From cartoons to cooking, science fiction to shopping, twenty-first century television seems to have a channel for every kind of programming. Today, a national networking capability is no longer necessary for a profitable television venture, and the old distinctions between ""channel"" (i.e., local programming) and ""network"" (national programming) have been erased. Television now offers hundreds of channels to a nationwide audience. This reference book offers a comprehensive listing of more than 750 channels and networks (the book uses whichever term the broadcaster has adopted) widely available in the United States and Canada. Programming genres vary widely and include news, sports, movies, music, religion, and more. The alphabetically arranged entries give channel name, contact information, launch date and first broadcast day.

A brief description of broadcast structure and history is also included, and many entries also contain a brief list of major shows and their subject matter. An introduction to the work provides a concise history of the television industry, discussing major differences in the development of Canadian and American networks with special emphasis on the role of the government in each.