First- you need a half way good idea that will interest someone besides yourself.  A cooking show is a good start(low overhead, easy to get local restauarant and grocery store sponsers -good start to get experiance,also can be shot and edited in a day).  Decide your format for a thirty minute show (easiest sale to a local tv station- 30 min can always be fit somewhere) also where and if you want to stick your commercials, or if you want to do a straight show -no commercials with sponsers.  Just remember that with commercial spots (usually 4 two-minute spots in the show) it gives you bargaining power to barter with the tv station to allow them to use their commercials in your show.  This is also a little easier as you are responsiable for less time 22 min vs. 30.  The drawback is if you get sponsers they usually want more air time specific on your show with their products.  Also less commercials means better ratings which means more people watch your show. 

    Second- you will need equipment and software(this is where ebay comes in). To start off a -cheap 3ccd camera (we started our show with 2 panasonic pvg120 around 300$ on ebay) some cheap lights around 60$ and mics around 40$ . Descent computer -2.8 pentuim with at least 1 gig memory, and as much hard drive as you can afford (video takes space quick but you can get by with 100 gig if you dont mind eraseing alot) and a dvd burner (most television stations can use burned dvds to air a show) all this for around 200$ on ebay.  But if your reading this you probly already have the computer.  Pick up a used copy of adobe premier unregistered 6.5 or earlier on ebay.  Around 30$ if you shop around this will allow you to register with adobe and get an upgrade to the newest cutting edge version premier pro 2.0 for 199.00$ (normally900$ if not registard) and it comes with training on dvd to get you up and editing with effects in 24 hours.  So for around 1000$ you can have a working tv production studio.

   Third- make a pilot- you have all the time in the world to make this look good and this is important.  This is your major selling tool to the tv station and potential sponsers.  Watch other shows on television that are close to your idea to get ideas of camera angles and direction for your show.  Finding talent is easier than you think alot of people will work free (friends are the best resource) if you promise them credit and a chance to be on television.  Just remember to pay them when money starts comeing in.          

   (Advice)Always keep egos in check as there is always one crazy person that will come along and try to take over everything.  (Everyone I have talked to in this buisness always has the story of that guy or girl that thought everything revolved around them).  There is nothing worse on a group effort when one person wants to take credit for everyone elses work. 

   Forth- now that you have a pilot grab the phone book and start calling tv stations ask for General Station Manger and set up a meeting.  Take your pilot and mabye your main actor and present what you did to the station manger. Say you would like to do this weekly.  Ask what would it take to get your show on thier television station.  If you do good they will barter some of your commercial space for free air time.  They might charge you a nominal fee instead of bartering. Depending on where you live this can be any where from 25$ a week (smaller cities in Lousianna) to 5000$(usually bigger cities like New York).  But they will always give you advice which you can use for the next tv station.  You usually want to get on as many tv stations as possiable to get the most viewer potential which means more sponsers and paying ads.

Once you get the hang of this (its simplier than you think) you can work your way towards making other shows and films (but that's another guide).  This is a great way for making contacts and a little money without too much effort and expense.  Also a great way to enjoy life and start something exciting.  I started doing this over a year ago with no college or experiance (except paying close attenion to television shows) and now have a crew starting a second season with one show, starting a new second show and have done two documentaries, and countless commercials. 

Hope this inspires someone to dream big and relize its possiable.

Goldenspire.com