What Does a Television Production Manager Do?
Television production managers book the studios, crews and rental gear for every shoot, then keep spending inside the budget they drew up. Working from studios and production offices, they send out call sheets, secure permits and chase post-production deadlines for TV shows, streaming series, campus channels and corporate video. Most answer to an executive producer.
Also known as: Media Production Supervisor, Communications Production Manager
Television Production Manager Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a television production manager include:
- Build production budgets and track spending on crew, equipment, studio time and post-production.
- Book studios, control rooms, crews and rental equipment for each shoot.
- Hire and schedule camera operators, audio technicians and editors, including freelancers.
- Prepare shooting schedules, call sheets and location permits so crews arrive ready.
- Negotiate rates with vendors, rental houses and freelance crew members.
- Oversee live studio productions and remote broadcasts, solving problems as they come up.
- Manage post-production schedules and delivery of finished programs to air or streaming platforms.
- Check contracts, music licenses and talent releases before programs are published.
- Keep equipment inventories and plan upgrades to cameras, switchers and editing systems.
- Report costs and progress to the executive producer or communications director.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a television production manager, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Production budgeting and cost tracking
- Scheduling tools such as Movie Magic
- Knowledge of studio and field production equipment
- Crew hiring and supervision
- Vendor negotiation
- Understanding of music licensing and releases
- Problem-solving during live productions
- Bachelor's degree in broadcasting, film or communications
Education and Training
A bachelor's degree in broadcasting, film or communications is typical. To do well in this role, you should have years as a production coordinator behind you and a flair for keeping budgets, crews and deadlines in line at the same time. Scheduling tools such as Movie Magic help.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $62,670 - $134,800 per year, with a median of $90,360.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Producers and Directors.
Figures for this job come from BLS data on producers and directors, which it projects to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 12,100 openings a year. Streaming, sports and corporate video keep production crews busy, and managers who can run tight budgets are more likely to move up to producer roles.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Producers and directors.