In
broadcasting,
syndication is
the sale of the right to broadcast
radio shows and
television shows by multiple
radio stations and
television stations, without going through a
broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very nature. It is common in countries where
broadcast programming is scheduled by
television networks with local independent
affiliates, particularly in the
United States. In the rest of the world, however, most countries have centralized networks and/or TV stations without local affiliates and syndication is less common, although shows can also be syndicated internationally. In the
film industry,
film distribution is handled by
film distributors.