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An '''independent station''', in the television broadcasting industry, is a television station which is not affiliated with any broadcast network. The programming schedules of these stations mainly carry a mix of [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]], brokered and local programming in time periods when network programs would otherwise air (such as during prime time, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific or 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Central/Mountain). Stations affiliated with minor networks [[The CW]] and MyNetworkTV can also be considered as quasi-independent stations as those networks only program two hours per night in primetime from Monday to Friday, leaving weekends and all other times to their affiliates to program.

An '''independent station''', in the television broadcasting industry, is a television station which is not affiliated with any broadcast network. The programming schedules of these stations mainly carry a mix of [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]], brokered and local programming in time periods when network programs would otherwise air (such as during primetime, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific or 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Central/Mountain). Stations affiliated with minor networks [[The CW]] and MyNetworkTV can also be considered as quasi-independent stations as those networks only program two hours per night in primetime from Monday to Friday, leaving weekends and all other times to their affiliates to program.

Independent stations are most common in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Canada, although they are not as common as they were in the past due to the formation of networks like [[Fox Network|FOX]], UPN and The WB in the United States and the [[Global Television Network]] in Canada leading to many then-independent stations joining those networks in their respective countries. Independent stations were also once common in the United Kingdom and Australia as alternatives to respective state-owned networks the [[BBC]] and the [[ABC (Australia)|ABC]], but those stations subsequently joined British commercial network [[ITV]] and Australian commercial networks Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten, which made traditional independent stations in those countries uncommon. In Japan, independent stations are those TV stations that are not affiliated with any network whose main stations are based in [[Tokyo]]. In Europe and the rest of the world, independent stations are all but non-existent as all TV stations in those areas are either owned by state broadcasters or by commercial networks.

Independent stations are most common in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Canada, although they are not as common as they were in the past due to the formation of networks like [[Fox Network|FOX]], UPN and The WB in the United States and the [[Global Television Network]] in Canada leading to many then-independent stations joining those networks in their respective countries. Independent stations were also once common in the United Kingdom and Australia as alternatives to respective state-owned networks the [[BBC]] and the [[ABC (Australia)|ABC]], but those stations subsequently joined British commercial network [[ITV]] and Australian commercial networks Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten, which made traditional independent stations in those countries uncommon. In Japan, independent stations are those TV stations that are not affiliated with any network whose main stations are based in [[Tokyo]]. In Europe and the rest of the world, independent stations are all but non-existent as all TV stations in those areas are either owned by state broadcasters or by commercial networks.

Independent stations generally follow one of the following formats:

Independent stations generally follow one of the following formats:

* '''General entertainment independents''', the format used by most independent stations in the United States and a few in Canada, consisting of shows acquired from program syndicators (such as feature films, first-run programs and off-network reruns of [[sitcom]]s and [[drama]]s), some brokered programming (mainly religious programming and infomercials) and some local programming (mainly newscasts and public affairs shows). In past decades, independent stations traditionally carried animated cartoons (generally in the mornings and afternoons and on Saturday mornings), off-network and first-run [[sitcom]]s, [[drama]]s and [[Western (movie genre)|Western]]s, movies, [[game show]]s, [[professional wrestling]] shows, religious programs and locally produced talk, variety, sports and children's shows. Independent stations also sometimes aired network shows that were not carried by local network affiliates.<ref>[http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/kcit50/  The Little Station That Couldn't: A look back at the sad, short life of Kansas City's first independent TV station]</ref> Since the late 1990s, programming on independent stations has consisted mainly of syndicated courtroom, talk and reality shows and local morning news shows in daytime hours, along with off-network sitcom and drama reruns, game shows and newsmagazines in early prime and primetime hours and infomercials in overnight hours.

* '''General entertainment independents''', the format used by most independent stations in the United States and a few in Canada, consisting of shows acquired from program syndicators (such as feature films, first-run programs and off-network reruns of [[sitcom]]s and [[drama]]s), some brokered programming (mainly religious programming and infomercials) and some local programming (mainly newscasts and public affairs shows). In past decades, independent stations traditionally carried animated cartoons (generally in the mornings and afternoons and on Saturday mornings), off-network and first-run [[sitcom]]s, [[drama]]s and [[Western (movie genre)|Western]]s, movies, [[game show]]s, [[professional wrestling]] shows, religious programs and locally produced talk, variety, sports and children's shows. Independent stations also sometimes aired network shows that were not carried by local network affiliates.<ref>[http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/kcit50/  The Little Station That Couldn't: A look back at the sad, short life of Kansas City's first independent TV station]</ref> Since the late 1990s, programming on independent stations has consisted mainly of syndicated courtroom, talk and reality shows and local morning news shows in daytime hours, along with off-network sitcom and drama reruns, game shows and newsmagazines in early prime and primetime hours and infomercials in overnight hours (and, on some stations, on weekend mornings and afternoons).

* '''Religious independents''', stations carrying syndicated and/or local religious programming that are not affiliated with religious networks (like the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] or [[Daystar]]). Some religious independents also carry non-religious mainstream programming, mainly the off-network sitcoms and dramas also carried by general entertainment independents (which may be subject to editing for content by the religious stations carrying such shows), to attract viewers and generate revenue for those stations.

* '''Religious independents''', stations carrying syndicated and/or local religious programming that are not affiliated with religious networks (like the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] or [[Daystar]]). Some religious independents also carry non-religious mainstream programming, mainly the off-network sitcoms and dramas also carried by general entertainment independents (which may be subject to editing for content by the religious stations carrying such shows), to attract viewers and generate revenue for those stations.