Final answer:
Station reps act as salespersons for local stations, representing them in transactions with national advertisers to sell advertising time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Station reps are individuals who act as salespersons for a number of local stations and represent them in their dealings with national advertisers. These professionals are essential for local stations that do not have the resources to maintain a dedicated national sales force. Station reps help facilitate the sale of advertising time on local stations to national companies, leveraging the broader reach and appeal of the network's programming. For instance, a station rep might negotiate deals for several local stations with a national brand, ensuring that the brand's commercials air during high-profile network shows like the comedy series 'Black-ish' that the stations broadcast as part of their affiliate agreement with national networks.