Superstation in United States television can have several meanings. In its most precise meaning, a superstation is defined by the Federal Communications Commission.

In the early days of broadcasting, most large media markets had a, by the standards of that day, large number of TV stations. Generally 3 VHF stations affiliated with NBC, ABC and CBS, the then dominant television networks, and several UHF stations without network affiliation. These independent stations relied on reruns, old movies and local news, weather or sports to fill their broadcast days. However smaller media markets often had only the basic three channels. Cable television systems in smaller areas sought a foothold by "importing" signals from larger towns for their customers. The stations, anxious for more viewers, assisted by relaying their signals on by wire or microwave signals to these nearby regions. These stations became the first "superstations", on a regional basis.

The, with the advent of C-Band satelites, Ted Turner had the idea of distributing his WTCG in Atlanta via C-Band to the entire country (and beyond). This was the first national superstation, and his idea was soon copied by many other stations, including WGN in Chicago, Illinois.

This eventually caused conflict between these stations and providers of similar, or identical, programming in local markets. Eventually TBS, the successor to WTCG, and WGN gave up their status as superstations and become regular cable television channels. The FCC placed tight restrictions on the remaining superstations, allowing no new ones, and limiting the distribution of the five grandfathered ones to rural areas without distributors of similar programming.

The five remaining true superstations are UPN affiliates WSBK in Boston and WWOR in New York, New York and WB affiliates WPIX in New York, KWGN in Denver, Colorado, and KTLA in Los Angeles, California. These stations are carried on some rural cable systems, and on the Dish Network DBS system to many customers in small media markets.

However, while the FCC defines "superstation" as a term, it does not prohibit its use by others. TBS continues to bill itself as TBS Superstation and WGN calls itself Superstation WGN. KIMO in Anchorage, Alaska, which has a network of repeater stations in other parts of that state calls itself The Alaska Superstation. And the term is used by many other TV and radio stations. However, none of these operations is a superstation as defined by the FCC.

There are also "superstations" in Latin America, such as Canal de las Estrellas and Azteca 13 from Mexico City, Telefe Internacional and America Satelital from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and so on.