What Does a TV Producer Do?
Find out what it takes to bring a program to the small screen.
What's a Television Production Career Like?
Television producers are the financial and creative masterminds who bring together all the major aspects of a scripted show, reality program or news broadcast.
Many job descriptions fall under the producer title, but the role's traditional responsibility is to oversee a production's financing and end-to-end operations. Producers secure funding, set the budget, monitor schedules and are ultimately the ones responsible for a program's success or failure.
It's a high-stakes job with demanding deadlines and erratic work schedules, but seeing your name in the credits is worth it, right?
What Does a Television Producer Do?
A TV producer is responsible for various aspects of television show production, such as securing funding, hiring cast members, overseeing the production process, and managing advertising efforts. Additionally, their tasks may include handling contracts for the show's cast and crew.
Common Responsibilities of TV Producers
- Securing financing for the project
- Establishing and managing the budget
- Determining which scripts or ideas to produce
- Writing and editing scripts or news stories
- Auditioning actors or on-air talent
- Hiring directors and crew
- Overseeing all aspects of production (set design, choreography, lighting, performances, cinematography, sound, editing)
- Reviewing rehearsals or recordings to ensure compliance standards are met
- Ensuring the program stays on schedule and deadlines are met
Skills Needed for Television Producers
- Management skills: Producers hire and manage a program's director, talent and crew and must ensure that everyone works together successfully.
- Communication skills: It takes many different types of people, both on and off set, to create a broadcast program, so a producer must know how to effectively convey ideas to staff and promote the program to the media.
- Creative skills: Great storytelling skills are essential to create an engaging program that makes an impression on viewers.
- Troubleshooting skills: Producers must be able to quickly problem-solve any production or staffing issues that may arise.
- Financial skills: As the project's purse-string holder, money-management skills are essential for producers.
- Business skills: All responsibility for a project's success lies with a producer, so business acumen is critical.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022, Producers and Directors.