A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations.
In countries where most networks broadcast identical, centrally originated content from all their stations and where most individual stations are therefore nothing more than large "repeater stations," the terms television network, television channel and television station have become interchangeable in everyday language, with only professionals in TV-related occupations continuing to make a difference between them.
A related concept is that of a television system (not to be confused with broadcast television system), which refers to a group of television stations owned by a common entity and sharing common schedule patterns and on-air branding, but where each station in the group is considered to be independent, such as Citytv in Canada.
However, under the law, television stations do not have to return their analog channel until 85 percent of households in a market can receive DTV signals; this is not likely to occur by the December 2006 target date in many markets.
Television manufacturers say they are reluctant to roll out digital cable-ready sets until all cable systems implement the agreed-upon technical standards, and they have requested that FCC implement a timetable for national cable standards.
Because about 25 million new television sets are sold each year, significant numbers of households would own a television set capable of receiving digital signals via cable without the need for a set-top box by the date-certain cable switchover, thereby lessening the need of cable subscribers to obtain set-top boxes when the switchover occurs.
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