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The primary role of a television producer is to oversee all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. It is often the producer who is responsible for the television show's overall quality and survivability, though the roles depend on the particular show or organization.

Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon acceptance they focus on business matters, such as budgets and contracts. Other producers are more involved with the day-to-day workings, participating in activities such as screenwriting, set design, casting, and even directing.

In television, there are a variety of different producers on a television show. A traditional producer is one who manages a show's budget and maintains a schedule, but this is no longer the case in modern television. Currently, the producer and writer are usually the same person.

Types of television Producers[link]

Different types of Producers in the industry today include (in order of seniority):

• Executive Producer: Usually at least one, but not necessarily, Executive Producer is the "Chief Executive" in charge of everything related to the production of the show. It is the highest ranking individual who is responsible for the development and daily management of the show. While in the film industry an Executive Producer is usually in charge of financing the project, in television the entire weight of the production rests with the Executive Producer, who is also known as showrunner. Established show creators with prior writing credits are automatically given the title of Executive Producer, even after they depart the show. Executive Producers can also be Head writers.
• Co-Executive Producer: Second in seniority to Executive Producer. Often in television, the title of Co-Executive Producer is also given to a Writer who has written full-time on the show for many years.
• Supervising Producer: Supervises the creative process in the writing room, and often aids in script re-writes. These people also guide new writers. Also commonly known as a Head writer, Story editor and/or Senior producer.
• Coordinating Producer: or Production coordinator. This Producer manages the show's schedule and arranges the staff into teams.
• Producer: One who manages a show's budget. A Producer can also be the writer of the episode, or a former Executive Producer who still writes for the show, but has since relinquished his/her duties as E.P. Since Producer credits are used for individual episodes, they often require approval from the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Traditional Producers are usually given the credit of Produced by.
• Co-Producer: A writer on the show who may not have written the episode, but contributed significantly through table reads or revisions. Co-Producer credits also often require approval from the Writers Guild of America.
• Consulting Producer: These Producers are former Executive or possibly Co-Executive Producers, or in rare cases directors, who no longer work on the show that much. They are called upon to assist the writers, sometimes specializing in a particular subject.
• Associate Producer: Runs day-to-day operations.
• Assistant Producer: Sources contributors and stories for the program.
• Chase Producer: For news and talk show production, locates and schedules (or "chases") guests for interviews.
• Segment Producer: Writes one segment of a program.
• Line Producer: Manages current staff, and finds staff to hire for the production.
• Field Producer: Selects areas to film (outside of a television studio) and coordinates stories for a production in the field. They also form a trusting relationship with the cast/participants in order to get interviews while in the field. They may fill a number of different roles, including production manager/coordinator, videographer and also Production assistant.
• Edit Producer: Oversees the creative and editorial aspects of the program when it is being edited.
• Post Producer: Supervises the overall post-production process, including editing, dubbing and grading. Post-producers are typically employed by facilities houses rather than by production companies directly.

In live television or "as-live", an Executive Producer seldom has any operational control of the show. His/her job is to stand back from the operational aspects and judge the show as an ordinary viewer might.

In film or video productions, the Executive Producer is almost always given an opportunity to comment on a rough cut but the amount of attention paid to his/her comments is highly dependent on the overall personnel structure of the production.

Writer as "Producer"[link]

Under the guidelines of the Writers Guild of America, script writers in television also tend to be credited as "Producers," even though they may not engage in the responsibilities generally associated with that title.

On-screen, a "Producer" credit for a TV series will generally be given to each member of the writing staff who made a demonstrable contribution to the final script. The actual Producer of the show (in the traditional sense) is listed under the credit "Produced by".

Star as "Producer"[link]

Sometimes the star of a successful television series can have a degree of influence over the creative process. For example, besides his leading role as Jack Bauer in 24, Kiefer Sutherland was credited as Producer during the show's second season, then rising to co-Executive Producer from season 3 to the last few episodes of season 5, from where he was finally promoted to Executive Producer. Mark Harmon, star of the series NCIS, serves as one of the show's Producers. Similarly, Tom Welling, the star of the CW show Smallville, became co-Executive Producer for the show in season 9 and Executive Producer in season 10. House M.D. star Hugh Laurie became co-Executive Producer for Fox's show in its 6th season.

Some notable television Producers[link]

• Aaron Sorkin: Sports Night, The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
• Aaron Spelling: Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Melrose Place, The Mod Squad, Starsky and Hutch, S.W.A.T., T. J. Hooker
• Alan Ball: Six Feet Under, True Blood
• Alan Hardwick: Yorkshire Television
• Biddy Baxter: Blue Peter (1962–65; editor 1965–1988)
• Bill Podmore: Coronation Street
• Bill Lawrence:Scrubs, Cougar Town, Spin City
• Carlton Cuse: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Nash Bridges, Lost
• Chris Carter: The X-Files, Millennium, Harsh Realm, The Lone Gunmen
• Chuck Lorre: Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory
• Damon Lindelof: Lost
• Dan Schneider: Victorious, iCarly, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, What I Like About You, Kenan & Kel, The Amanda Show, All That
• David Angell: Frasier, Wings, Cheers
• Ilene Chaiken: The L Word
• David Chase: The Sopranos^[1]
• David Doyle: Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, Puppy Bowl
• David E. Kelley: Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, Boston Public, Chicago Hope, Picket Fences, The Practice
• David Maloney: Blake's 7, The Day of the Triffids
• David Simon: The Wire, The Corner, Generation Kill, Homicide: Life on the Street, Treme^[2]
• Deon Potgieter: Family Bonds, WWP Thunderstrike, The Fighters, Woza Weekend, Olympic Dreams, Toasty Show
• Dick Wolf: Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Donald Bellisario: Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, JAG, NCIS, Quantum Leap
• Fran Mires: Ocurrio asi, Al Youm
• Gene Roddenberry: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Greg Daniels: The Office, King of the Hill, The Simpsons
• Haim Saban: Power Rangers (1993–2001; 2010–present), Beetleborgs, VR Troopers
• Ivan Tors: Science Fiction Theater, Sea Hunt, The Man and the Challenge, The Aquanauts, Daring Game, Flipper, Gentle Ben, Daktari, Rip Cord, Cowboy in Africa, Jambo
• James L. Brooks: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, Taxi, The Simpsons, The Tracey Ullman Show
• Jeff Franklin: Full House, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
• Jerry Bruckheimer: The Amazing Race, Cold Case, CSI, Without a Trace
• Jerry Seinfeld: Seinfeld
• J.J. Abrams: Alias, Lost, Fringe
• John de Mol: Big Brother, Fear Factor, Deal or No Deal
• John Langley: COPS
• John Nathan-Turner: Doctor Who (1980–1989)
• J. Michael Straczynski: Babylon 5
• Josh Schwartz: The O.C., Chuck, Gossip Girl
• Joss Whedon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse
• Ken Warwick: American Idol, America's Got Talent, Pop Idol, Gladiators
• Kevin Bright/Marta Kauffman/David Crane: Friends
• Larry David: Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Larry Gelbart: M*A*S*H
• Lorne Michaels: Saturday Night Live, The Kids in the Hall, 30 Rock
• Lowell Ganz: Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Joanie Loves Chachi
• Lynn Marie Latham: Knots Landing, Homefront, The Young and the Restless
• Mara Brock Akil: The Game, Girlfriends
• Marc Cherry: Desperate Housewives, The Golden Girls
• Marcy Carsey: 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Cosby Show, Roseanne
• Mark Burnett: The Apprentice, Survivor, Rock Star, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, The Contender
• Matt Kunitz: Fear Factor, Wipeout
• Mark Risley: Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power and As Told by Ginger
• Mark Wahlberg: In Treatment, Entourage, Boardwalk Empire
• Merv Griffin: Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune
• Michael Gill: Civilisation, Alistair Cooke's America
• Michael Wearing: Boys from the Blackstuff, Edge of Darkness
• Michelle Paradise: Exes and Ohs
• Norman Lear: All in the Family, Good Times, Maude, One Day at a Time, Sanford and Son
• Paul Haggis: Due South
• Paul Tibbitt: SpongeBob SquarePants (2007–present)
• Reg Watson: The Young Doctors, Prisoner, Neighbours
• Roger Dobkowitz: The Price Is Right (?–?)
• Ronald D. Moore: Battlestar Galactica, Roswell, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Ron Leavitt: Married... with Children, Unhappily Ever After
• Roy Huggins: Baretta, The Fugitive, The Rockford Files
• Russell T Davies: Queer as Folk, Doctor Who (2005 revival), Joking Apart, and Chalk
• Ray Waru: Frontier of Dreams
• Ryan Murphy: Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee
• Sarah Mulvey: Executive Producer for Brat Camp, 10 Years Younger, Who Rules the Roost, Wife Swap
• Sarah Jessica Parker: Sex and the City
• Seth MacFarlane: Family Guy, American Dad!, The Cleveland Show
• Shaun Cassidy: American Gothic, Invasion, Ruby & The Rockits
• Shawn Ryan: The Shield, The Chicago Code
• Shonda Rhimes: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice
• Stephen J. Cannell: The Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street, The A-Team, Hunter
• Stephen Colbert: Strangers with Candy, The Colbert Report
• Stephen Hillenburg: SpongeBob SquarePants
• Stephen Stohn: Degrassi: The Next Generation, Instant Star
• Steven Bochco: Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, NYPD Blue
• Steven Moffat: Doctor Who (after Russell T Davies), Sherlock, Jekyll, Coupling
• Suzanne de Passe: Lonesome Dove, Sister, Sister, Smart Guy
• Sydney Newman: General Motors Theatre, Armchair Theatre and others
• Tim Taylor: 13 series of Time Team
• Tina Fey: 30 Rock
• Thom Beers: Deadliest Catch, Lobster Wars, numerous other Discovery Channel series
• Tyler Perry: Meet the Browns, House of Payne
• Verity Lambert: Doctor Who, Adam Adamant Lives!, Jonathan Creek
• William P. Perry: Anyone for Tennyson?, The Mark Twain Series
• Yvette Lee Bowser: Living Single, A Different World, For Your Love, Half and Half