Since before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have turned to TV for comfort, information, and entertainment. In fact, when the pandemic hit, comfort viewing reached a whole new level, but there were questions about how TV production could forge ahead during a health crisis. Thanks to clever thinking, increased safety protocols, and patience, TV production has continued throughout thanks to those hard-working men and women, both in front of and behind the camera, who make up cable’s workforce and who are helping to deliver the high-quality news, entertainment, and programming that audiences love.
Last year, the program network industry (directly and indirectly) accounted for 1.25 million U.S. jobs. That includes all the folks who worked on a TV production, those who ran a catering company hired to feed the crew, those who operated sound equipment, those who took care of the cast’s dry cleaning, and more.
Cable TV programmers were responsible for over $44 billion in personal income in 2020 alone.
In 2020, cable TV programmers were responsible for over $44 billion in personal income. That’s $44 billion that went into American workers’ pockets, that helped power the American economy through spending, and that kept workers afloat during the pandemic.
The TV programmer industry boats a total economic impact of $151 billion to the U.S. economy.
But that $44 billion in personal income is just a portion of the industry’s economic impact. Taken together, personal income, money spent on promotion, investment in equipment, and other expenses combine to a staggering $151 billion economic impact.
The cable TV programmer industry has continued to power the American economy despite the pandemic. With safety regulations in place and remote work possible, TV production is in full swing, allowing the industry’s creative minds to do what they do best, which is to help bring America together during these uncertain times.
Read more here about the impact the cable industry has on the American economy.