Changes

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 on weekdays before and after school 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, variety shows, religious programs and locally produced news, talk, 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).

* '''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 on weekdays before and after school 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, variety shows, religious programs and locally produced news, talk, sports (in particular, live broadcasts of games of local sports teams in the [[NFL]], [[NBA]], [[Major League Baseball]] and the [[NHL]]) 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.