NBC celebrates 75 years of broadcasting (Part I of II: beginnings)

Later in 1941, NBC and CBS were both granted commercial TV licenses by the FCC, making TV an 'official' reality. Also in the early forties, NBC broadcasted a new show called "The War As It Happens," a program, which was arguable the birthplace of NBC News. The network extended its network feed to Philadelphia and that program was the first newscast to be seen in multiple cities. The program would sign off with Paul Alley saying, "This is the NBC Television Network - WNBT, New York, WPTZ, Philadelphia, WRGB Schenectady."

A number of successful programs were launched on NBC in 1946, including "Hour Glass," "Geographically Speaking," and "Television Screen Magazine." "Esso Newsreel" was also launched that year, but it was basically used a filler before prime time.

But 1947 was when NBC hit the jackpot when it broadcasted The World Series in four markets, the fourth being Washington D. C. An estimated 3.9 million people watched the event, 3.5 million of which were watching in neighborhood bars. From that moment on, Americans began a television purchasing frenzy, which could only be compared to the computer craze of the 1990's.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Coming up in Part II later this month, a look at how NBC TV went from last to first place in the early eighties, thanks in part to a catchy jingle.

References:

http://www.broadcasting101.com/w3xe-wptz...

http://www.wrgb.com/tv6info/history/hist...

http://www.nbc.com/75th_Anniversary/

Conway, Barry "Journalism 215 Lecture Notes" Concordia University.

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