An affiliate gets roughly 65 percent of its programming free from the network, including not only prime-time shows but news programs, soap operas and game shows.

In exchange, Mr. Morcombe received a year's worth of free programming, worth $420.

They get my business and I get amnesty from the gray area and a year's worth of free programming.

These days, when major labels spend that kind of money, they're not just doing it to provide MTV with free programming.

Over 60 DJs and hosts provide 16 hours of free live programming a day, in two-hour show blocks, seven days a week.

The initial plan, announced May 30, had its 214 affiliate stations, which had become accustomed to getting free programming, up in arms.

The affiliates gain because they get both local advertising time and free programming.

However, lapses in its security enabled some cable pirates to modify the descrambler to receive free programming.

The films were popular with African television stations, who aired them as free programming.

State takeovers of two countrywide networks that had supplied many regional stations with hours of free programming have made survival more difficult.