have discovered that managing multiple stations with a single management team creates uniformity and lowers operating costs. In some cases, the management team is in charge of both radio and television stations owned the same company.