Regional variation#Opt-out

Commercial television in Canada generally used a model similar to the U.S., with networks composed of first-party owned and operated (O&O) stations, and third-party affiliates. However, from the 1990s through the 2000s, Canada's major commercial networks were largely consolidated under conglomerates: CTV, Global, Citytv, TVA, and nearly all of their respective stations are owned by Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, Rogers Media, and Quebecor respectively.

The major English-language networks, including advertising-funded public network CBC Television, have largely used similar schedules, and consistent branding and on-air continuity, with little variation besides local newscasts and public affairs programs (for example, some CTV stations, especially in Western Canada, substitute the network's national morning show Your Morning for the local format CTV Morning Live), and time zone variations to allow for simultaneous substitution of programming carried by U.S. broadcast stations available on subscription television in the market. There are relatively few third-party affiliate stations of Canada's commercial networks; they typically follow the schedule of an O&O in a nearby major market, but with opt-outs for local newscasts and other local programming, and may also simulcast that station's newscasts in timeslots where they do not air their own (essentially acting as a third-party semi-satellite).

Corus Entertainment's private CTV affiliates substituted CTV News programs with Global News programs, and CHEX-TV-2 additionally branded as "Global Durham" despite otherwise being a CTV affiliate. CHEX-DT/Peterborough is within the range of CTV's Toronto station CFTO-DT, and both are carried on cable locally; the stations ultimately became Global stations after the affiliation expired.{{cite news|last=Kovach |first=Joelle |title=CHEX-TV newscasts rebranding as CHEX News on Global Peterborough |url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news-story/8818775-chex-tv-newscasts-rebranding-as-chex-news-on-global-peterborough/ |access-date=August 15, 2018 |work=The Peterborough Examiner |date=August 14, 2018 |language=en-CA}} These stations were previously private CBC affiliates; when Hockey Night in Canada aired games regionally, CHEX aired an alternate game over CBC's Toronto station CBLT to provide an additional option for viewers where both stations were readily available.

CJON-DT has more significant variations due to having sublicensed different types of programming from Global, CTV, and Yes TV.

Regional variation in the Philippines is more of an exception than a rule as most of a network's stations across the country simulcast the entire programming lineup seen on that network's flagship station (usually based in Metro Manila). This practice effective renders most regional stations as relay stations of their parent network's flagship station.

However, some national networks like GMA have regional variations in selected parts of the country. They feature regional news programmes (each network decides how many different regional variations it wishes to have and which provinces constitute which viewing region). Sometimes, whilst network programming is ongoing, stations may insert a ticker tape of advertisements from local/regional companies.

Prior to ABS-CBN's free-to-air stations' shut down due to the non-renewal of that network's broadcasting franchise, its regional stations used to feature regional programmes beyond news. However, most of them had been scaled back dramatically or cancelled altogether due to cost-cutting measures and preparations for the network's impending digital switchover.{{Cite web|url=https://fromthetube.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/abs-cbn-regional-cancels-agri-tayo-dito-magtv-na/|title=ABS-CBN Regional Cancels Agri Tayo Dito, MagTV Na|last=ralphierce|date=25 June 2018 |website=From the Tube|language=en|access-date=2019-03-16}} When ABS-CBN offered regional free-to-air TV, it featured regional variations of TV Patrol, which were standalone news programmes that aired late in the afternoon immediately before the main national edition.

From 2011 to 2016, TV5 used to feature regional variations in its Cebu station DYET-TV with a local news programme entitled Aksyon Bisaya. Since then, DYET-TV has reverted to a relay station of DWET-TV.

In British television, regional variations commonly involve the provisioning of local news and current affairs programming; for example, the licenses for the ITV network require that its stations carry a minimum quota of regional news. As the United Kingdom consists of four different countries, television stations serving Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have had a tradition of regional programmes of relevance to their respective cultures.

The BBC's local outlets are divided into four departments for each country of the United Kingdom, including BBC English Regions (which itself is subdivided into divisions encompassing the various regions of England),{{cite web |date=7 May 1999 |title=The future of Pebble Mill |url=http://www.bectubbc.org.uk/news/1999/19990507.html |access-date=20 April 2007 |publisher=BECTU}} BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Scotland, and BBC Cymru Wales.{{cite news |title=Charlotte Moore appointed to BBC Board |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/charlotte-moore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409134658/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/charlotte-moore |archive-date=9 April 2021 |access-date=3 September 2020 |publisher=BBC Media Centre. 3 September 2020}}{{cite news |title=BBC Radio and Education moves to new division |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/09/bbc-radio-and-education-moves-to-new-division/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625090235/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/09/bbc-radio-and-education-moves-to-new-division/ |archive-date=25 June 2022 |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=Radio Today}} The English Regions division was first established in the 1970s in response to ITV and the growth of BBC Local Radio, replacing broader transmission regions that previously operated in England (BBC North, BBC Midlands and East Anglia, and BBC South and West. BBC London primarily served as the production centre for national programmes and network feeds, and was not considered a region in its own right) with a system of regional production centres for national programming in Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester to supplant the previous transmission regions (so that national programming would not be produced exclusively from London), and smaller regions with the capability of producing local programming such as news.{{cite book |title=Broadcasting in the Seventies |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |year=1969 |isbn=0-563-08562-2}}{{cite web |date=22 November 2005 |title=House of Lords – BBC Charter Review – Minutes of Evidence |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldbbc/128/5112219.htm |access-date=13 April 2007 |publisher=UK Parliament}}

BBC One currently operates fifteen regional services, with twelve (and three sub-regions) for England, and one each for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; they are differentiated primarily by local news and current affairs programming.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-24 |title=BBC English regions to launch HD versions |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/09/24/bbc-english-regions-to-launch-hd-versions/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Broadband TV News |language=en-GB}} The Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales channels have more noticeable on-air differences, including more prominent regional branding and use of local continuity announcers, while BBC One Scotland carries additional entertainment and sports programming of relevance to the country (including original series such as the Glasgow-set soap opera River City, local sports coverage under the Sportscene banner,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_scot.shtml About the BBC – Statements of Programme Policy 2007/2008 BBC One Scotland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926021725/http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_scot.shtml|date=26 September 2013}} BBC[https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_ni.shtml About the BBC – Statements of Programme Policy 2007/2008 BBC One NI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926093622/http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_ni.shtml|date=26 September 2013}} BBC[https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_wales.shtml About the BBC – Statements of Programme Policy 2007/2008 BBC One Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925204926/http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2007/television/bbcone_wales.shtml|date=25 September 2013}} BBC{{Cite book |last=Holmes |first=Jeff |title=10 Years of River City: Behind the Scenes of Scotland's Favourite TV Drama |publisher=World of Books Ltd |year=2012 |isbn=9781845024529 |pages=2}} and Hogmanay-themed programming in lieu of the London-focused New Year's Eve special aired on the rest of the network).{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2023-12-31 |title=Hogmanay Hell: The BBC's New Year Live 98 - Comedy Chronicles |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/hogmanay-hell-new-year-live-98/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McCann |first=Graham |date=2021-12-30 |title=Gang Aft Agley: The Day TV Broke Hogmanay - Comedy Chronicles |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/hogmanay-tv-broadcasts/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}

BBC Two has one regional service, BBC Two Wales; from 2001 to 2009, the channel carried a part-time opt-out in prime time on digital television known as BBC 2W, which carried a separate lineup of Wales-produced programming. The service was discontinued in 2009, after which BBC Two Wales began to be broadcast in both analogue and digital, with a mix of national programmes and opt-outs for regional programmes.{{Cite book |title=English is a Welsh language - Television's Crisis in Wales |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |year=2009 |pages=119–120}}{{cite news |date=18 October 2007 |title=BBC 2W to close |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a78015/bbc-2w-to-close.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020013926/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a78015/bbc-2w-to-close.html |archive-date=October 20, 2007 |access-date=2007-10-18 |publisher=Digital Spy}} BBC Scotland previously operated a regional version of BBC Two for the country, but it was discontinued in 2019 in favour of a part-time BBC Scotland channel.{{Cite news |date=2019-02-24 |title=New BBC Scotland TV channel launches |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47345058 |access-date=2019-02-25 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2019-01-31 |title=Where to find the new BBC Scotland TV channel |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47069479 |access-date=2019-02-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=3 September 2018 |title=BBC faces strict quotas to ensure it delivers on promises on Scottish content on new channel |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16683725.bbc-faces-strict-quotas-to-ensure-it-delivers-on-promises-on-scottish-content-on-new-channel/ |access-date=2019-02-12 |website=Herald Scotland |language=en}}

ITV was originally conceived as a collective of broadcasters serving different regions of the United Kingdom with regional and national programming; the franchises were originally awarded by the Independent Television Authority (ITA) through a review process.{{cite news |date=9 January 1964 |title=No New Independent Tv Companies Appointed |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=hamlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS168388137&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=18 January 2013 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite news |date=22 December 1966 |title=BIG five' pattern for Independent TV |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=hamlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS18705302&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=18 January 2013 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite news |date=11 October 1974 |title=Discussions start on TV contract extensions |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=hamlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS335903563&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=18 January 2013 |newspaper=The Times}} The implementation of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and replacement of the ITA with the ITC resulted in major changes to the structure of ITV; the previous review process was replaced by an auction,{{cite news |last=Douglas |first=Torin |date=25 September 2008 |title=Analysis: Ofcom's regional news proposals |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7635822.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903103659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7635822.stm |archive-date=3 September 2014 |access-date=19 January 2013 |newspaper=BBC News}}{{cite news |last=Douglas |first=Torin |date=4 March 2009 |title=What is the outlook for ITV? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7921427.stm |access-date=26 June 2011 |publisher=BBC News |quote=The days when an ITV franchise was deemed 'a licence to print money' and a single regional company – Granada – could splash out millions on high-quality dramas such as Brideshead Revisited and The Jewel in the Crown are long gone.}}{{cite news |last=Wittstock |first=Melinda |date=17 October 1991 |title=Legal threats follow biggest ITV shake-up |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=hamlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&docId=IF501890705&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=19 January 2013 |newspaper=The Times}} and most of the previously separate companies began to consolidate over the decade in order to be more competitive against larger conglomerates.{{cite news |last=Barrie |first=Chris |date=27 November 1999 |title=Now the talk is of one ITV |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/nov/27/15 |access-date=1 August 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |quote=Mr Green said consolidation of ITV into one company was needed because the companies had to be in a position to compete with large overseas groups.}} This resulted in two main owners across England and Wales: Carlton and Granada. These two companies would then merge to form ITV plc in 2004.{{cite news |last=Madslein |first=Jorn |date=2 February 2004 |title=ITV: A third force in broadcasting |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3445627.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206075611/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3445627.stm |archive-date=6 February 2021 |access-date=19 January 2013 |publisher=BBC News}}{{cite news |last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |date=2 February 2004 |title=Finally, ITV plc is born |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/02/citynews.ITV?INTCMP=SRCH |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204094415/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/02/citynews.ITV?INTCMP=SRCH |archive-date=4 February 2021 |access-date=19 January 2013 |newspaper=Guardian |location=London}}

As of 2013, ITV operated 14 news regions, expanding from a previous realignment that had cut ITV to eight news regions, and also led to cuts in non-peak news programmes and other regional programmes.{{Cite web |last=Ponsford |first=Dominic |date=23 July 2013 |title=Ofcom slashes number of regional news minutes |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ofcom-slashes-number-regional-news-minutes-itv-required-broadcast |website=Press Gazette}} Following ITV's acquisition of Channel Television in 2011,{{Cite web |author=Kanter, Jake |date=24 November 2011 |title=ITV completes Channel Television takeover |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/itv-completes-channel-television-takeover/5035027.article |access-date=25 November 2011 |work=broadcastnow.co.uk |publisher=Broadcast}} two franchises—UTV in Northern Ireland and STV in Scotland—remained the only ITV franchises not owned by ITV plc.{{cite web |last=Kanter |first=Jake |date=5 March 2012 |title=ITV strikes 'landmark' agreements with STV and UTV |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/itv-strikes-landmark-agreements-with-stv-and-utv/5038833.article |access-date=5 May 2013 |publisher=Broadcast}}{{cite web |last=Farey-Jones |first=Daniel |date=5 March 2012 |title=ITV, STV and UTV agree new network arrangements |url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/1120504/ITV-STV-UTV-agree-new-network-arrangements/ |access-date=5 May 2013 |work=Media Week}} In 2009, STV became caught in a legal dispute with ITV over its decisions to opt-out of networked programmes that it deemed "underperforming", in favour of more Scottish productions.{{cite news |last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |date=11 September 2009 |title=STV defends dropping ITV dramas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/sep/11/stv-defends-dropping-itv-dramas |access-date=23 May 2010 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} STV and UTV's presence in the network were transitioned to an affiliate model in 2012, in which they would now pay an upfront license fee to ITV plc for the rights to carry ITV programming.{{cite web |date=23 August 2012 |title=STV confirms network deal is up and running |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-19355190 |access-date=5 May 2013 |publisher=BBC News}} UTV would later be sold to ITV plc in 2015.{{Cite news |date=2020-11-26 |title=End of era at UTV as Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter exit |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/end-of-era-at-utv-as-julian-simmons-and-gillian-porter-exit/39795035.html |access-date=2024-10-27 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

In Wales, S4C launched in 1982 as a fourth television channel dedicated to Welsh-language programmes; prior to then, Welsh programmes had commonly been scheduled as regional opt-outs on BBC One Wales and ITV station HTV—a practice that proved controversial due to their inconvenient scheduling, as well as the resulting pre-emptions of English-language programmes screened elsewhere. Upon S4C's launch, BBC Cymru Wales and HTV agreed to move their Welsh-language output to the new channel. Channel 4—a fourth national channel that concurrently launched outside of Wales—sub-licensed its English-language programmes to S4C at no charge, as they would not otherwise be available in Wales. Channel 4 programmes aired on S4C in off-peak time slots.{{Cite news |date=1 November 2022 |title=S4C: Birthplace of SuperTed and Fireman Sam turns 40 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-63414736 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |date=28 June 1980 |title=Welshing on TV |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hw1XAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Welshing+on+TV%22 |newspaper=The Economist |page=75}}{{cite book |last=Catterall |first=Peter |author-link=Pippa Catterall |title=The Making of Channel 4 |publisher=Routledge |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-7146-4926-9 |page=51}} The arrangement was phased out with the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television, as Channel 4 became available over-the-air in Wales on Freeview. As a result, S4C would solely carry Welsh programming on its digital feeds.{{cite news |author=Michael Lench |date=31 March 2010 |title=S4C Holds a Special Position in the TV Advertising Market |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%27S4C+holds+a+special+position+in+the+TV+advertising+market%27+Michael...-a0222523953 |url-status= |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=Western Mail |location=Cardiff, Wales |via=TheFreeLibrary}}

U.S. broadcast television is heavily regionalised due to the business model of its major networks, which enter into agreements with stations in each media market to carry their national programming, similarly to a franchise. As the FCC enforces a limit on the market share of broadcasters, commercial networks only have owned and operated stations (O&Os) in major or otherwise strategic markets, and rely on third-party affiliates to reach the remainder of the country. PBS—the United States' public television network—refers to affiliates as member stations instead, and does not limit them to one per market. PBS does not have owned-or-operated stations due to its structure, but certain major-market members have been considered de facto flagships of the network due to their prominent contributions to the PBS national schedule, such as WGBH-TV in Boston, WNET in New York City, and WETA-TV in Washington, DC.

Outside of network programming (which usually consists of two or three hours of prime time programmes per-night at a minimum, and may also include national news, sports and daytime programmes), the scheduling of each station's programming varies, and usually consists of local newscasts, programmes acquired from the syndication market, and brokered programming (including infomercials, more often in off-peak hours). Similarities may still exist in the scheduling of syndicated programmes between markets, based on factors such as "recommended" timeslots suggested by a programme's distributor, and broadcasters acquiring a particular programme for all of their stations in a group deal. Due to differing market dynamics, Spanish-language networks such as Telemundo and Univision, as well as specialty networks designed to be carried on digital subchannels, have a centralised network schedule, which stations may opt out from for local news or regulatory obligations not fulfilled by national programming (such as children's educational programming).

Affiliates may, from time to time, opt out of network programs to air special programming of local interest (such as coverage of sports or local celebrations); affiliation contracts typically contain restrictions on how often this can be done, and may require the displaced programming to be pre-empted to either a sister station, digital subchannel, or different timeslot (such as during the late-night hours or on a different night) as compensation. In the past, Westinghouse Broadcasting was known for pre-empting network programming on its stations for its own in-house programming; when reaching a major affiliation deal with CBS in 1994 (as part of a larger re-alignment of broadcast television triggered by Fox's acquisition of New World Communications), the company agreed to cease this practice and carry all CBS network programming in-pattern with no preemptions. Westinghouse would later acquire CBS outright.{{cite news |last=Zier |first=Julie A. |date=July 18, 1994 |title=CBS, Group W form historic alliance. |work=Broadcasting and Cable |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-07-18-Page-0014.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013}}{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite news |last=Kandell |first=Johnathan |date=16 November 2012 |title=Obituary: Laurence A. Tisch, Investor Known for Saving CBS Inc. From Takeover, Dies at 80 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/16/business/laurence-a-tisch-investor-known-for-saving-cbs-inc-from-takeover-dies-at-80.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |access-date=12 July 2012}}

In certain highly publicised cases, affiliates have opted out of network programmes (either individual episodes, or entire series) based on objections to their content by station management,{{Cite news |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=2009-04-01 |title=Some Fox Stations Won't Air 'Osbournes: Reloaded' |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033104198.html |access-date=2022-06-24 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |title=Channel 6 bumps Osbournes to 1 a.m., schedules drug special instead |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/42161692.html/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel}} such as due to the owner's religious values (KSL-TV—a Utah-based station owned by a for-profit arm of the LDS Church—has a long history of having declined shows it deemed to be objectionable),{{cite news |date=January 25, 1993 |title=KSL PULLS 'PICKET FENCES,' CALLS THE SHOW 'OFFENSIVE' |newspaper=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/1/25/19028676/ksl-pulls-picket-fences-calls-the-show-offensive |access-date=July 12, 2021}}{{cite news |author=Scott D. Pierce |date=January 26, 1993 |title=AS CBS PROGRAMS BECOME MORE RISQUE, WILL KSL-CH. 5 REMAIN A NETWORK AFFILIATE? |newspaper=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/1/26/19028883/as-cbs-programs-become-more-risque-will-ksl-ch-5-remain-a-network-affiliate |access-date=July 12, 2021}}{{cite news |author=Scott D. Pierce |date=March 6, 1993 |title=NBC HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE 'CHEERS' FINALE |newspaper=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/3/6/19035748/nbc-has-big-plans-for-the-cheers-finale |access-date=July 12, 2021}}{{cite web |title=TV shocker — KSL will start airing "Saturday Night Live" in the fall |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogstv/56518025-63/ksl-nbc-saturday-channel.html.csp |access-date=June 27, 2013 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}{{cite news |date=January 7, 2006 |title=KSL-TV airs 'The Book of Daniel' |url=https://www.deseret.com/2006/1/7/19931643/ksl-tv-airs-the-book-of-daniel/ |access-date=August 26, 2012 |newspaper=Deseret News |publisher=Deseret Digital Media |location=Salt Lake City}} political reasons,{{cite web |title=Sinclair known for conservative political tilt |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020756844_fishersinclairxml.html |access-date=April 12, 2013 |publisher=Seattle Times}}{{cite web |title=Names of U.S. war dead read on 'Nightline' |url=http://www.today.com/id/4864247/ns/today-entertainment/#.UWeoKNzrz-U |access-date=April 12, 2013 |work=NBC News |date=29 April 2004 |publisher=Associated Press}} and sensitivity issues (in June 2017, NBC-owned WVIT in Connecticut opted out of an episode of Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly that controversially featured an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who had denied the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings).{{Cite news |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=June 16, 2017 |title=Connecticut NBC Station Will Not Air Megyn Kelly's Alex Jones Interview |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/connecticut-nbcmegyn-kelly-alex-jones-interview-1202469317/ |access-date=June 22, 2017 |work=Variety}} Boston's then-NBC station WHDH threatened to decline the network's then-upcoming prime time talk show The Jay Leno Show over concerns that it would be detrimental to the viewership of its late-night local news. However, the station relented after NBC threatened to pull its affiliation from WHDH if it went through with its threat. As was feared by the station, the underperformance of The Jay Leno Show resulted in a 25–30% decline in the viewership of late local newscasts across some NBC stations.{{cite news |author=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 7, 2009 |title=NBC May Be Considering Reinstating Leno on 'Tonight Show' |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/nbc-may-be-considering-reinstating-leno-on-tonight-show/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819004134/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/nbc-may-be-considering-reinstating-leno-on-tonight-show/ |archive-date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2010 |work=Media Decoder |publisher=The New York Times}}{{cite news |author=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 7, 2009 |title=Update: NBC Plan Would Move Leno to Late Nights |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/update-nbc-plans-leno-at-1130-conan-at-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109134254/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/update-nbc-plans-leno-at-1130-conan-at-12/ |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |access-date=January 8, 2010 |work=Media Decoder |publisher=The New York Times}}

A more straightforward equivalent to a regional variation in North American broadcasting is a semi-satellite—a co-owned rebroadcaster of a television station that is used to extend its range into a different portion of a market (typically if the main signal is not strong enough to reach it), or a different one entirely, but has more variation in programming than a straight rebroadcaster. Semi-satellites typically share the majority of their programming with a parent station (which may vary to account for syndication rights), but carry a different on-air brand, and local advertising specific to the region. Some semi-satellites have dedicated news bureaus, and may opt out from the parent's station's newscasts to carry either local news segments, or dedicated local newscasts in selected time slots.

• WJMN-TV in Escanaba, Michigan—which formerly served as a sister to Green Bay, Wisconsin's WFRV-TV for the state's Upper Peninsula. It largely served as a passthrough for WFRV's programming and CBS affiliation until 2014, when then-owner Nexstar Media Group opened a new studio Marquette, Michigan to originate UP-specific evening newscasts.{{cite news |date=March 13, 2014 |title=WJMN To Introduce Local News, Go HD |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74794/wjmn-to-introduce-local-news-go-hd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313184153/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74794/wjmn-to-introduce-local-news-go-hd |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |newspaper=TVNewsCheck}} In 2022, WJMN lost its CBS affiliation to WZMQ, resulting in changes to its schedule to supplant network programming (including an affiliation with MyNetworkTV).{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2022 |title=WZMQ Becomes Marquette, Michigan's New CBS Affiliate |url=https://wzmq19.com/wzmq-becomes-marquette-michigans-new-cbs-affiliate/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121021214/https://wzmq19.com/wzmq-becomes-marquette-michigans-new-cbs-affiliate/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2022 |work=WZMQ |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2022 |title=WJMN Local 3 becomes independent news station |url=https://www.upmatters.com/news/wjmn-local-3-becomes-independent-news-station/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233740/https://www.upmatters.com/news/wjmn-local-3-becomes-independent-news-station/ |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2022 |work=UPMatters.com |language=en-US}} In 2024, the station was separated from WFRV with its sale to Sullivan's Landing, LLC, which consolidated WJMN with ABC and CW stations WBUP and WBKP as part of management agreements with the two stations' new owner Morgan Murphy Media.{{Cite web |last=Perkins |first=Schyler |date=2024-09-16 |title=Rescan your TV to take advantage of My UP's over-the-air signal improvements |url=https://www.myupnow.com/news/rescan-your-tv-to-take-advantage-of-my-ups-over-the-air-signal-improvements/article_caaf9620-745a-11ef-9151-af9e83786f0b.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=MyUPNow.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Nexstar Sells WJMN-TV to Illinois Broadcaster |url=https://www.michiganmedia.com/2024/04/12/nexstar-sells-wjmn-tv-to-illinois-broadcaster/ |access-date=August 31, 2024 |website=Michigan Association of Broadcasters |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Morgan Murphy Media Acquires Northern Michigan TV/Radio Combo |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/258856/morgan-murphy-media-acquires-northern-michigan-tv-radio-combo/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |work=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}
• WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks, North Dakota—a sister to WDAY-TV in Fargo. WDAZ previously aired Grand Forks-specific evening and late-night newscasts, while otherwise simulcasting regional newscasts produced from Fargo by WDAY. In December 2018, WDAZ discontinued its local newscasts due to economic factors, while continuing to maintain its bureau for Grand Forks-specific coverage in WDAY's news programming.{{cite news|title=WDAY takes over 5 p.m. news in Grand Forks|url=http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/wday-takes-over-5-pm-news-grand-forks|access-date=July 16, 2014|work=Grand Forks Herald|date=July 15, 2014}}{{cite news|title=WDAY Launching Statewide Morning Newscast|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/wday-launching-statewide-morning-newscast_b119980|access-date=July 16, 2014|work=TVSpy.com}}{{Cite web |date=2018-11-30 |title=WDAZ to merge broadcasts with WDAY |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/business/small-business/4536601-wdaz-merge-broadcasts-wday |access-date=2019-01-22 |website=Grand Forks Herald |language=en}}
• WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia—which previously operated a retransmitter, W16CE, to improve its broadcast coverage in the state capital of Charleston, West Virginia. During this time, the stations' newscasts were divided into regional and local segments; the regional segment was simulcast across both stations, and jointly presented by anchors in Huntington and Charleston via split screen. The stations then broke away for segments focusing on their respective cities.{{cite web |title=The Charleston Split |url=http://www.wsaz.com/home/misc/Charleston_Split_18322959.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922071120/http://www.wsaz.com/home/misc/Charleston_Split_18322959.html |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=July 27, 2013 |publisher=WSAZ-TV}}
• In some regions, a larger-scale group of co-owned stations may be linked together to form a state network—such as the Montana Television Network (a group of CBS affiliates and one NBC affiliate across Montana),{{Cite news |last=Press |first=Associate |title=Cordillera Communications purchases KTVH in Helena |url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/cordillera-communications-purchases-ktvh-in-helena/article_0fe3747f-7ac5-5b8d-a823-1a7f68afcd3d.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030118/http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/cordillera-communications-purchases-ktvh-in-helena/article_0fe3747f-7ac5-5b8d-a823-1a7f68afcd3d.html |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |access-date=May 12, 2018 |work=The Billings Gazette |language=en}} NBC North Dakota, Forum Communications' ABC affiliates KBMY in Bismarck and KMCY in Minot (which are largely fed from WDAY), as well as chains of non-commercial stations (typically PBS stations).
• In some markets, there may be multiple PBS member stations, either operating as a duopoly partner of another station (such as WGBH's WGBX), or being operated by another entity. In these cases, the members cooperate with PBS on alternate schedules so that the secondary stations carry different amounts of national programming.

Regional sports networks that cover large regions may similarly be carved into regional variants to account for differing broadcast rights to teams between markets. Examples include Fox Sports San Diego—spun from Fox Sports West in 2012 after it acquired rights to the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball,{{cite news|title=Fox Sports San Diego to launch in March|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/16/new-fox-sports-san-diego-launch-around-march-5/|author=Jay Posner|newspaper=U-T San Diego|publisher=MLIM Holdings|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=February 20, 2012}} and MSG Western New York—a Buffalo, New York-centric feed of the state-wide MSG Network that is co-owned by local team owner Pegula Sports and Entertainment.{{cite news|last=Pergament|first=Alan|title=Wide-ranging deal will keep Sabres – and other Pegula Sports & Entertainment content – on MSG|url=http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2016/06/20/wide-ranging-deal-will-keep-sabres-and-other-pegula-sports-entertainment-content-on-msg/|access-date=June 22, 2016|work=The Buffalo News|date=June 21, 2016}}

• TV listings (UK)
• Listings magazine
• local insertion

• [http://www.itvlocal.com A map of ITV Regions] at itvlocal.com
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/england/tvindex.shtml A map of BBC TV Regions in England] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103173950/http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/tvindex.shtml |date=3 November 2012 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

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Category:Television in the United Kingdom

Category:Television terminology