Wikipedia: Television Producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. It is often the Producer who is responsible for the television show’s overall quality and survivability, though the roles depend on the particular show or organization.
Some Producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon acceptance they focus on business matters, such as budgets and contracts. Other Producers are more involved with the day-to-day workings, participating in activities such as screenwriting, set design, casting, and even directing.
In television, there are a variety of different Producers on a television show. A traditional Producer is one who manages a show’s budget and maintains a schedule, but this is no longer the case in modern television. In fact, nowadays a Producer is almost synonymous with a Writer.
eHow: Job Description of a Segment Producer
eHow: Broadcast Producer Job Description
I focused on Canadian links because I’m Canadian:
Canadian Media Production Association
The International Guide to Producer’s Guide to Canada
Women in Film and Television Toronto
Women in Film and Television Vancouver
Canadian Women in Communications
Canadian Producer Magazine
Playback
Interview with Sonya Buyting, Segment Producer at Discovery Channel.