From: damian@wshb.csms.com (Damian Centgraf - WSHB Engineer) 
Subject: FAQ - Networks
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: WSHB, Herald Broadcasting Syn., Inc., Cypress Creek, SC, USA
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1992 10:41:38 GMT



The First Comerical Radio Station
	The first commercial station was WEAF (Now WNBC).  It operated as a 
"toll" station available for hire.  This was a high power station owned
by AT&T in New York City.  The first sponsored program occurred on August
28, 1922, When the Queensboro Corporation delivered a ten minute talk.
the was a Long Island realty company.  
        In 1922 WEAF's advertising income for the year was about $5,000
In contrast it would cost approximately $100,000 a year to operate the
station.

The AT&T Network
        On January 4, 1923 the AT&T network was started.  It sent programs
via telephone lines from WEAF in New York City to WNAC a Boston station.
Later in 1923 a Washington DC, station was added to the link.  By the Fall 
of 
of 1924 AT&T was able to carry a speech by president Coolidge from coast
to coast with 23 stations.

The National Broadcasting Company
        RCA was trying to make a network of their own.  Despite the
oposition from AT&T, who refused to furnish telephone lines to RCA for
use by a competing network.  RCA was forced to use inferior telegraph
lines to ntework.  In 1925 AT&T was able to broadcast the presidential
inauguration with 22 stations coast to coast RCA was only able to 
link up 4 east coast stations.
        In 1926 AT&T decieded to withdraw from radio broadcasting entirely
and sold WEAF to RCA for $1 million and transfered most of its radio 
properties to the "Radio Group" made up of RCA Westinghouse, & GE.
These transactions made it possible for the sale of radio time by the 
"Radio Group" after which AT&T agreed to make its telephone lines available
to RCA.
        On September 9, 1926 RCA formed the National Broadcasting Company,
to take over all network broadcasting business as a subsidary of RCA.  In
November of 1926 NBC started regular broadcast over a group stations that
became know as the NBC Red Network.  In January of 1927 it connected a 
second group of stations which became know as the NBC Blue network.  At thi 
point RCA controlled the only two networks in the country.  In 1943 the
government ordered RCA to sell it's second network.  The sell of this 
network was to the American Broadcasting company.

The Columbia Broadcasting System
        The United Independent Broadcasters, Inc. start this network on
January 27, 1927.  The purpose of this company was to contract time for
a network of 16 radio stations, to sell time to advertisers and to furnish
programs for broadcasters.  Before United started Columbia Phonograph
Broadcasting System became interested in the venture. Columbia which was
to act as sales agent for United was orginized in april of 1927.  United
contracted to pay each of the 16 stations 500 per week for 10 hours of
radio time.  Soon the Sales agent could not sell enough air time and the
network was near collapse after only a few months.  
        Columbia phonograph company then withdrew from the project with
the sale of all captial stock which United bought and the named the
company the Columbia Broadcasting System.  William S. Paley and his
family then bought the majority of CBS stock and the network
begran to grow.

The Mutal Broadcasting System
        The Mutual Broadcasting System came about in 1934 when 4 stations
WGN, Chicago, WLW, Cincinnati, WXYZ, Detroit, and WOR, New York.  They agred
to work jointly to obtain advertisers for themselves.  The Network fell upon
hard times and was sold to 3M with eventally sold the company which now
operates as a subsidiary of the Mutal Broadcasting Corporation.

The American Broadcasting Company
        In 1945 ABC came to be after the purchase of the NBC Blue Network.
in 1953 ABC merged with United Paramount Theathers, Inc., which formed 
Amercan Broadcasting-Parmount Theaters, Inc, aka American Broadcasting 
Companies, Inc.
        Somewhere in the 1980's it was purchased by Capital cites... as
the exact details I'm unsure.

   Damian L. Centgraf  |"All four winds together-Can't bring the world to me
  damian@centgraf.UUCP |Shadows hide the play of light-So much I want to see
  70571,313 Compu$erve |Chase the light around the world-I want to look at life
                       |In the available light" --Rush

-- 
       Damian L. Centgraf II        | "Take the key unlock the door" 
      WSHB-Broadcast Engineer       | "See what your fate might have in
store" 
 INTERNET ...damian@wshb.csms.com   | "Come explore your dreams creation"
      COMPUSERVE ...70571,313       | "Enter this world of imagination" -Rush


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