Flagship (broadcasting)

Flagship (broadcasting)

In broadcasting, a flagship (also known as a flagship station) is the broadcast which originates a television network, or a particular radio show or TV show, primarily in the United States and Canada. This includes both direct network feeds and broadcast syndication, but generally not backhauls. Not all networks or shows have a flagship station, as some originate from a dedicated radio studio or TV studio.

The term derives from the naval custom where the commanding officer of a group of naval ships would fly a distinguishing flag (see flagship - naval term). In common parlance, "flagship" is now used to mean the most important or leading member of a group, hence its various uses in broadcasting.