What is a production company's relationship to the TV networks?

What is a production company's relationship to the TV networks?

Mark Cronin (Founder & Producer) gives expert video advice on: What makes a good reality TV producer? and more...

A production company does not usually work for the network in a boss-employee relationship; they deliver products to the customer. The relationship is the network is funding the production. Usually, the money for a reality show comes from the network to the production company. The production company spends the network's money to make the television show, and then hands the network back and episode, or a series of television.