How do you become a television producer?

I was wondering how does someone become a television producer? What kind of education do you need? Experience? Specifically, if you want to work for major networks like CBS, ABC or NBC and handle their primetime or daytime division or start your own production company.

What advice would you give to help someone accumulate the proper experience and skills? And prime themselves for a career in television production?

Thank you in advance.

Two words - WORK EXPERIENCE!

There are no formal qualifications for being a TV Producer, and it's not an easy ride to get there... you can't take a degree in it and expect to get a job straight away, it takes many mane years of hard work.

It is useful to learn about the media - read magazines and broadcasting and keep up to date with what is being commisioned and broadcast, what is popular etc.

When you apply for your first jobs they will be entry level, intern type jobs - office assistant, runner - that type of thing. and then you just have to learn - shadow people, ask for work experience with people you admire and gradually work your way up. you'll be a researcher for a long time, then an associate producer and finally, if you're hard working (and a bit lucky) you'll get to be a producer. after that you can move up to be a series producer or executive producer... and then you could start your own company if you had a lot of industry knowledge and support.

but be warned - its a tough industry, wages are low and competition is very fierce, so you have to be strong willed!