What is an affiliate station in broadcasting?

• A. An independently owned TV station that signs a contract to be part of a network's programs; the network reserves time slots sold to national advertisers
• B. A network-owned station
• C. A cable channel
• D. A streaming platform

Answer: (A)

An affiliate station is a local broadcast outlet that is independently owned but carries programming from a national network. It signs a contract to air the network’s programs in its market, extending the network’s reach without owning the station itself. The network supplies the national content and typically handles national advertising, while the affiliate runs its own local operations, including local content and local ad sales. This setup explains why the station isn’t owned by the network (that would be a network-owned station) and why it isn’t a cable channel or a streaming platform, which are different distribution models.