Media Programming Directors

Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

$83,480

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+5% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Program directors oversee the creative vision and daily operations of broadcast stations, ensuring that programming meets audience expectations and regulatory requirements. They coordinate with producers, hosts, and technical staff to develop program schedules that balance entertainment value, advertising revenue, and station objectives. On any given day, they might review pilot episodes, analyze ratings data to determine which shows to renew or cancel, and meet with news teams to plan coverage of major events.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)Northwestern University, IL

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)Temple University, PA

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(bachelors)Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(bachelors)Rochester Institute of Technology, NY

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)Michigan State University, MI

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Idaho, ID

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, NY

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)Drexel University, PA

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)University at Buffalo, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Syracuse University, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)SUNY at Purchase College, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)The New School, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)University of Rochester, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Fashion Institute of Technology, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Pratt Institute-Main, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Wagner College, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Long Island University, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Daemen University, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Le Moyne College, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)New York Institute of Technology, NY

Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management(masters)Sotheby's Institute of Art-NY, NY

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Houston, TX

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(masters)Quinnipiac University, CT

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