Independent station

In the 1950s and 1960s, independent stations usually showed movies to fill their broadcast day. Over time, they started to show reruns of popular network shows after they had completed their network run.

While still drawing programming from the traditional sources, independent stations have started buying first-run syndicated programming. Some stations have ventured into local news broadcasts, sometimes in conjunction with a network affiliated local station.

Independent stations were once very common in the United States, but after the formation of new networks like Fox, The WB, UPN, and Pax; fewer independent stations are left. New York City, for instance, was once home to three major independent stations, but all three have since affiliated with newer networks.