NBC_Red_Network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NBC Red Network NBC Red Network NBC Red Network gradually dissolved into eventual corporate parent Westwood One. History Initial creation In 1923, the Radio Corporation of America RCA acquired control of WJZ in Newark, New Jersey, from Westinghouse, and moved the station to New York [1] The same year, RCA obtained a license for station WRC in Washington, D.C., and attempted to transmit audio between WJZ and WRC via low-quality telegraph lines, in an attempt to make a network comparable to that operated by AT&T. AT&T had created its own network in 1922, with WEAF in New York serving the research and development function for Western Electric’s research and development of radio transmitters and antennas, as well as AT&T’s long-distance and local Bell technologies for transmitting voice- and music-grade audio over short and long distances, via both wireless and wired methods. WEAF’s regular schedule of a variety of programs, and its selling of commercial sponsorships, had been a success, and what was known at first as "chain broadcasting" became a network that linked WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island and AT&T’s WCAP in Washington, D.C. Since AT&T refused access of its highquality phone lines to competitors, RCA’s New York-Washington operated with uninsulated telegraph lines which were incapable of good audio transmission quality and very susceptible to both atmospheric and man-made electrical interference. In 1926, however, the management of AT&T concluded that operating a radio network was incompatible with its operation of America’s telephone and telegraph service, and sold WEAF and WCAP to RCA for approximately one million dollars. As part of the purchase, RCA also gained the rights to rent AT&T’s phone lines for network transmission, and the technology for operating a quality radio network. On September 13, 1926, RCA Chairman of the Board Owen D. Young and RCA President James G. Harbord announced the formation Type Country Availability Owner Radio United States Most of the United States RCA January, 1927 - October, 1986; Westwood One October, 1986 - 2003 January 1, 1927 (as NBC Red Network) January 9, 1942 (as NBC Radio Network) 2003 (dissolved into Westwood One) O&O stations WEAF - New York WRC - Washington WTAM - Cleveland WMAQ - Chicago KPO - San Francisco among many other affiliates, see list below Launch date Dissolved Affiliates The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network (which would become the American Broadcasting Company), the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network. It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the United States (the CBS Radio Network having been established two years later). The NBC Radio Network itself no longer exists under its original configuration, having been 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia of the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. [2], to begin broadcasting upon RCA’s acquisition of WEAF on November 15. "The purpose of the National Broadcasting Company will be to provide the best programs available for broadcasting in the United States... It is hoped that arrangements may be made so that every event of national importance may be broadcast widely throughout the United States," announced M.H. Aylesworth, the first president of NBC, in the press release [3]. NBC Red Network programming to the Pacific states and had as its flagship station KPO of San Francisco. NBC Red then extended its’ reach into the midwest by acquiring two 50,000 watt clearchannel signals, Cleveland station WTAM on October 16, 1930 and Chicago station WMAQ (coincidenally, a CBS Radio Network charter affiliate) by 1931. On October 18, 1931, Blue Network programming was introduced along the NBC Gold Network, which broadcast from San Francisco’s KGO station. In 1936 the Orange Network name was dropped and affiliate stations became part of the Red Network. The Gold Network adopted the Blue Network name. In a major move in 1931, RCA signed crucial leases with the new Rockefeller Center management that resulted in it becoming the lead tenant of what was to become in 1933 its corporate headquarters, the RCA Building, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Under the terms of the lease arrangement, this included studios for NBC and theaters for the RCA-owned RKO Pictures. The deal was arranged through the Center’s founder and financier, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with the chairman of GE, Owen D. Young, and the president of RCA, David Sarnoff.[6] In 1939 the FCC ordered RCA to divest itself of one of the two networks. RCA fought the divestiture order, but divided NBC into two companies in 1940 in case an appeal was lost. The Blue network became the "NBC Blue Network, Inc." (now known as ABC) and the NBC Red became "NBC Red Network, Inc." Effective January 10, 1942, the two networks had their operations formally divorced, and the Blue Network was referred to on the air as either "Blue" or "Blue Network," with its official corporate name being Blue Network Company, Inc. NBC Red, on the air, became known as simply NBC. [7] Red Network and Blue Network Although RCA was identified as the creator of the network, NBC was actually owned 50% by RCA, 30% by General Electric, and 20% by Westinghouse. The network officially was launched at 8:00 Eastern time on the evening of Monday, November 15, 1926. "The most pretentious broadcasting program ever presented, featuring among others, world famed stars never before heard on the air, will mark the Introduction of the National Broadcasting Company to the public Monday night," the press noted, with "a four hour radio performance by noted stars of opera, stage and concert hall". Carl Schlagel of the Metropolitan Opera opened the inaugural broadcast, which also featured Will Rogers and Mary Garden [4]. The broadcast was made simultaneously on WEAF and WJZ. Some of NBC’s programming was broadcast that evening on WEEI (Boston) WLIT (Philadelphia), WRC (Washington), WDAF (Kansas City), and WWJ (Detroit) [5]. On January 1, 1927 NBC formally divided the its programming along two networks. The NBC Red Network, with WEAF as its flagship station, provided entertainment and music programming, while the Blue Network and WJZ carried fewer advertisements, with an emphasis on news, cultural and educational programs. Legend has it that the color designations originated from the color of the pushpins early engineers used to designate affiliates of WEAF (red pins) and WJZ (blue pins), or from the use of double-ended red and blue colored pencils. A similar two-part/two-color strategy appeared in the recording industry, dividing the market between classical and popular offerings. On April 5, 1927 NBC reached the West Coast with the launching of the NBC Orange Network, which rebroadcast Red Network Red Network affiliates By 1939, NBC’s Red and Blue Networks, and the Columbia and Mutual Broadcasting systems, offered nationwide coverage[8]. The Red Network stations (including "optional" stations that offered Red Network entertainment with Blue Network news programs) were as follows: 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NBC Red Network • WTMJ (Milwaukee) Key East affiliates • WEAF (New York) • CBM (Montreal) • KYW (Philadelphia) • WBEN (Buffalo) • WCAE (Pittsburgh) • WCSH (Portland, ME) • WDEL (Wilmington, DE) • WFBR (Baltimore) • WGY (Schenectady) • WJAR (Providence) • WNAC (Boston) • WRC (Washington) • WTAG (Worcester, MA) • WTAM (Cleveland) • WTIC (Hartford) • WWJ (Detroit) Optional East affiliates • CBF (Montreal) • CBL (Toronto) • CMQ (Havana, Cuba) • WBRE (WilkesBarre) • WCOL (Columbus, OH) • WEEU (Reading, PA) • WFEA (Manchester, NH) • WGAL (Lancaster, PA) • WLBZ (Bangor) • WLW (Cincinnati) • WNBC • WORK • WRAW • WRDO (Augusta, ME) • WSAN (Allentown) • WSPD (Toledo) Key South affiliates • KPRC (Houston) • WBRC (Birmingham) • WJDX (Jackson, MS) • WMBG (Williamsburg, VA) • WSB (Atlanta) • WMC (Memphis) Optional South affiliates • KARK (Little Rock) • KFDM (Beaumont, TX) • KGKO (Dallas) • KGNO (Dodge City, KS) • KGRV • KRIS (Corpus Christi, TX) • KTHS • KTOK (Oklahoma City) • KTSM (El Paso) • KVOO (Tulsa) • WAPO • WALA (Mobile, AL) • WAVE (Louisville) • WBAP (Fort Worth, TX) • WCSC • WFAA (Dallas) • WFBC (Greenville, SC) • WFLA (Tampa) • WIOD (Miami) • WIS (Columbia, SC) • WJAX (Jacksonville) • WKY (Oklahoma City) • WLAK • WOAI (San Antonio) • WPTF (Raleigh, NC) • WROL • WSM (Nashville) • WSOC (Charlotte, NC) • WSUN (Tampa) • WTAR (Norfolk, VA) • WWNC (Asheville, NC) Key Midwest affiliates • KSD (St. Louis) • KGIR (Cape Girardeau MO} • KSTP (St. Paul) • WDAF (Kansas City) • WHO (Des Moines) • WIRE (Indianapolis) • WMAQ (Chicago) • WOC (Davenport, IA) • WOW (Omaha) Optional Midwest affiliates • KANS (Wichita, KS) • KFYR (Bismarck) • KGBX (Springfield, MO) • KOAM (Pittsburg, KS) • KSOO (Sioux Falls) • WBOW (Terre Haute) • WCFL (Chicago) • WCKY (Cincinnati) • WDAY (Fargo) • WEBC (Duluth) • WGBF (Evansville) • WGAL (Fort Wayne) • WLBA • WOOD (Grand Rapids) 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NBC Red Network • General Motors Concerts (Mon 9:30-10:30) • Soconyland Sketches (Tue 7:30-8) • The Eveready Hour (Tue 9-10) • The Ipana Troubadors (Wed 9-9:30) • The Palmolive Hour (Wed 9:30-10:30) • The Hoover Sentinels (Thu 8:30-9) • Cities Service Concerts (Fri 8-9) • Lucky Strike Orchestra (Sat 10-11) 1929-30 • Major Bowes Family (Sun 7:30-8:30) • Family Party (Mon 9:30-10:30) • Rudy Vallée (Thu 8-9) • Mystery House (Fri 10:30-11) • Famous Challengers (Sat 8-8:30) • Laundryland Lyrics (Sat 8:30-9) Key Mountain affiliates • KOA (Denver) • KDYL (Salt Lake City) Optional Mountain affiliates • • • • • • • • KGHF (Pueblo, CO) KGIL KIDO (Boise, ID) KOB (Albuquerque) KPFA KSEI (Pocatello, ID) KTAR (Phoenix) KTFI (Twin Falls, ID) • KVOA (Tucson) Key Pacific affiliates • KFI (Los Angeles) • KCW • KOMO (Seattle) • KHQ (Spokane) • KPO (San Francisco) Optional Pacific affiliates KFBK (Sacramento) KWG (Stockton, CA) KMJ (Fresno) KORN KGU (Honolulu) KMED (Medford, OR) • KGW (Portland, OR) • • • • • • 1930s 1930-31 • Major Bowes’ Theater (Sunday 7:30-8) • Gypsies Hour (Mon 8:30-9:30) • Family Party (Mon 9:30-10) • Sherlock Holmes (Monday 10-10:30) • Rudy Vallée (Thu 8-9) • Birthday Party (Thu 9-9:30) • Cities Service Concerts (Fri 8-9) • The General Electric Concert (Sat 9-10) 1931-32 • Eddie Cantor (Sun 8-8:30) • The Goldbergs (Wed 8-8:30) • Sherlock Holmes (Thu 9:30-10) • Major Bowes (Fri 7:00-7:30) • Theater of the Air (Fri 9:30-10) 1932-33 • The Goldbergs (Weeknights 7:45-8:00) • Gypsies Concert (Mon 9-9:30) • Parade of States (Mon 9:30-10) • Ed Wynn and His Band (Tuesday 9:30-10:00) • Rudy Vallée (Thursday 8-9) 1933-34 PRIMETIME • Durante & Etting (Sun 8-9) • Merry Go Round (Sun 9-9:30) • Jack Benny (Sun 10-11) • Gypsies (Mon 9-9:30) • Bert Lahr & George Olsen (Wed 8-8:30) WEEKNIGHTS • Lum and Abner (7:30-7:45) • The Goldbergs (7:45-8) Notable programs (all times EST) 1920s 1926-27 • The Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra (Weeknights 6-7) • Capitol Theatre (Sun 7:20-9:15) • House of Myths (Mon 7:30-8:15) • Have You Read This? (Mon 8:15-8:30) • The Vikings (Tue 8-8:30) • The Clicquot Club Eskimos (Thu 9-10) • New York Symphony Orchestra (Sat 9-10) 1927-28 • Capitol Theatre (Sun 7:20-9:15) • The A&P Gypsies (Mon 8:30-9:30) • Sanka After Dinner Music (Tue 7:30-8) • Great Moments in History (Tue 8-8:30) • The Ipana Troubadors (Wed 9-9:30) • The Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra (Wed 9:30-10:30) • The Hoover Sentinels (Thu 8:30-9) • Cities Service Concerts (Fri 8-9) • The High-Jinkers (Sat 7:30-8:30) • Old Gold on Broadway (Sat 8:30-10:00) 1928-29 • Capitol Theatre (Sun 7:30-9) 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Rudy Vallée Hour (Thu 8-9) • Fred Allen & His Gang (Fri 9-9:30) • Lum and Abner’s Sociable (Fri 10:30-11) 1934-35 PRIMETIME • Manhattan Merry Go Round (Sun 9-9:30) • Ed Wynn (Tue 9:30-10) • Mary Pickford (Wed 8-8:30) • Town Hall Tonight, with Fred Allen (Wed 9-10) • Guy Lombardo (Wed 10-10:30) • Rudy Vallée Hour (Thu 8-9) 1935-36 PRIMETIME WEEKDAYS • Major Bowes Amateur • Tom Mix Hour (Sun 8-9) (530-545) • Merry Go Round (Sun • Clara, Lu, 9-9:30) and Em • One Man’s Family (Tue (545-6) 8-830) • News • Fred Allen (Tue 9-10) (630-645) • Rudy Vallée (Thu 8-9) • Billy ’n Betty • True Story Court (Fri (645-7) 930-1030) • Amos & • Campus Revue (Fri Andy (7-715) 1030-11) • Your Hit Parade, with Fred Astaire (Sat 8-9) 1936-37 PRIMETIME • Good Will Court (Sun 8-830) • Fred Astaire (Tue 930-10) • One Man’s Family (Wed 8-830) • Fred Allen (Wed 9-10) • Your Hit Parade (Wed 10-1030) • Vallée’s Variety Hour (Thu 8-9) • Court of Human Relations (Fri 930-10) WEEKDAYS • Tom Mix (515-530) • Jack Armstrong (530-545) • Billy ’n Betty (645-7) • Amos & Andy (7-715) WEEKNIGHTS • Frank Buck (7:45-8) • Snow Village Sketches (Sat 9-930) • Irvin S. Cobb (Sat 1030-11) 1937-38 PRIMETIME • Merry Go Round (Sun 9-930) • Rising Musical Stars (Sun 10-11) • Burns & Allen (Mon 8-830) • Fibber McGee & Molly (Mon 9-930) • Vox Poppers & Questions (Tue 9-930) • One Man’s Family (Wed 8-830) • The Parade of Hits (Wed 9-945) • Rudy Vallée Hour (Thu 8-9) • Movie Stars Program (Thu 9-10) • Lucille Manners (Fri 8-9) • Court of Human Relations (Fri 930-10) • First Nighter Playhouse (Fri 10-1030) • Ripley’s Believe it or Not (Sat 8-830) 1938-39 PRIMETIME • Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy (Sun 8-9) • Merry Go Round (Sun 9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (Tue 930-10) • Bob Hope (Tue 10-1030) • One Man’s Family (Wed 8-830) • Tommy Dorsey (Wed 830-9) • Kay Kyser (Wed 10-11) NBC Red Network DAYTIME • Jack Armstrong (530-545) • Little Orphan Annie (545-6) • Don Winslow of the Navy (615-630) • Billy & Betty (645-7) • Amos ’n’ Andy (7-715) DAYTIME • The Guiding Light (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Life Can Be Beautiful (430-445) • Girl Alone (445-5) • Dick Tracy (5-515) 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Rudy Vallée (Thu 8-9) • Robert Young (Thu 9-10) • Bing Crosby (Thu 10-11) • Death Valley Days (Fri 930-10) • Fred Waring (Sat 830-9) • Vox Pop (Sat 9-930) • America Dances (Sat 930-10) 1939-40 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Edgar Bergen (8-9) • Merry Go Round (9-930) MONDAY • Dr. I.Q. (9-930) TUESDAY • John Presents (8-830) • Battle of the Sexes (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope’s Show (10-1030) • Uncle Walter’s Doghouse (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Hollywood Playhouse (8-830) • Red Skelton (830-9) • Fred Allen (9-930) • George Jessel (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • One Man’s Family (8-830) • Those We Love (830-9) • Good News of 1940 (9-10) FRIDAY • Lucille Manners (8-9) • George Jessel (930-10) • Guy Lombardo (10-1030) DAYTIME • Mary Martin (3-315) • Ma Perkins (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • The Guiding Light (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Vic and Sade (430-445) • Girl Alone (5-515) • The O’Neills (515-530) • Jack Armstrong (530-545) • Little Orphan Annie (545-6) • Your Family & Mine (515-530) • Jack Armstrong (530-545) • Little Orphan Annie (545-6) • Amos ’n’ Andy (7-715) • The Story Behind the Headlines (1030-11) SATURDAY • Jimmy Dorsey (8-830) • The Gag Busters with Milton Berle (830-9) • Death Valley Days (930-10) • Benny Goodman (10-1030) NBC Red Network 1940s 1940-41 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Artie Shaw (730-8) • Edgar Bergen (8-830) • One Man’s Family (830-9) • Merry-Go-Round (9-930) MONDAY • Burns & Allen (730-8) • Dr. I.Q. (9-930) • Showboat (930-10) TUESDAY • Johnny Presents (8-830) • Treasure Chest (830-9) • We the People (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Uncle Walter’s Doghouse (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Cavalcade of America (730-8) • Hollywood Playhouse (8-830) • Plantation Party (830-9) • Time to Smile w/ Eddie Cantor (9-930) DAYTIME • Mary Martin (3-315) • Ma Perkins (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Vic & Sade (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • Girl Alone (5-515) • Life Can Be Beautiful (515-530) • Jack Armstrong (530-545) • The O’Neills (545-6) 6 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Bob Crosby’s Dixieland Band (730-8) • Good News of 1940 (8-830) • The Aldrich Family (830-9) • Music Hall (9-10) • Rudy Vallee (10-1030) FRIDAY • Alec Templeton Time (730-8) • Lucille Manners (8-830) • Everyman’s Theater (9-930) • Wings of Destiny (10-1030) SATURDAY • Knickerbocker Playhouse (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-10) • Station E-Z-R-A (10-1030) • Gene Krupa (1030-11) 1941-42 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Band Wagon (730-8) • Edgar Bergen (8-830) • One Man’s Family (830-9) • Merry-Go-Round (9-930) • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • Sherlock Holmes (1030-11) MONDAY • Cavalcade of America (730-8) • Dr. I.Q. (9-930) TUESDAY DAYTIME • Against the Storm (3-315) • Ma Perkins (315-330) • The Guiding Light (330-345) • Vic & Sade (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) NBC Red Network • Burns and Allen (730-8) • Johnny Presents (8-830) • Horace Heidt (830-9) • Battle of the Sexes (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) WEDNESDAY • Thin Man Adventures (8-830) • Party from Plantation (830-9) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Xavier Cugat (730-8) • Fannie Brice (8-830) • The Aldrich Family (830-9) • The Music Hall Hour (9-10) • Vallee/Barrymore Show (10-1030) • Frank Fay (1030-11) FRIDAY • Rhyme & Rhythm (730-8) • Lucille Manners (8-830) • Information Please (830-9) • Abe Lyman (9-930) • Uncle Walt’s Doghouse (930-10) • Aviation Drama (10-1030) SATURDAY • Knickerbocker Playhouse (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-10) 1942-43 PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • Mary Martin • Jack Benny (7-730) (3-315) • Kay Kyser (730-8) • Ma Perkins • Edgar Bergen (8-830) (315-330) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • We the Abbots (530-545) • Negro Male Quartet (545-6) 7 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • One Man’s Family (830-9) • Merry-Go-Round (9-930) • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • Bill Stern on Sports (10-1030) MONDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Dr. I.Q. (930-10) TUESDAY • Johnny Presents (8-830) • Horace Heidt (830-9) • Battle of the Sexes (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Red Skelton (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Thin Man Adventures (8-830) • Tommy Dorsey (830-9) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Abbott & Costello (730-8) • Fannie Brice (8-830) • The Aldrich Family (830-9) • Bing Crosby (9-10) • Rudy Vallee (10-1030) • The March of Time (1030-11) FRIDAY • Tommy Riggs (730-8) • Lucille Manners (8-830) • Information Please (830-9) • Plantation Party (930-10) • People Are Funny (10-1030) SATURDAY • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • H.V. Kaltenborn (745-8) • Ellery Queen (730-8) • Abie’s Irish Rose (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-930) • Can You Top This? (930-10) 1943-44 NBC Red Network PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Jack Benny (7-730) • Bandwagon (730-8) • Edgar Bergen (8-830) • One Man’s Family (830-9) • Merry-Go-Round (9-930) • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • Bill Stern on Sports (10-1030) MONDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Dr. I.Q. (930-10) • Information Please (1030-11) TUESDAY • Johnny Presents (8-830) • Horace Heidt (830-9) • Mystery Theater (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Red Skelton (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Mr. and Mrs. North (8-830) • Beat the Band (830-9) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Bob Burns (730-8) • Coffee Time (8-830) DAYTIME • Women of America (3-315) • Ma Perkins (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • Bill Stern’s Sports (645-7) • H.V. Kaltenborn (745-8) 8 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • The Aldrich Family (830-9) • Bing Crosby (9-930) • Joan Davis (930-10) • Garry Moore & Jimmy Durante (10-1030) • The March of Time (1030-11) FRIDAY • Lucille Manners (8-830) • All Time Hit Parade (830-9) • Waltz Time (9-930) • People Are Funny (930-10) SATURDAY • Ellery Queen (730-8) • Abie’s Irish Rose (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-930) • Can You Top This? (930-10) 1944-45 PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • The Guiding • Jack Benny (7-730) Light (2-215) • Bandwagon (730-8) • Women of • Edgar Bergen (8-830) America • One Man’s Family (3-315) (830-9) • Ma Perkins • The American Album (315-330) of Familiar Music • Pepper (930-10) Young’s • Jackie Gleason & Les Family Tremayne (1030-11) (330-345) MONDAY • Right to • Cavalcade of America Happiness (8-830) (345-4) • Information Please • Backstage (930-10) Wife (4-415) • Dr. I.Q. (1030-11) • Stella Dallas TUESDAY (415-430) • Ginny Simms (8-830) • Lorenzo Jones • A Date With Judy (430-445) (830-9) • Young Widder • Mystery Theater Brown (445-5) (9-930) • When a Girl • Fibber McGee and Marries Molly (930-10) (5-515) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Hildegarde (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Mr. and Mrs. North (8-830) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Bob Burns (730-8) • Frank Morgan (8-830) • Dinah Shore (830-9) • Bing Crosby (9-930) • Joan Davis (930-10) • Abbott & Costello (10-1030) • The March of Time (1030-11) FRIDAY • Highways in Melody (8-830) • Duffy’s Tavern (830-9) • Waltz Time (9-930) • Art Linkletter (930-10) SATURDAY • The World’s Great Novels (7-730) • Ellery Queen (730-8) • Rudy Vallee (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-930) • Can You Top This? (930-10) • Barry Wood & Patsy Kelly (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1945-46 NBC Red Network • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • Lowell Thomas (645-7) • H. V. Kaltenborn (745-8) PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • The Guiding • Jack Benny (7-730) Light (2-215) • Bandwagon (730-8) • Women of • Edgar Bergen (8-830) America • Fred Allen (830-9) (3-315) • Merry-Go-Round • Ma Perkins (9-930) (315-330) 9 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • Meet Me at Perky’s (1030-11) MONDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Information Please (930-10) • Dr. I.Q. (1030-11) TUESDAY • The Everything Boys (730-8) • Johnny Presents (8-830) • A Date with Judy (830-9) • Amos ’n Andy (9-930) • Fibber McGee and Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Hildegarde (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Mr. and Mrs. North (8-830) • Sigmund Romberg (830-9) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-11) THURSDAY • Bob Burns (730-8) • Burns and Allen (8-830) • Dinah Shore (830-9) • Music Hall (9-930) • Jack Haley (930-10) • Abbott and Costello (10-1030) • Rudy Vallee (1030-11) FRIDAY • Melody Highways (8-830) • Duffy’s Tavern (830-9) • Art Linkletter (9-930) • Waltz Time (930-10) • Mystery Theater (10-1030) SATURDAY • The Life of Riley (8-830) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • Lowell Thomas (645-7) • H. V. Kaltenborn (745-8) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • National Barn Dance (9-930) • Can You Top This? (930-10) • Judy Canova (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1946-47 NBC Red Network PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • The Guiding • Jack Benny (7-730) Light (2-215) • Phil Harris (730-8) • Life Can Be • Edgar Bergen (8-830) Beautiful • Fred Allen (830-9) (3-315) • Merry-Go-Round • Ma Perkins (9-930) (315-330) • The American Album • Pepper of Familiar Music Young’s (930-10) Family • Don Ameche (330-345) (10-1030) • Right to • Meet Me at Perky’s Happiness (1030-11) (345-4) MONDAY • Backstage • Cavalcade of America Wife (4-415) (8-830) • Stella Dallas • Howard Barlow (415-430) (830-9) • Lorenzo Jones • Donald Voorhees (430-445) (9-930) • Young Widder • Victor Borge (930-10) Brown (445-5) • The Contented Hour • When a Girl (10-1030) Marries • Dr. I.Q. (1030-11) (5-515) TUESDAY • Portia Faces • Rudy Vallee (8-830) Life (515-530) • A Date with Judy • Just Plain Bill (830-9) (530-545) • Amos ’n’ Andy • Front Page (9-930) Farrell • Fibber McGee and (545-6) Molly (930-10) • Lowell • Bob Hope (10-1030) Thomas • Red Skelton (645-7) (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Mr. and Mrs. North (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) 10 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Duffy’s Tavern (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • Frank Morgan (10-1030) • Kay Kyser (1030-11) THURSDAY • Dennis Day (730-8) • Burns and Allen (8-830) • The Aldrich Family (830-9) • Music Hall (9-930) • The Village Store with Jack Haley (930-10) • Abbott & Costello (10-1030) • Eddie Cantor (1030-11) FRIDAY • Highways in Melody (8-830) • Alan Young (830-9) • Art Linkletter (9-930) • Waltz Time (930-10) • Mystery Theater (10-1030) SATURDAY • The Life of Riley (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • Roy Rogers (9-930) • Can You Top This? (930-10) • Judy Canova (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1947-48 PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • Life Can Be • Jack Benny (7-730) Beautiful • Phil Harris (730-8) (3-315) • Edgar Bergen (8-830) • Ma Perkins • Fred Allen (830-9) (315-330) • Merry-Go-Round • Pepper (9-930) Young’s • The American Album Family of Familiar Music (330-345) (930-10) • Take It or Leave It (10-1030) • The Big Break (1030-11) MONDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Howard Barlow (830-9) • Donald Voorhees (9-930) • Dr. I.Q. (930-10) • The Contented Hour (10-1030) • Fred Waring (1030-11) TUESDAY • Milton Berle (8-830) • A Date with Judy (830-9) • Amos ’n’ Andy (9-930) • Fibber McGee and Molly (930-10) • Bob Hope (10-1030) • Red Skelton (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Dennis Day (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Duffy’s Tavern (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • The Big Story (10-1030) • Jimmy Durante (1030-11) THURSDAY • The Aldrich Family (730-8) • Burns and Allen (8-830) • Music Hall (830-9) • The Village Store (930-10) • Bob Hawk (10-1030) • Eddie Cantor (1030-11) FRIDAY • Highways in Melody (8-830) • Can You Top This? (830-9) NBC Red Network • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Lorenzo Jones (430-445) • Young Widder Brown (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) 11 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Art Linkletter (9-930) • Waltz Time (930-10) • Mystery Theater (10-1030) SATURDAY • The Life of Riley (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • Your Hit Parade (9-930) • Judy Canova (930-10) • Kay Kyser (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1948-49 PRIMETIME DAYTIME SUNDAY • Double or • Ozzie and Harriet Nothing (630-7) (2-215) • Jack Benny (7-730) • Life Can Be • Phil Harris (730-8) Beautiful • Edgar Bergen (8-830) (3-315) • Fred Allen (830-9) • Ma Perkins • Merry-Go-Round (315-330) (9-930) • Pepper • The American Album Young’s of Familiar Music Family (930-10) (330-345) • Take It or Leave It • Right to (10-1030) Happiness • Horace Heidt (345-4) (1030-11) • Backstage MONDAY Wife (4-415) • Cavalcade of America • Lorenzo Jones (8-830) (415-430) • Howard Barlow • Young Widder (830-9) Brown • Don Voorhees (9-930) (430-445) • Dr. I.Q. (930-10) • Stella Dallas • Buddy Clark (445-5) (10-1030) • When a Girl • x (1030-11) Marries TUESDAY (5-515) • Mel Torme (8-830) • Portia Faces • A Date with Judy Life (515-530) (830-9) • Just Plain Bill • Bob Hope (9-930) (530-545) • Fibber McGee and • Front Page Molly (930-10) Farrell • Big Town (10-1030) (545-6) • Art Linkletter (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Blondie (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Duffy’s Tavern (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • The Big Story (10-1030) • Curtain Time (1030-11) THURSDAY • The Aldrich Family (730-8) • Burns and Allen (8-830) • Music Hall (830-9) • The Village Store (930-10) • Screen Guild Theater (10-1030) • Fred Waring (1030-11) FRIDAY • The Band of America (8-830) • Jimmy Durante (830-9) • Eddie Cantor (9-930) • Red Skelton (930-10) • The Life of Riley (10-1030) • Bill Stern on Sports (1030-1045) SATURDAY • Star Theater (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • Your Hit Parade (9-930) • Judy Canova (930-10) • Dennis Day (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1949-50 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Hollywood Calling (630-730) • Phil Harris (730-8) • Sam Spade (8-830) NBC Red Network DAYTIME • Double or Nothing (2-215) • Life Can Be Beautiful (3-315) 12 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Theater Guild (830-930) • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • Take It or Leave It (10-1030) • Bob Crosley (1030-11) MONDAY • The Railroad Hour (8-830) • Howard Barlow (830-9) • The Bell Telephone Hour (9-930) • Band of America (930-10) • Director’s Playhouse (10-1030) • Guy Lombardo (1030-11) TUESDAY • Boston Blackie (730-8) • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Me and Janie (830-9) • Bob Hope (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Big Town (10-1030) • Art Linkletter (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • This is Your Life (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Break the Bank (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • The Big Story (10-1030) • Curtain Time (1030-11) THURSDAY • Red Ryder (730-8) • The Aldrich Family (8-830) • Father Knows Best (830-9) • Screen Guild Players (9-930) • The Road of Life (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Lorenzo Jones (415-430) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) • Stella Dallas (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • Duffy’s Tavern (930-10) • The Supper Club (10-1030) • Dragnet (1030-11) FRIDAY • Henry Morgan (8-830) • Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (830-9) • The Life of Riley (9-930) • Jimmy Durante (930-10) • Dr. I.Q. (10-1030) • Bill Stern on Sports (1030-1045) SATURDAY • Hollywood Star Theater (8-830) • Truth or Consequences (830-9) • Your Hit Parade (9-930) • Dennis Day (930-10) • Judy Canova (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) NBC Red Network 1950s 1950-51 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Western Caravan (630-7) • Reward (7-730) • Groucho Comes Home (8-830) • Theater Guild (830-930) • The American Album of Familiar Music (930-10) • The $64 Question (10-1030) • Meet Me In St. Louis (1030-11) MONDAY • The Railroad Hour (8-830) • Howard Barlow (830-9) DAYTIME • Double or Nothing (2-230) • Life Can Be Beautiful (3-315) • The Road of Life (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Lorenzo Jones (415-430) 13 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • The Bell Telephone Hour (9-930) • Band of America (930-10) • NBC Symphony Orchestra (10-11) TUESDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Carmen Dragon (830-9) • Bob Hope (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Big Town (10-1030) • Art Linkletter (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Halls of Ivy (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Groucho Marx (9-930) • Mr. District Attorney (930-10) • The Big Story (10-1030) • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1030-11) THURSDAY • The Aldrich Family (8-830) • Father Knows Best (830-9) • Dragnet (9-930) • We, the People (930-10) • Top Secret (10-1030) • Charles Boyer (1030-11) FRIDAY • Cloak and Dagger (8-830) • A Man Called X (830-9) • Nightbeat (9-930) • Confidential (930-10) • The Life of Riley (10-1030) • Bill Stern on Sports (1030-1045) SATURDAY • Cass Daley (8-830) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) • Stella Dallas (445-5) • When a Girl Marries (5-515) • Portia Faces Life (515-530) • Just Plain Bill (530-545) • Front Page Farrell (545-6) • Hedda Hopper (830-9) • Your Hit Parade (9-930) • Dennis Day (930-10) • Judy Canova (10-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (1030-11) 1951-52 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • The Big Show (630-8) • Reward Harris and Faye (8-830) • Theater Guild (830-930) • The Jubilee Show (930-10) • Mr. Moto (10-1030) MONDAY • The Railroad Hour (8-830) • Howard Barlow (830-9) • Telephone Hour (9-930) • Band of America (930-10) • Mario Lanza (10-1030) TUESDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Hollywood Theater (830-9) • Bob Hope (9-930) • Fibber McGee and Molly (930-10) • Big Town (10-1030) • Playhouse on Broadway (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Halls of Ivy (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Groucho Marx (9-930) NBC Red Network DAYTIME • Double or Nothing (2-230) • Life Can Be Beautiful (3-315) • The Road of Life (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Lorenzo Jones (415-430) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) • My House (445-5) • Front Page Farrell (5-530) • Lorenzo Jones (530-545) • Bob and Ray (545-6) 14 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • The Big Story (930-10) • Barrie Crane (10-1030) • Bold Venture (1030-11) THURSDAY • Father Knows Best (8-830) • Mr. Keen (830-9) • Dragnet (9-930) • Counterspy (930-10) • Your Hit Parade (10-1030) FRIDAY • Roy Rogers (8-830) • Martin and Lewis (830-9) • Meredith Willson (9-930) • You Can’t Take It with You (930-10) SATURDAY • Jane Ace (8-830) • Bob and Ray (830-9) • Talent Search (9-930) • Grand Ole Opry (930-10) • Dangerous Assignment (10-1030) • Roundup Time (1030-11) 1952-53 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Meet Your Match (7-730) • Freedom U.S.A. (730-8) • Harris and Faye (8-830) • Theater Guild (830-930) • Dragnet (930-10) • Meet the Press (10-1030) • American Forum (1030-11) MONDAY DAYTIME • Life Can Be Beautiful (3-315) • The Road of Life (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) • My House (445-5) • The Railroad Hour (8-830) • Howard Barlow (830-9) • Telephone Hour (9-930) • Band of America (930-10) TUESDAY • Cavalcade of America (8-830) • Red Skelton (830-9) • Martin and Lewis (9-930) • Fibber McGee & Molly (930-10) • Two For the Money (10-1030) • Allan Jones (1030-11) WEDNESDAY • Walk a Mile (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • Groucho Marx (9-930) • The Big Story (930-10) • Barrie Craig (10-1030) • Cavalcade of Music (1030-11) THURSDAY • Roy Rogers (8-830) • Father Knows Best (830-9) • Truth or Consequences (9-930) • Eddie Cantor (930-10) • Touchdown U.S.A. (10-1030) • Listening Glass (1030-11) FRIDAY • Your Hit Parade (8-830) • Music by Mantovani (830-9) NBC Red Network • Plain Bill Farrell (5-530) • Lorenzo Jones (530-545) • Doctor’s Wife (545-6) 15 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Best Plays (9-10) • Curtain Time (1030-11) SATURDAY • Bob and Ray (8-830) • Accidentally Speaking (830-9) • Pee Wee King (9-930) • Grand Ole Opry (930-10) • Reuben Reuben (10-1030) • Remember When (1030-11) 1953-54 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Hollywood Star Playhouse (7-730) • Freedom U.S.A. (730-8) • Hollywood Story (8-830) • Royal Theater (830-9) • Stroke of Fate (9-930) • The Six Shooter (930-10) • Last Man Out (10-1030) • Meet the Press (1030-11) MONDAY • Railroad Hour (8-830) • The Voice Of Firestone (830-9) • Bell Telephone Hour (9-930) • Cities Service Band of America (930-10) TUESDAY • Barrie Craig (830-9) • Dragnet (9-930) • John Cameron Swayze and the News (930-935) • Rocky Fortune (935-10) • Curtain Time (1030-11) WEDNESDAY DAYTIME • Life Can Be Beautiful (3-315) • The Road of Life (315-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) • Plain Bill Farrell (5-530) • Lorenzo Jones (530-545) • It Pays To Be Married (545-6) • Fibber McGee & Molly (10-1015) • Can You Top This? (1015-1030) • Walk a Mile (8-830) • The Great Gildersleeve (830-9) • You Bet Your Life (9-930) • The Big Story (930-10) • Cavalcade of Music (1030-11) THURSDAY • Roy Rogers (8-830) • Father Knows Best (830-9) • Truth or Consequences (9-930) • Eddie Cantor (930-10) • Tomorrow’s Tops (1030-11) FRIDAY • Bob Hope (830-9) • Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show (9-930) • House of Glass (930-10) • Cavalcade of the Year (1030-11) SATURDAY • Baron and the Bee (9-930) • Harris and Faye (930-10) • Hillbilly Jukebox (10-1030) • Pee Wee King (1030-11) 1954-55 PRIMETIME SUNDAY • Barometer 1954 (7-8) • Dr. Sixgun (8-830) • Barrie Craig (830-9) • We, the Abbotts (9-930) • Easy Money (930-10) • Meet the Press (1030-11) MONDAY • Best of All (8-9) NBC Red Network DAYTIME • A Woman in Love (3-330) • Pepper Young’s Family (330-345) • Right to Happiness (345-4) • Backstage Wife (4-415) • Stella Dallas (415-430) • Young Widder Brown (430-445) 16 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Bell Telephone Hour (9-930) • Cities Service Band of America (930-10) • Fibber McGee & Molly (10-1015) TUESDAY • People Are Funny (8-830) • Dragnet (830-9) • Lux Radio Theater (9-10) • Fibber McGee & Molly (10-1015) WEDNESDAY • Dinah Shore (8-815) • Frank Sinatra (815-830) • Walk a Mile (830-9) • You Bet Your Life (9-930) • The Big Story (930-10) • Fibber McGee & Molly (10-1015) • Cavalcade of Music (1030-11) THURSDAY • Roy Rogers (8-830) • The Scarlet Pimpernel (9-930) • When the Wind Blows (930-10) • Fibber McGee & Molly (10-1015) • June Pickens (1030-11) FRIDAY • Dinah Shore (8-815) • Frank Sinatra (815-830) • Friday with Dave Garroway (9-10) SATURDAY • Boston Symphony Orchestra (830-930) • Grand Ole Opry (930-10) • Dude Ranch Jamboree (10-1030) • Hillbilly Jukebox (1030-11) • Just Plain Bill (5-515) • Lorenzo Jones (515-530) • Hotel for Pets (530-545) • It Pays To Be Married (545-6) 1955-56 PRIMETIME • Meet the Press (Sun 6-630) • Monitor (Sun 630-12) • Boston Symphony (Mon 815-9) • Telephone Hour (Mon 9-930) • Band of America (Mon 930-10) • People Are Funny (Tue 8-830) • Dragnet (Tue 830-9) • Your Radio Theater (Tue 9-10) • Cavalcade of Music (Wed 8-830) • Groucho Marx (Wed 9-930) • Truth or Consequences (Wed 930-10) • The Great Gildersleeve (Thu 8-830) • X Minus One (Thu 9-930) • Dinah Shore (Fri 8-815) • Frank Sinatra (Fri 815-830) • Friday with Dave Garroway (Fri 9-10) • Monitor (Sat 8-1030) • Grand Ole Opry (Sat 1030-11) • Dude Ranch Jamboree (Sat 10-1030) • Hillbilly Jukebox (Sat 1030-11) 1956-57 PRIMETIME • Meet the Press (Sun 630-7) • Monitor (Sun 7-11) • Boston Symphony (Mon 815-9) NBC Red Network DAYTIME • One Man’s Family (245-3) • Wonderful City (3-330) • Lorenzo Jones (330-345) • Doctor’s Wife (345-4) • Right to Happiness (4-415) • Stella Dallas(415-430) • Young Widder Brown(430-445) • Pepper Young’s Family (445-5) • Ed Murphy (5-6) • Fibber McGee (Mon 10-1015) • Ed Murphy (Mon 1015-11) DAYTIME • Hilltop House (330-345) • Pepper Young’s Family (345-4) • In My House (4-415) 17 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Dragnet (Tue 8-830) • People Are Funny (Wed 8-830) • X Minus One (Wed 9-930) • Cavalcade of Music (Wed 930-10) • The Great Gildersleeve (Thu 8-830) • Bob Hope (Fri 8-830) • Cavalcade of America (Fri 830-9) • Monitor (Sat 7-11) • Mary McBride(415-430) • One Man’s Family (745-8) NBC Red Network non-conforming network programming. After Monitor went off the air in early 1975, there was little left of NBC Radio beyond hourly newscasts and news-related features. Later in 1975, NBC launched the NBC News and Information Service, which provided up to 55 minutes of news per hour around the clock to local stations that wanted to adopt an all-news format. The service attracted several dozen subscribers, but not enough to allow NBC to project that it would ever become profitable, and it was discontinued after two years. Near the end of the 1970s, NBC started "The Source," a modestly successful secondary network that provided news and short features to FM rock stations. In 1981, NBC created NBC Talknet, an advice-oriented talk radio network designated for the late night hours. It was one of NBC’s most successful ventures in years and lasted well into the 1990s, led by advice host Sally Jessy Raphael (until her 1987 departure) and personal finance talker Bruce Williams. After television Many NBC radio stars gravitated to television as it became more popular in the 1950s. Toscanini made his ten television appearances on NBC between 1948 and 1952. In 1950, the network sanctioned The Big Show, a 90-minute radio variety show that harked back to radio’s earliest musical variety style but with sophisticated comedy and drama and featuring stage legend Tallulah Bankhead as its host. It aimed to keep classic radio alive as television matured and to challenge CBS’s Sunday night lineup —much of which had jumped there from NBC in the late 1940s, including (and especially) Jack Benny. But The Big Show’s initial success didn’t last despite critics’ praises; the show endured only two years, with NBC said to lose a million dollars on the project. NBC Radio’s last major programming push, in 1955, was Monitor, a continuous, allweekend mixture of music, news, interviews and features with a variety of hosts, including such well-known television personalities as Dave Garroway, Hugh Downs, Ed McMahon, Joe Garagiola and Gene Rayburn. The potpourri also tried to keep vintage radio alive in featuring segments from Jim and Marian Jordan (in character as Fibber McGee and Molly), Ethel and Albert and iconoclastic satirist Henry Morgan. Monitor was a success for a number of years, but after the mid-1960s, local stations, especially in larger markets, became increasingly reluctant to break from their established formats to run Divesture After General Electric’s 1986 acquisition of NBC, GE decided that the radio business did not fit their strategic objectives. In summer 1987, NBC Radio’s network operations were sold to Westwood One, and the NBC-owned stations (not including the Cleveland stations, which NBC sold off fifteen years earlier to Ohio Communications) were sold to various buyers: • WRC-Washington: Greater Media • WKYS-Washington: Albimar Commucations • WMAQ-Chicago: Westinghouse • WKQX-Chicago: Emmis Communications • KNBR-San Francisco: Susquehanna Corporation • KYUU-San Francisco: Emmis Communications • WNBC-New York: Emmis Communications • WYNY-New York: Emmis Communications Because Emmis was ordered to sell off their existing New York duopoly as a condition of the sale, Emmis decided to move WFAN onto WNBC’s 660 kHz frequency, and WQHT onto WYNY’s 97.1 frequency. On October 7, 1988 at 5:30 p.m., General Electric shut down WNBC with the format swap and removed it from the air. WFAN would hire WNBC’s Don Imus and grafted his morning show onto 18 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia their station, and also inherited WNBC’s play-by-play rights to the New York Rangers and Knicks, which helped to boost WFAN’s fledging sports format. WRC would become WWRC after the sale to Greater Media, simply adding an extra "W" to the callsign. It would bounce around between various forms of talk and music before settling on a talk format in the early 90s; an ownership change led to a format and call letter swap with sports talk station WTEM. Under Westinghouse ownership, WMAQ radio switched to an all-news format, and became part of a all-news duopoly with WBBM when CBS Radio purchased Westinghouse in 1995. That lasted until August 1, 2000, when Infinity Broadcasting - CBS Radio’s successor - shut WMAQ down in order to relocate allsports sister station WSCR there due to ownership cap restrictions. WSCR today occupies the radio studios once used by WMAQ radio in the NBC Tower. KNBR was the last radio station NBC owned, and the last to be sold when Susquehanna bought it in 1989. It, along with WKYS and WKQX, are the only remaining NBCowned stations to have kept their previous call signs and dial positions. NBC Red Network remaining NBC Radio Network affiliates became full-time CNN Radio affiliates. At about the same time, Westwood One began to distribute Fox News Radio in its place. When the Fox News Channel established their own radio distribution service in 2005, Westwood One then launched a new service called NBC News Radio in its place, consisting of brief one-minute news updates read by NBC News and MSNBC anchors and reporters. One program from the original NBC network remains on the air: an early morning news magazine and talk show by the name of First Light, hosted by Dirk Van, which still identifies between "Westwood One" and the "NBC Radio Network." References [1] "Why Did WABC Have Such a Great Signal?". WABC Musicradio 77: musicradio77.com. http://www.musicradio77.com/ transm.html. Retrieved on 2006-08-04. [2] "Form National Company For Broadcasting," The Syracuse Herald, September 13, 1926, p6 [3] Id. [4] "Radio-- Notes and Programs for the Day," The North Adams Transcript (North Adams, Mass.), November 15, 1926, p.7 [5] Id. [6] RCA Lead Tenant of Rockefeller Center see John Ensor Harr and Peter J. Johnson, The Rockefeller Century: Three Generations of America’s Greatest Family, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1988. (p.326) [7] "New Company Takes Over NBC Blue Net," The Fresno Bee Republican, January 10, 1942, p 5 [8] "Stations That Make Up the Networks," The Daily Mail Hagerstown, Maryland, January 14, 1939, p 9 The End of NBC Radio In 1989, the "NBC Radio Network" as an independent programming service ceased to exist, becoming a brand-name for content produced by Westwood One - and ultimately by CBS Radio. The same case occurred with the Mutual Broadcasting System, which Westwood One acquired two years earlier and essentially merged with NBC Radio. "The Source" and "Talknet" services would continue on for several years under the "NBC" brand, but eventually were branded under "Westwood One" itself. By May 17, 1999, when the Mutual brand name was retired as a programming service, the production of "NBC"-branded newscasts were limited to weekday mornings. These were generic newscasts tersely identified as the "NBC Radio Network" at the newscasts’ conclusion, while CNN Radio newscasts were fed during the rest of the day. By 2003, even those were discontinued, and the few Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Red_Network" Categories: American radio networks, 1926 establishments, 1989 disestablishments, NBC Radio Network, Defunct radio networks in the United States 19 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NBC Red Network This page was last modified on 19 May 2009, at 06:17 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers 20