
《Understanding Broadcast and Cable Finance》
On the face of it, broadcasting and cable appear to be relatively simple industries—
the first supported primarily by advertising, and the second by subscriber fees.
Neither has inventory in the traditional sense, eliminating the need for storage
facilities and inventory-tracking systems associated with traditional businesses.1
However, both industries have unique and complex financial issues that are
dealt with in substantial detail in the body of this publication. These issues have
grown even more challenging as the industries have evolved due to increased competition
and the implementation of new technologies. As an introduction, this chapter
provides an operating background and abbreviated history of each industry segment,
and then discusses the regulatory environment in which these businesses operate.
It is important to understand this environment because it impacts all the financial
issues and systems discussed in this book.