The Ultimate Television Career Guide A professional guide to help you find the perfect career for you in the TV industry using your skills and interests. With the invention of smart television and streaming, television programs and productions have increased. Streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon produce and release content at a meteoric pace and invest significant money in content. Netflix reported spending $17 billion on content in 2021, while Amazon spent $9 billion on content during the year. Newer services like Disney+ are trying to catch up by throwing even more financial backing into content development. It’s been reported that the service will spend nearly $24.5 billion on streaming content in 2021. There are more opportunities in television than ever before. What are those positions and how do you get started? To help you determine and achieve your television industry career goals, we have created this comprehensive guide. Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Television Career Guide is your source to discover careers and learn entry points into the television industry. In this guide, you can begin to explore the jobs that drive the market, then search for your perfect career by area of interest, skills, companies, or industry experts. Learn about your skills and interests, and articulate them confidently to identify career options within the industry that you might pursue, and implement a successful strategy to attain your desired career outcomes. In this guide you’ll find the following information: • Overview of the television industry • Future of the television market • Television Career Library • Career Planning Strategy to get into the television industry You’ll also find simple exercises that help you: • form a career planning strategy to get into the television industry • find your passion in television and identify an area of interest to pursue • learn the television industry through top studios and its key players • identify your skills and match them to a television area of interest This guide will help you to start planning your career in television by understanding the opportunities available and the skills you need to succeed.

1. THE
ULTIMATE
TELEVISION
CAREER
GUIDE

2. SPECIAL OFFER
2
OUTLINE

3. SPECIAL OFFER
3
04
09
15
19
Industry 101
Prospective Highlights
Future of Work
Pre-Production
Production
Post-Production
Makeup & Costume
Marketing & Distribution
Novice Strategy
Alumni Strategy
Expert Strategy
05
07
08
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
22
25
28
35
36
38
CAREER LIBRARY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
GETTING STARTED
Pinpoint Your Passion for TV
Learn The Industry
Identify Your Skills
Brand Research
Set Your Career Goals
General Rules of Exploration
OVERVIEW

4. SPECIAL OFFER
4
OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY 101
PROSPECTIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
FUTURE OF WORK

5. 5 SPECIAL OFFER
OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY 101
The television industry is a
communication medium for advertising,
entertainment, news, and sports.
Although television dates back to the
1920s, the industry and format have
evolved most rapidly over the last 15
years. Streaming and smart televisions
have gradually replaced cable and tube
television sets since 2010. As a result,
physical forms such as VHS tapes, DVDs,
and Blu-ray discs are nearly obsolete as
streaming services dominate viewership.

6. 6 SPECIAL OFFER
In the past, television was viewed as a lesser art form of film.
However, the rise of prestige television shows, the advent of
on-demand services, and increased spending on advertising
have put television on par with cinema. As a result, television
shows now command production and marketing budgets
compared to their film counterparts. Once considered too
famous for television, filmmakers and actors signed lucrative
deals with streaming services to direct, produce, and star in
shows. The amount of overall deals — an agreement between
a television studio and a creator that allows the studio to own
all projects or ideas they create for the length of the contract
— has increased substantially. Netflix, in particular, has driven
this market. Since just 2017, they have committed more than $2
billion to pay out overall deals.
Television’s primary revenue stream is advertising. Companies
advertising their products and services had a total ad
expenditure of $68 billion in 2022. Procter & Gamble spent the
most money on ads in 2020, spending an estimated $972 million
for the year.
OVERVIEW

7. 7 SPECIAL OFFER
Adults in the U.S.
spent an average
of three hours
watching TV each
day in 2022.
In 2022, streaming
video revenue was
valued at $34.1
billion.
In 2022, Americans
watched more
streaming TV than
cable for the first
time ever.
OVERVIEW
PROSPECTIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
3 HOURS AND
17 MINUTES
34.1 BILLION
IN REVENUE
STREAMING
BEATS CABLE
Despite losing market share as more
streaming companies enter the market,
Netflix still reigned supreme with over
223 million subscribers in 2022. Amazon
Prime Video came next with 200 million
subscribers followed by Disney+ with over
164 million.
HBO Max, Paramount+, Hulu, Peacock,
ESPN+, AppleTV+, and Discovery+
rounded out the streaming services with
the top ten most global subscribers in
2022.

8. 8 SPECIAL OFFER
FUTURE OF WORK
With the invention of smart
television and streaming,
television programs and
productions have increased.
Streaming giants like Netflix
and Amazon produce and
release content at a meteoric
pace and invest significant
money in content. Netflix
reported spending $17 billion
on content in 2021, while
Amazon spent $9 billion
on content during the year.
Newer services like Disney+
are catching up by throwing
even more financial backing
into content development. It’s
been reported that the service
spent nearly $24.5 billion on
streaming content in 2021.
As streaming services have
revamped the television
industry, major broadcast
networks are still a major
factor. While networks have
lost consumers between 18
and 49 years old to streaming,
sports and political coverage
remain a drawing factor for
older viewers. That trend
is expected to continue, as
estimates forecast a decline in
the number of hours younger
viewers watch per day.
Diversity on screen has
improved incrementally since
2018, but it still lags behind
the scenes. As of 2021,
only 13% of shows were
made by non white creators.
Women accounted for 31.8%
of show creators.
OVERVIEW

9. SPECIAL OFFER
9
CAREER
LIBRARY
Many careers can be pursued within
the television industry. The NYU x
Rolling Stone x IndieWire Film and
TV Industry Essentials course gives a
holistic understanding of the television
industry, including the careers responsible
for driving the market forward while
understanding how to develop necessary
skills. Below is a list of career possibilities
for students, along with highlighted
industry experts within the course you
could learn from.

10. 10 SPECIAL OFFER
Showrunner
Executive Producer
Staff Writer
Producer
News Writer
Associate Producer
Script Editor
Supervising Producer
Casting Director
Line Producer
Casting Assistant
CAREER LIBRARY
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
YAHLIN CHANG
Executive Producer/Writer
of The Handmaid’s Tale
CAREERS IN PRE-PRODUCTION

11. 11 SPECIAL OFFER
CAREER LIBRARY
Television Director
Animator
Floor Manager
Production Designer
Production Manager
Art Director
Production Assistant
Art Department Coordinator
Key Grip
Camera Operator
Director of Photography
Gaffer
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
AZRIÉL PATRICIA
Actor, Singer, Writer
Digital Imaging Technician
Location Manager
Props Master
Stunt Coordinator
Assistant Props Master
Boom Operator
Script Supervisor
Gofer
Leading Actor/Actress
News Anchor
Extra
Voice-Over Artist
CAREERS IN PRODUCTION

12. 12 SPECIAL OFFER
Editor
Colorist
Assistant Editor
Graphic Artist
Composer
Title Sequence Designer
Sound Designer
CAREER LIBRARY
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
SAM POLLARD
Director, Producer,
Professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Foley Artist
Music Supervisor
Foley Engineer
Sound Mixer
Post Supervisor
ADR Mixer
CAREERS IN POST-PRODUCTION

13. 13 SPECIAL OFFER
CAREER LIBRARY
Makeup Artist
Hair Stylist
Assistant Makeup Artist
Costume Designer
Special/Visual Effects Artist
Wardrobe Stylist
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
MAISHA CLOSSON
Executive Producer of The L Word:
Generation Q
CAREERS IN MAKEUP & COSTUME

14. 14 SPECIAL OFFER
CAREER LIBRARY
Publicity Director
Director, Digital Sales
Marketing Director
Sales Planner
Marketing Assistant
Sales Agent
Social Marketing Coordinator
Content Distribution Attorney
Director, Multi-Platform & Distribution Strategy
Director, Digital Distribution Strategy
Senior Associate, Global Distribution
Video Distribution and Curation Specialist
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
KEVIN BRAY
Director
CAREERS IN MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION

15. 15 SPECIAL OFFER
15
CAREER
PLANNING
STRATEGY
There is no set linear path to achieving
your dreams within the television industry.
The following is a three-phase career
planning guide that reflects industry
experts’ experiences and are tailored to
novices, alumni, and experts who are
either considering a career within the
television industry, or experiencing growth
and leadership in their roles.

16. 16 SPECIAL OFFER
NOVICE
NOVICE
Begin to
understand
your interests in
television
Explore job
and industry
options within the
television industry
Determine
when you want to
enroll in the NYU
x Rolling Stone
x IndieWire Film
and TV Industry
Essentials course,
or relevant
programs,
conferences, etc.
that expand your
knowledge
Create a
LinkedIn profile
and reach out to
potential mentors
or industry experts
that align with your
area of interest
Learn more
about the NYU
x Rolling Stone
x IndieWire Film
and TV Industry
Essentials course
Follow
Yellowbrick on
Instagram and
TikTok to learn
about expert
workshops on
topics related
to the industry,
networking, and job
searching
Identify the
career path(s)
you’re interested in
pursuing
Identify your
interests, values,
skills, and talents
Enroll in
programs, classes,
and attend
conferences that
allow you to gain
first-hand learning
experience about
the television
industry
Learn the
timelines and
experiences of
potential mentors
and industry
experts you admire
Understand
recruiting timelines
based on the
television industry
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY

17. 17 SPECIAL OFFER
Have an expert
understanding of
how a television
show is produced
— from concept to
screen
Complete
scripts, templates,
assignments, and
work that apply
to the television
industry
Upload work
completed or reels
onto your portfolio
and LinkedIn
Review job
descriptions of
positions within the
television industry
that interest you
Attend events
to build a network
Attend
recruiting
events, employer
information
sessions
Connect with
mentors, industry
experts within your
field of interest,
and alumni to
better position
yourself for the job
search
Assess what
you’ve learned
about yourself and
the intersection
between television
career paths and
the alignment with
your skills and
interests
Seek an
internship or entry-
level opportunity
within your field
of interest in
television
Determine
the gaps in your
skillset and pursue
opportunities to
build those skills
needed
Revise and
tailor your resume
+ cover letter
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
ALUMNI
ALUMNI

18. 18 SPECIAL OFFER
In-depth,
hands-on
knowledge
about specific
careers within the
television industry
Master
communication
within your
discipline and field
Have your hand
on the pulse with
industry trends and
topics
Develop
and maintain
relationships
with mentors and
peers within the
television industry
Explore
leadership,
speaking
engagements,
and opportunities
within the industry
beyond your 9 to 5
Collaborate
with peers,
companies, and/or
organizations
Celebrate your
accomplishments,
growth, and
opportunities to
learn
Give yourself
permission to
pursue and grow
out of your comfort
zone
Ensure your
professional online
presence is up to
date: LinkedIn,
website, etc.
Prepare field-
specific application
materials (resume,
reel, cover letter,
samples/portfolio)
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
EXPERT
EXPERT

19. 19 SPECIAL OFFER
19
GETTING
STARTED
PINPOINT YOUR
TELEVISION PASSION
LEARN THE INDUSTRY
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
BRAND RESEARCH
SET YOUR
CAREER GOALS
GENERAL RULES
OF EXPLORATION

20. 20 SPECIAL OFFER
GETTING STARTED
ON YOUR NEXT STEPS
The television industry is an ecosystem
of careers ranging from production to
distribution. The possibilities may feel
vast, but you can follow a career planning
process that will help you make informed
decisions beyond completing the NYU
x Rolling Stone x IndieWire Film and TV
Industry Essentials course. Figuring out
what career you want to pursue and
creating a plan to get there involves
assessing your interests and skills,
exploring your options, making decisions,
and taking action to achieve your career
goals. While each person’s experience
will be unique, these key points apply to
everyone.
GETTING STARTED

21. 21 SPECIAL OFFER
GETTING STARTED
DISCOVER
Dig into your interests,
personal values, skills,
work environment
preferences, lifestyle,
and job responsibilities
to identify different
fields within the
industry you’re
passionate about.
ACT
Get hands-on
experience from
internships, projects,
volunteering, job
opportunities related to
your evaluation.
EXPLORE
Research and learn
a range of career
options that align with
your interests you’ve
discovered.
DECIDE
Assess and evaluate
your options and narrow
down your selections
to a few that match
best with your lifestyle,
work environment
preferences, and wants.
It’s important to practice a growth
mindset and be open to exploring your
passions, interests, wants, and needs.

22. SPECIAL OFFER
22
PINPOINT
YOUR
TELEVISION
PASSION
The most important element in figuring
out your career path and next steps is
understanding your passion and how
your interests relate. This career prep
exercise is your starter guide in exploring
your passion and interests within the
television industry.
CAREER PREP

23. 23 SPECIAL OFFER
1
4
7
2
5
3
6
DIRECTIONS
Take a few minutes to reflect on the
following topics. Come up with 3-5
answers to each. Once you are finished
answering the questions, identify
commonalities, and find themes in your
answers.
During my
free time, I...
I’m an expert at... I’m obsessed with
tv because...
I’m energized by...
I like learning
about...
If I can learn
anything about tv,
it’d be...
Naturally,
I’m good at...
PINPOINT YOUR PASSION
1
4
7
2
5
3
6

24. 24 SPECIAL OFFER
OF your answers, what common theme(s) are you seeing that
are related to these areas of interest within the TV industry?
PRE-PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION
POST-PRODUCTION
MAKEUP & COSTUME
MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION
ACTION STEP
From the common themes you’ve seen from your answers, who
is one person you can talk to and learn more about in your
area of interest?
PINPOINT YOUR PASSION

25. 25 SPECIAL OFFER
25
LEARN
THE
INDUSTRY
How well do you know the television
business? Use this research exercise
to learn more about key players in the
television industry, your favorite studios,
their competitors, and discover what
type of studios or companies you want to
work for (or start!).
CAREER PREP

26. 26 SPECIAL OFFER
LEARN THE INDUSTRY

27. 27 SPECIAL OFFER
LEARN THE INDUSTRY

28. 28 SPECIAL OFFER
28
IDENTIFY
YOUR
TELEVISION
SKILLS
As you understand your interests within
the television industry, you must be
aware of the skills you have developed
and already acquired, especially when
planning your career goals or beginning
your job search.
CAREER PREP

29. 29 SPECIAL OFFER
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the television industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement
PRE-PRODUCTION
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Creativity
Written and verbal communication
Storytelling
Decision making
Leadership
Presentation
Detail-oriented
Strong work ethic
Perceptiveness
Innovative

30. 30 SPECIAL OFFER
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the television industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement
PRODUCTION
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Adaptability
Organization
Teamwork
Accepting feedback
Ability to work under pressure
Multitasking
Following direction
Dependability
Collaborative
Able to take direction

31. 31 SPECIAL OFFER
POST-PRODUCTION
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Ability to meet deadlines
Independent
Able to resolve issues
Tech savvy
Willing to accept feedback
Time management
Intuitive
Critical-thinking
Resourceful
Accountable
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the television industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement

32. 32 SPECIAL OFFER
MAKEUP & COSTUME
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Artistic aptitude
Adherent to health and safety protocols
Interpersonal skills
Enthusiasm
Visualization skills
Empathetic
Attentive
Consistent
Good visual communication skills
Ambitious
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the television industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement

33. 33 SPECIAL OFFER
MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Strategic
Persuasive
Negotiating skills
Networking
Thinking outside the box
Confident
Results-oriented
Open-minded
Persistent
Outgoing
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the television industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement

34. 34 SPECIAL OFFER
BECOME
AN EXPERT
These days, hiring managers are
impressed with what you know and the
skills you bring to the table. Making time
for yourself to become an expert is how
you’ll find your lane and make yourself
stand out. This can appear in different
ways: investing in your career with time,
money, and knowledge. While there’s
constant exposure to new information, it
can be overwhelming to figure out where
to start and how to keep up. Begin with
what you know and where your interests
fall — by researching the studios you
gravitate towards or competitors of the
production companies you love.

35. 35 SPECIAL OFFER
3 Arts Entertainment
20th Television
A24
ABC Signature
A&E Television Network
Amazon/Amazon Prime Video/
Amazon Studios
Anonymous Content
Bad Robot
BBC America
Bunim-Murray Productions
Cartoon Network Studios
CBS Television Studios
CBS Sports
CNN
Comcast/NBCUniversal
eOne Television
Fox Entertainment
FremantleMedia
HBO
The Jim Henson Company
Marvel Studios
MGM Holdings
NBC Studios
Netflix
Relativity Media
Sony Pictures Television
Tribune Entertainment
Turner Broadcasting System
Universal Television
The Walt Disney Company/
The Walt Disney Studios
WarnerMedia/Warner Bros.
TOP TELEVISION
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
TO GET YOU STARTED
BRAND RESEARCH

36. SPECIAL OFFER
SET YOUR CAREER GOALS 36
SETTING
YOUR
CAREER
GOALS
You’ve narrowed in your passions and
done some industry research into the
television industry. Identifying your career
goal and creating a plan around it will
help you with your next steps.
Setting career goals requires planning.
Identify academic requirements,
experience, barriers, and other factors
that would help you prepare for your
career goals on the next page.
CAREER PREP

37. 37 SPECIAL OFFER
SET YOUR CAREER GOALS
ACADEMICS
EXPERIENCE
BARRIERS
OTHER FACTORS
CAREER GOALS

38. 38 SPECIAL OFFER
GENERAL RULES OF CAREER
EXPLORATION WITHIN
THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY
GENERAL RULES
EXPLORE
Take time to
explore how your
interests and
skills intersect
with different
career paths in
the television
industry. This will
help you holistically
understand the
whole industry and
communicate your
value to future
employers.
BUILD
Each opportunity
you take on builds
a foundation of
applicable skills
for the next
opportunity.
START
Beginning allows
you to build a
wide range of
experiences,
explore various
fields, and give you
room to change
your mind or pivot
along the way.

39. 39 SPECIAL OFFER
39
READY TO
LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE TV
INDUSTRY AND
ALL ASPECTS
OF THE TV
BUSINESS?
Check out Yellowbrick’s Film and TV
Essentials course featuring faculty
from New York University and experts
from Rolling Stone and IndieWire.

40. 40 SPECIAL OFFER
STATISTA | STATISTICS & FACTS
https://www.statista.com/topics/977/television/
UCLA NEWSROOM | DIVERSITY NEWS
https://socialsciences.ucla.edu/hollywood-diversity-
report-2022/
FORBES | MAJOR PLAYERS SPENDING 2022
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dbloom/2022/01/11/
streaming-wars-price-tag-continues-to-mount-likely-to-
top-140-billion-this-year/?sh=7077e6c95565
RESOURCES

41. SPECIAL OFFER
41
FILM | TV INDUSTRY
ESSENTIALS
New York University faculty, together
with leaders from Rolling Stone and
IndieWire across the film and television
industry, will teach you about the key
areas and related career opportunities in
the ever-evolving television industry.
This 100% online course will build your TV
industry skills and expertise in key areas
such as:
The collaborative process of
producing episodic television
Vital roles in television production
Post-production and the
production business
Finding your audience for
distribution
Learn more at ylearn.co/tvbook.
ABOUT

42. 42 SPECIAL OFFER
EMPOWERING DREAMERS TO
ACHIEVE THEIR CALLING
In partnership with top universities
and brands, we create educational
experiences that tap into interests and
passions to spark success, fuel personal
advancement, and open doors to fulfilling
paths for our students.
Check out our full course offerings at
ylearn.co/ebook.
Join us on social media:
ylearn.co/facebook
ylearn.co/instagram
ylearn.co/linkedin
ylearn.co/youtube
ylearn.co/twitter
ylearn.co/tiktok
ylearn.co/pinterest
ABOUT