How Much Does It Cost to Start A TV Network?
The short answer to how much does it cost to start a TV network is it depends. So, what does it actually depend on? Before figuring out how much it costs to start a TV network, ask yourself:
- What kind of content are you willing to create?
- What is your production budget?
- How many audiences are you targeting?
When you are sure about these, it will be easier to figure out the entire cost. Moreover, there are a few costs for starting a TV network. Let’s dig deep into the overall costs of starting a TV network.
How Much Does It Cost to Start A TV Network?
Starting a TV network isn’t a piece of cake. But it can be rewarding if you succeed. Apart from the strongest desire to start a TV channel, what you need most is funding. There is no way to avoid it.
While starting a TV network, it is very crucial to consider the money aspect. Else, at the end of the day, your TV channel startup may fail because of a cash flow problem.
Hence, looking into what sort of investment you’ll need to start a TV network is essential. Below are some key factors that most affect the cost to start a TV network. Let’s find out.
1. Production Budget
Launching a TV channel with a $0 production budget is like jumping into the water without knowing the depth. So, what is the production budget actually? It is the amount you need to create an episode of a show on your channel.
Production costs include content costs, equipment, transportation, food, etc. You’ll likely have a handful of viewers when you are just starting a satellite TV channel. So, initially, your production budget will be less.
But to run a TV channel with millions of viewers, your production budget must naturally be in the millions. For example, NBC, the most-watched TV channel in the US, has a production budget of over $10 million.
2. Monthly Broadcasting Fees
Whether you start a satellite channel or an online channel on YouTube, both have certain monthly costs. One of these is the monthly broadcasting fee. Broadcasting costs include the costs for on-air time and TV advertising, video production, etc.
These costs are crucial to make the TV channel a reality. The broadcasting costs will vary depending on the service provider, region, and other available local channels. Still, you can expect to spend from $12 to $20.46 per month.
3. Monthly Transmission Fees
Transmission costs are the money spent to get distribution service on your channel, i.e., cable service. The cost will vary depending on what service you use and the channel’s genre.
You’ll likely have a $0 distribution cost when running a YouTube channel. But to start a satellite TV channel, you will need a monthly transmission fee of $5 per subscriber.
4. Hardware Costs
Initially while starting a TV network, many people make a common mistake. They get confused and spend too much on hardware. When you go to a hardware retailer, they will try to sell many unnecessary things to make a profit.
Buying what you don’t need at the beginning is nothing but a waste of money. It is wise to start with less and grow gradually. There are many online resources that you can use instead of buying hardware.
For example, you can edit videos online instead of buying a costly PC. Though you still have to spend for online editing, it is more affordable than hardware.
5. Content Costs
They say, “Content is king”, and it’s true! Content is the heart of a TV channel. If there is content, there are viewers. So, you need to have a good budget for content.
Content costs comprise shooting, editing, and music to create news, current affairs, non-news, and advertisement. However, the content costs vary depending on the type of show you want to make.
For example, to make a non-friction show, you might need a music license fee of $0 per minute. On the other hand, a comedy show might need $5 per minute.
6. Monthly Costs for Staff
A TV channel is not developed alone but requires a team of qualified people. Their skills and quality of work will determine the success of your channel. So, you shouldn’t be stingy at all here.
Keep a reasonable budget to hire experts at attractive salaries. If you cannot afford too many, opt for less but qualified ones. Or you may wait for a while. You will not be disappointed for sure.
7. Costs for Marketing and Promotional Activities
Marketing is very much crucial for a TV channel. It enhances your extent and makes your channel reach more viewers. So, you’ll need a good amount for marketing and promotion costs.
However, these costs include advertising, banners, social media marketing, etc. The cost for marketing and promotional activities will vary based on the number of visitors you are targeting.
The TV advertising production cost can be anywhere between $2000 and $50,000. Let’s say you want 100,000 views per month on your YouTube channel with a $500 production budget. You can expect to spend $500 on social media ads.
8. Costs for Maintaining a TV Network
When you start a TV channel, you’ll need a network to host your content. Taking your production budget, content, and network into account, you’ll need a budget for maintaining a network. The bigger the channel, the more you’ll have to pay to maintain a network.
Some networks will offer discounts for the first few channels you create on their network. Some will charge a setup fee, others a monthly fee. Even you’ll need to pay a fee for each channel you broadcast on some networks.
9. Operational Costs
Operating costs are the usual day-to-day costs of running a TV channel. These costs vary depending on your channel, production budget, and the number of audiences.
10. Equipment Costs
Based on what type of content you make, equipment costs differ. The equipment costs include the cost of a camera, sound system, and repair equipment.
If you are creating action-rich content, you will need to invest in a high-quality camera. For a comedy show, you might need only editing software. Conversely, a food show might need to film and edit too much footage and music.
11. Emergency Fund
It is good to have a backup before starting a TV channel. Start a TV channel only if you have 3 to 6 months of monthly expenses in your bank account. This will help you many flaws in your plans even before you start the TV network.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how much does it cost to start a TV network can help to launch your startup. It is hard to tell exactly how much it will cost. But hopefully, this article has given you a clear idea of where and how much it might cost.
However, if you are planning to start a TV channel, find an investor first. Find one who can fund you to launch your TV network successfully. Make a plan considering all these costs involved in starting a TV network. Best of luck!
Read also: How to Install Peacock TV on Vizio Smart TV?
