March 4, 1877 - Emile Berliner announced his invention of the microphone.

December 16, 1907 - First U.S. radio broadcast of singer featured Eugenia H. Farrar on occasion of departure of Admiral Robley Dunglison Evans ("Fighting Bob Evans") on cruise with fleet; her voice transmitted by Lee De Forest from Brooklyn Naval Yard, Brooklyn, NY.

January 13, 1910 - Lee De Forest, American inventor of vacuum tube, broadcast live performance of Enrico Caruso from Metropolitan Opera over telephone transmitter (heard only by small number of electronics hobbyists who had radio receivers); 1915 - started regular nightly concerts, increased interest in radio receivers, which at time depended on vacuum tubes manufactured by De Forest's company.

December 13, 1910 - Lee De Forest (invented much of technology involved in early radio) arranged first opera broadcast from stage of Metropolitan Opera, featuring Enrico Caruso; Met did not broadcast over radio again until 1922.

November 14, 1911 -  Ernst F. W. Alexanderson, of Schenectady, NY, received patent for a "High-Frequency Alternator"; radio tuning system.

November 23, 1919 - First play-by-play football game radio broadcast took place during Texas A&M - Texas game.

April 26, 1921 - WEW in St. Louis, MO  broadcast weather report for federal government, first time on radio, 

April 29, 1921 - David Sarnoff became general manager of RCA.

October 5, 1921 - World Series broadcast on radio for first time.

June 30, 1921 - Radio Corporation of America (RCA) incorporated.

February 27, 1922 - Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover called conference to allocate radio wavelengths (500 stations broadcasting on the same wavelength); 1921 - Americans spent about $10 million on radio sets and parts.

March 22, 1922 - Crosley Broadcasting (Cincinnati, OH) went on air with commercial station (65th licensed radiotelephone station); call letters WLW-AM (amplitude modulation) assigned by new Federal Radio Commission; 50-watt signal received from Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Connecticut; station's broadcast power increased to 50,000 watts over next six years; October 4, 1928 - nation's first 50,000-watt commercial broadcasting station to operate on regular schedule; April 17, 1934 - FCC granted Crosley Broadcasting authority to use 500 kW experimentally, during regular hours, with regular WLW call; May 3, 1934 - 500,000-watt transmitter put on the air (on occasion, the station's power was boosted as high as 700,000 watts); most powerful AM radio station in the world.

August 28, 1922 - First radio commercial aired on WEAF in New York City; 10-minute advertisement for Queensboro Realty Co., for $100.

October 18, 1922 - British Broadcasting Company formed by group of leading wireless manufacturers to sell radios; November 14, 1922 - daily broadcasting from Guglielmo Marconi's London studio; 1925 - BBC heard throughout most of UK; John Reith, Scottish engineer, general manager; 1927 - received first Royal Charter, became British Broadcasting Corporation; John Reith knighted; 1932 - opened Empire Service (forerunner of BBC World Service); December 25, 1932 - King George V gave first royal broadcast to Empire; November 2, 1936 - opened world's first regular service of high-definition television; May 12, 1937 - King George VI's coronation procession broadcast to 10,000 people; June 1937 - first Wimbledon coverage.

November 14, 1922 - BBC officially began daily domestic radio service broadcasting with 6:00pm news read by Arthur Burrows from 2LO, Marconi House, London (Manchester and Birmingham stations went into service next day). 

December 23, 1922 - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began daily news broadcasts.

1923 - First American broadcasts heard in Britain.

October 11, 1923 - First political telecast, sponsored by Democratic National Committee, aired from New York.

February 8, 1924 - First coast-to-coast radio broadcast; Speech by Bell Telephone's vice president and chief of research at meeting of Bond Men's Club in a Chicago hotel, broadcast in Providence, New York, Washington, Oakland, San Francisco, heard by some 50 million people.

February 12, 1924 - Eveready Hour, first network radio program sponsored by advertising, debuted; sponsored by National Carbon Company, broadcast in New York, Washington, Providence.

June 13, 1925 - Charles Jenkins invented first telecast in the U.S. of objects in motion, called it "visions by radio"; first mechanical TV system broadcast used 48 scanning lines, showed a model of Dutch windmill with its blades turning.

June 30, 1925 - Charles F. Jenkins, of Washington, DC, received a patent for "Transmitting Pictures by Wireless" ("wireless electrical agency"); electromechanical television.

October 30, 1925 - John Logie Baird made first televised transmission of moving object in London, UK; transmitter made from tea chest, cardboard scanning discs, empty biscuit box, old electric motors, darning needles, motorcycle lamp lenses, piano wire, glue, string, sealing wax.

January 12, 1926 - Radio program, Sam 'n' Henry, debuted on WGN radio in Chicago; starred two white vaudeville performers, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll; portrayed two black characters from  South looking to make their fortune in Chicago during Depression; March 19, 1928 - show moved to WMAQ, name changed to Amos 'n' Andy (WGN owned rights to prior character names); 1948 - attracted more than 40 million listeners, most highly rated comedy in radio history; 1951 - came to TV, starred Alvin Childress and Spencer Williams; first TV series to feature an all-black cast; 1953 - show cancelled; November 25, 1960 - last radio broadcast.

January 26, 1926 - John Logie Baird, Scottish inventor, gave first public demonstration of true television system to members of Royal Institution, reporter from The Times in London, launched  revolution in communication, entertainment; pictorial transmission machine (called "televisor") used mechanical rotating disks to scan moving images into electronic impulses, then transmitted by cable to a screen where it showed up as a low-resolution pattern of light and dark; 1928 - established Baird Television Development Company Ltd.; made first transatlantic television transmission from London to New York.

September 9, 1926 - Radio Corporation of America created The National Broadcasting Co.; November 15, 1926 - NBC debuted with radio network of 24 stations, nation's first permanent radio network; celebrated launch with one of earliest remote musical broadcasts (nationally known bands played at several locations).

February 23, 1927 - President Calvin Coolidge signed Radio Act of 1927 into law; transferred most of responsibility for radio to newly created Federal Radio Commission; five-person FRC given power to grant, deny licenses, assign frequencies, power levels for each licensee; divided country into five geographical zones (each represented by one of five Commissioners); February 26, 1927 - Radio Division of the Department of Commerce created in Office of Secretary; 1928 - issued first noncommercial TV license; some powers transferred to Department of Commerce; July 20, 1932 - Radio Division abolished, functions transferred to Federal Radio Commission.

April 7, 1927 - Group of newspaper reporters, dignitaries gathered at AT&T Bell Telephone Laboratories auditorium in New York, viewed first public display of long distance television transmission - "operative one-way systems for television over telephone circuits, by radio" (speech by then Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover, as his live picture. voice were transmitted over telephone lines from Washington, DC).

September 7, 1927 - TV pioneer, Philo T. Farnsworth, succeeded in transmitting an image through purely electronic means; used device called image dissector.

September 18, 1927 - Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System (later CBS) went on air with 47 radio stations; lost money in first year.

January 13, 1928 - American inventor, Ernst F. W. Alexanderson,  broadcast first experimental television program in Schenectady, NY (delivered poor, unsteady picture only 1.5 inches square); broadcast signal had range of 15 to 20 miles; Spring 1928 - US Federal Government issued first name to WRGB, with call letters "W2XB" (station popularly known as WGY Television, after its sister radio station founded 1922); May 10, 1928 - first TV Newscaster, Kolin Hager, broadcast farm, weather reports twice a day, three times weekly; programs lasted from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays; most viewers were on technical staff at nearby General Electric (had designed system, was using broadcasts to refine its equipment); August 22, 1928 - world's first remote news telecast from State Capitol in Albany; end of 1928 - 17 more stations around country began scheduled broadcasts, designed to test  apparatus rather than attract viewers.

January 13, 1928 - Experimental television station founded from General Electric facility in Schenectady, NY, under call letters W2XB; claimed to be first U. S. television station; March 1942 -- renamed WRGB, in tribute to Dr. Walter R. G. Baker, GE vice president, pioneer in US television and radio.

February 8, 1928 - John Logie Baird's transmission of TV image received across Atlantic ocean, from Purley, England to Hartsdale, NY. 

February 25, 1928 - Federal Radio Commission issued first television license to Charles Francis Jenkins for television station  W3XK of Jenkins Television Corporation; July 2, 1928 - went on air, broadcast from Jenkins Laboratories on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC; 1929 - station moved to Wheaton, MD; March 1932 - liquidated; assets acquired by Lee DeForest Radio Corporation.

September 1928 - William S. Paley (27), Philadelphia cigar manufacturer, acquired United Independent Broadcasters Inc., network of 16 independent radio stations, changed name to Columbia Broadcast System, became President of the Company; January 8, 1929 - tripled broadcasting coverage, served 49 stations in 42 cities throughout country; January 18, 1929 - Paley, group of private investors acquired Columbia Records for $400,000; renamed The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS); July 21, 1931 - began first regularly scheduled television broadcasting in country on experimental station W2XAB in New York City (broadcast seven hours daily, seven days a week by end of year); 1933 - Paul White (news editor) organized Columbia News Service, first network news operation; 1935 - nation’s largest radio network with 97 stations; 1937 - went public; August 1940 - first color television broadcast from CBS transmitter atop Chrysler Building received in CBS building; 1941 - first FM station (147 stations by 1944); 1945 - Paley named Chairman of Board, Frank Stanton President; 1946 - first television broadcast of National Football League; November 2, 1948 - first dual radio, television coverage of political conventions; August 11, 1951 - first baseball game on color television (Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves from Ebbets Field); July 7, 1952 - term "anchor" coined to describe Walter Cronkite's role in covering at Democratic convention; 1954 - News and Public Affairs departments of CBS Radio and Television Divisions combined, officially formed CBS News, first autonomous news organization in network television designed to serve both radio television networks of CBS; November 30, 1956 - first videotaped news broadcast (magnetic tape); 1960 - first network to broadcast Olympics; 1961 - CBS Sports became division of CBS Television Network; 1965 - fifty percent of CBS’s regular primetime schedule  broadcast in color; November 25, 1965 - first color broadcast of NFL game on Thanksgiving Day; August 19, 1965 - "CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace" first major network news program broadcast in color; 1966 - first primetime schedule all in color; 1967 - entire CBS schedule broadcast in color; April 9-17, 1967 - "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" first network news program seen via satellite; April 17, 1971 - Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. officially changed name to CBS Inc.; January 15, 1978 - Super Bowl XII (Dallas Cowboys defeated Denver Broncos) largest audience ever to watch sporting event (47.2/67 national household rating/share, highest-rated Super Bowl to date); November 21, 1980 - "Who Shot J. R.?" episode of "Dallas" most-watched television program up to that time (90 million viewers, nearly 80 percent of all television viewers); second most-watched primetime broadcast in television history; February 1994 - 204 million viewers tuned in to CBS Sports’ coverage of XVII Olympic Winter Games from Lillehammer, Norway (most-watched Winter Games in history); November 28, 1995 - merged with Westinghouse Electric Corporation; June 20, 1996 - Westinghouse Electric Corporation announced decision to merge with Infinity Broadcasting Corporation; December 1, 1997 - Westinghouse Electric Corporation changed name to CBS Corporation; launched as largest combined television, radio, out-of-home media entity in history; May 4, 2000 - merged with Viacom, name changed to Viacom Inc.; February 21, 2001 - Infinity Broadcasting Corp. merged with Viacom as wholly owned subsidiary.

September 11, 1928 - General Electric made first simulcast in Schenectady, NY; broadcast a play, The Queen's Messenger, over radio and TV at same time.

June 27, 1929 - Scientists at Bell Laboratories revealed Bell Labs's Mechanical Color System for transmitting television pictures in color; used scanning disk with three banks of photoelectric cells, amplifiers, glow-tubes, color filters; receiver used three lights with filters and system of mirrors to reconstruct the image.

August 19, 1929 - Comedy program, "Amos and Andy", debuted on network radio; starred Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll.

December 19, 1930 - BBC Empire Service went on air from studio in newly-built Broadcasting House in London; opened by BBC chairman J. H. Whitley, followed by director general Sir John Reith, with two-hour transmission for Australia and New Zealand.

June 30, 1930 - First round-the-world broadcast from U.S. used  series of short-wave radio relays, took only one-eighth of a second; carried voice of Clyde D. Wagoner; signal from W2XAD began in Schenectady, NY, relayed through Holland, Java, Australia, across Pacific Ocean, back to Schenectady.

July 31, 1930 - Radio mystery program, "The Shadow", first aired; drew listening audience of about 15 million a week during its peak; featured crime-fighting superhero, the Shadow, played by three different actors during the show's 25 years; 1937-1938 - Orson Welles played the Shadow for $185 a week; show became famous for trademark opening line: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows..."

August 20, 1930 - Allen Balcom DuMont produced first demonstration telecast of home television reception in U.S. in New York City (sets had been set up in homes beginning on January 13, 1928); half-hour program, signal traveled about six miles (greatest distance for TV transmission to date).

1931 - NBC began experimental TV broadcasts from top of Empire State Building.

February 17, 1931 - First telecast of a sporting event in Japan (baseball).

March 6, 1931 - First radio newsreel, The March of Time, debuted; associated with Time magazine, featured dramatizations of news events, complete with music, sound effects, and a stable of actors to impersonate real news figures; 1942 - shifted to straight news, with only a few dramatized events.

April 6, 1931 - Radio show, Little Orphan Annie, debuted, based on comic strip by Harold Gray; first late-afternoon radio serial for children (ran until 1942).

1932 - Canadian Broadcasting Act created Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC); November 2, 1936 - Canadian Broadcasting Act replaced the CRBC with Crown Corporation, CBC; 1940 - CBC symbol showing radio waves, map of Canada adopted; 1941 - formal opening of CBC News Service; 1946 - opening of first CBC FM stations in Toronto, Montreal; September 6, 1952 - Canadian television broadcasting began, CBFT Montreal (bilingual); September 8, 1952 - CBLT Toronto (English).

February 15, 1932 - George Burns and Gracie Allen made their U.S. radio debut as regulars on Guy Lombardo Show.

March 29, 1932 - Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky) debuted on fifteen-minute radio program hosted by Broadway columnist for The New York Daily News named Ed Sullivan; May 2, 1932 - Jack Benny's first radio show debuted on NBC Blue Network (sponsored by Canada Dry); aired for more than 20 years.

August 22, 1932 - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began its first experimental TV broadcast in England.

January 30, 1933 - Station WXYZ (Detroit) broadcast first episode of ''Lone Ranger'' radio program (total of 2,956 episodes over 21-year run); created by station-owner George Trendle, writer Fran Striker; televised version of The Lone Ranger, starred Clayton Moore as masked man; became ABC's first big hit in early 1950s (remained on air until 1957).

June 26, 1933 - Kraft Foods sponsored Kraft Music hall, two-hour radio program; part of promotional push to introduce new salad dressing, Miracle Whip; ran from 1933 to 1949, featured singer, actor Bing Crosby as host; May 7, 1947 - sponsored Kraft Television Theater on NBC with play called Double Doors; show ran for 11 years.

March 24, 1934 - Radio program, Major Bowes' (theater owner and variety-show producer) Original Amateur Hour, debuted, launched national craze among amateur performers hoping to hit big time; 1935 - Frank Sinatra appeared on show.

June 19, 1934 - President Franklin Roosevelt signed  Communications Act of 1934 into law; replaced Federal Radio Commission with Federal Communications Commission (FCC); transferred regulation of interstate telephone services from Interstate Commerce Commission to FCC; July 1, 1934 - Federal Communications Commission replaced Federal Radio Commission as regulator of broadcasting in United States.

March 22, 1935 - Television broadcasts began in Berlin, Germany, with low definition,180 lines system.

April 16, 1935 - Marian and Jim Jordan launched Fibber McGee and Molly, show about incessant teller of tall tales and his wife who gets him out of trouble; 1943 - top-rated radio program in nation (ran until 1959).

1934 - North American Company first tested wired-wireless technology by bringing music into homes in Cleveland under name Muzak Corporation (name invented by Retired Major General George O. Squier, a la Kodak); April 9, 1935 - registered "Muzak" trademark first used September 17, 1934 (radio and wired radio turners, radio and wired radio receiving sets and convertors); 1936 - Wired Radio Inc. renamed Muzak with plan to provide businesses, not individuals, with background-free music; 1938 - Warner Brothers acquired Muzak Corporation from the North American Company; 1939 - William Benton, founder of Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency and publisher of the Encyclopedia Britannica, acquired Muzak; 1954 - Muzak switched from records to tapes; 1956 - Muzak began broadcasting on FM subcarriers (SCAs) as a second means of distribution to phone lines; largest user of phone line networks in the world; 1957 - 150 franchises in the U.S. and abroad. Muzak was acquired by Wrather Corporation; 1972 - acquired by TelePrompter Corporation; 1981 - acquired by Westinghouse; 1986 - acquired by The Field Corporation, owned by department store heir, Marshall Field V; 1992 - acquired by Centre Partners, an investment group based in New York City.

January 6, 1936 - Porky Pig made world debut in Warner Brothers cartoon, "Gold Diggers of '49"; 1937 - Mel Blanc joined Warner Brothers, became famous voice behind Porky as well as Warner Brothers characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety.

April 24, 1936 - Group of firemen, responding to alarm in Camden, New Jersey, televised; first time unplanned event broadcast on television, anticipated development of live TV news coverage.

June 10, 1936 - First coaxial cable telecast transmitted 1.5 miles from Radio City, New York City to transmitter on top of Empire State Building; October 5, 1936 - first intercity telecast in U.S. using coaxial cable transmitted from New York City to Philadelphia; September 4, 1951 - first U.S. coast-to-coast telecast made between New York City and San Francisco.

November 2, 1936 - BBC began world's first high-definition television service from studios, transmitters at Alexandra Palace, in north London; range about 35 miles; February 1937 - Marconi-EMI won contract with 405-line transmitting system (vs. 240-line Baird system) which was more mobile, flexible and easy to use.

November 3, 1936 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation  established.

December 17, 1936 - Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, his wisecracking dummy Charlie McCarthy debuted on Rudy Vallee's popular radio show; became hit radio star with own show for more than 20 years.

January 25, 1937 - First broadcast of Soap Opera "Guiding Light" on NBC radio.

February 11, 1937 - All three major radio networks (CBS, NBC, Mutual) simultaneously broadcast program for first time, benefit concert from Radio City Music Hall for American National Red Cross.

February 17, 1938 - First public experimental demonstration of Baird color television transmitted from Crystal Palace to Dominion Theatre, London.

April 19, 1938 - RCA-NBC launched first regular TV broadcasts  from Empire State Building, five hours/week; few TV sets existed to receive programs.

July 11, 1938 - Radio drama Mercury Theater on the Air debuted; dramatic anthology program featured Orson Welles and John Houseman (founders of the Mercury Theater in New York); best remembered for 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds, fictional drama about Martian invasion in Grovers Mill, New Jersey; aired on Halloween, sparked a panic among listeners who believed play was  real news broadcast.

August 26, 1938 - Tape recorder (sapphire stylus engraved Millertape invented by James Arthur Miller of the Miller Broadcasting Company) used for first time in U.S. to send radio broadcast; 1,000 foot section of tape could carry 15-min program (edited by cutting); first program to use sound tape transmitted by WQXR, Interstate Broadcasting Company, in New York City.

October 30, 1938 - Radio play, ''The War of the Worlds'' (H.G. Wells' 19th-century science fiction novel), starring Orson Welles (23 years old), aired on CBS; live drama, employed fake news reports, panicked an estimated million listeners who thought its portrayal of a Martian invasion was true; panic broke out across the country; terrified civilians jammed highways in New Jersey seeking to escape the alien marauders; news of the real-life panic leaked into the CBS studio, Welles went on the air as himself to remind listeners that it was just fiction. Federal Communications Commission investigated the program but found no law was broken.

November 11, 1938 - Kate Smith first sang Irving Berlin's ''God Bless America'' on network radio.

April 30, 1939 - New York World's Fair, billed as look at ''the world of tomorrow,'' opened; first day of television broadcasting in New York; Roosevelt first president to appear on television (broadcast was beamed to only 200 television sets).

August 26, 1939 - Major league baseball televised for first time; experimental station W2XBS broadcast doubleheader between  Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

December 27, 1939 - Glen Miller Show debuted on CBS radio; 1944 - his plane from England to Paris disappeared, never found (age 40).

January 7, 1940 - Gene Autry's musical variety show premiered on CBS radio (ran for next 16 years.

February 25, 1940 - New York City station W2XBS televised hockey game for first time.

February 28, 1940 - First televised basketball game shown, from Madison Square Garden in New York.

April 17, 1940 - DuMont received a license to operate New York's second television station; November 1940 - inaugurated New York City's experimental W2XWV; station broadcast throughout World War II; May 2, 1944 - granted a commercial license; call letters changed to WABD (Du Mont's initials); May 19, 1945 - received license first station in Washington DC, known as experimental W3XWT; August 9, 1945 - first DuMont network telecast occurred when DuMont's New York and Washington TV stations were linked via coaxial cable for an announcement concerning the dropping of the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki; April 26, 1946 - granted a commercial television license for a Washington station, WTTG-TV, channel five; 1947 - broadcats first network program, "Walter Compton and the News" (aired simultaneously on WABD and WTTG); 1955 - Du Mont Broadcasting incorporated; 1958 - renamed Metropolitan Broadcasting; New York station call letters changed to WNEW; 1961 - renamed Metromedia (after John Kluge gained control of the company).

July 27, 1940 - Bugs Bunny made debut in Warner Bros. animated cartoon ''A Wild Hare.''

1941 - FCC licensees allowed to sell air time for advertisements or other commercial purposes;

March 1, 1941 - Nashville radio station W47NV began transmitting, first station in country to receive a license for FM radio transmission.

April 2, 1941 - Radio sitcom, Life of Riley, debuted; starred William Bendix as bullheaded family man; ran for 10 years on radio, about six years on television.

Mid-1941 - President Roosevelt established U.S. Foreign Information Service (FIS), named speechwriter Robert Sherwood as first director; December 1941 - FIS made first direct broadcasts to Asia from  studio in San Francisco; February 24, 1942 - beamed first broadcast to Europe via BBC medium- and long-wave transmitters; announcer William Harlan Hale opened German-language program with the words: "Here speaks a voice from America, name took hold; June 1942 - Voice of America (VOA)  had twenty-three transmitters and 27 language services;  February 17, 1947 - began first radio broadcasts to Soviet Union.

May 2, 1941 - Federal Communications Commission agreed to regular scheduling of TV broadcasts by commercial TV stations to begin July 1; start of what became network television.

July 1, 1941 - NBC broadcasted first TV commercial sanctioned by Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Bulova paid $9 to advertise watches on air during Dodgers-Phillies game 

July 1, 1941 - NBC granted FCC's first commercial TV station license for WNBT in New York.

February 24, 1942 - Voice of America went on the air as multimedia international broadcasting service funded by U.S. government through Broadcasting Board of Governors.

August 2, 1943 - Edward J. Noble (acquired rights to Life Savers in 1913), grew Life Savers Incorporated from fledgling mint candy company into global food business with sales of $20 million in mid-1950s, already owned American Broadcasting Company, bought network division from NBC for $8 million (in a Federal Trade Commission-mandated divestiture), promptly renamed it American Broadcasting Systems; December 25, 1944 - FCC transferred owned-station licenses, ratified  change of network to American Broadcasting Co.; June 14, 1945 - name of network changed to American Broadcasting Company, Inc. (ABC).

October 8, 1944 - ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' made its debut on CBS Radio; October 3, 1952 - "Ozzie and Harriet" premiered on television (ran until 1966).

1945 - FCC reserved 20 FM channels, between 88 and 92 MHz, for non-commercial, educational broadcasting; represented 20% of broadcast band.

December 9, 1945 - Oscar Brand's radio show, "Folksong Festival" debuts on WNYC radio; December 9, 2005  - won Guinness Book of World records as longest-running radio show with the same host (60 years); beat Alistair Cooke's "Letter from America" (58 years).

 1946 - "Geographically Speaking", first commercially sponsored TV show, debuted; backed by Bristol-Myers.

May 9, 1946 - First variety show on TV, hour-long "NBC's Hour Glass," premiered.

June 1, 1946 - Television licenses first issued in Britain (financed BBC's domestic radio and TV services); sold at Post Offices at cost £2, included radio (radio-only licenses then cost £1); September 1, 1939 - TV service suddenly blacked out for defense purposes, suspended for duration of WW II; June 8, 1946 - television re-opened to cover Victory Parade; November 1922 - first radio license fee began, cost 10 shillings (50p); April 1, 2002 - license fees cost £112.00 for color, £37.50 for black and white.

October 27, 1946 - First television program with commercial sponsor debuted ("Geographically Speaking", travel show, sponsored by Bristol-Myers); ran until December 1, 1946.

November 7, 1946 - Tradio Inc., of Asbury Park, NJ, publicly exhibited first U.S. coin-operated television (25 cents) in New York City.

1947 - Dorothy Stimson Bullitt purchased KEVR, small Seattle AM radio station with almost no listeners; negotiated swap for call letters KING (King County, WA); 1948 - received license for FM station, KING-FM, broadcast classical music; 1949 - purchased 8-month-old ABC affiliate television station, KRSC-TV, renamed it KING-TV (1959 - became NBC affiliate); 1961 - Stimson (son) assumed presidency; 1992 - acquired by Providence Journal; 1998 - acquired by A. H. Belo.

January 22, 1947 - KTLA-TV in Hollywood, CA, first commercially-licensed television station west of Mississippi River, went on air as Bob Hope signed station on with special program billed as "Western Premiere of Commercial Television"; originated from small garage on Paramount Studios movie lot; 1939 - Paramount Pictures started KTLA as experimental station W6XYZ under guidance of television pioneer Klaus Landsberg.

April 16 1947 - National Broadcasting Company in New York City demonstrated first zoom lens for television camera; November 23, 1948 - Dr. Frank Gerard Back patented Zoomar lens, patented as  "varifocal lens for cameras".

June 16, 1947 - Dumont Television Network's "News from Washington" was first network news; parent company DuMont Laboratories, broadcasting-equipment and set manufacturer; founded by Dr. Allen B. DuMont.

November 6, 1947 - "Meet the Press" premiered on TV; oldest program still on television.

December 27, 1947 - Children's TV program ''Howdy Doody'' debuted on NBC.

January 1, 1948 - Warner Brothers-Pathe took first U.S. motion picture newsreel in color, using Cinecolor process, at Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena, CA; January 5, 1948 - started showing this first color newsreel to theatre audiences.

January 18, 1948 - Original Amateur Hour, spin-off of popular radio show, Major Bowes' Amateur Hour, debuted; aired for 12 years; one of few programs aired by all four early TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and the ill-fated DuMont network).

February 16, 1948 - NBC-TV aired its first nightly newscast, ''The Camel Newsreel Theatre''; consisted of Fox Movietone newsreels.

April 19, 1948 - ABC television network went on the air.

August 10, 1948 - Candid Camera, produced and hosted by Alan Funt, debuted.

September 21, 1948 - "Texaco Star Theater" with Milton Berle premiered on NBC-TV.

November 23, 1948 - Frank G. Back, of New York, NY, received a patent for a ""Varifocal lens for cameras" ("for use in connection with moving picture cameras"); zoom effects for television cameras; Zoomar lens was adjustable for close-ups or long-distance shots without requiring the camera be moved toward or away from the object televised; eliminated having to use a lens turret with multiple focal length lenses.

November 25, 1948 - Ed Parsons, electronics equipment, ran radio station in Astoria, OR, invented cable television; picked up usable signal on roof of John Jacob Astor Hotel; set up antenna, strung  cable across street to his living room; installed set in hotel lobby attracted so many people that guests could not reach registration desk; put set in store window across street, brought signal to it with coaxial cable - first recorded use of coaxial to carry television.

November 29, 1948 - Children's show, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, premiered on prime time network TV; featured puppets Kukla, Ollie (a dragon), and others, with live actress Fran Allison as host; one of the two most important series made in Chicago, along with Garroway at Large, during city's period as important production center for network programs in late 1940s; 1957 - show cancelled; 1969-1971 - PBS revived series.

January 11, 1949 - NBC linked East and Midwest TV networks; 1946 - NBC launched its first TV network by transmitting programs from New York station to Philadelphia and Schenectady stations; September 1948 - opened Midwest network; September 1951 - opened West Coast network, created country's first coast-to-coast network.

January 17, 1949 - The Goldbergs (from a nearly 20-year-old popular radio program of same name) debuted as television's first situation comedy (ran until 1954); adventures of middle-class Jewish family in Bronx; starred Gertrude Berg and Philip Loeb.

January 25, 1949 - National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented its first industry award ("Emmy") at Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles; most awards were for programs produced by TV station KTLA; award for most popular program went to Pantomime Quiz Time; puppeteer Shirley Dinsdale and her puppet Judy Splinters won award for Outstanding TV Personality.

January 31, 1949 - First TV daytime soap opera, ''These Are My Children,'' broadcast from NBC station in Chicago.

April 1, 1949 - First TV variety show starring an African-American cast debuted; Happy Pappy starred Ray Grant as master of ceremonies; first aired on local television in Chicago.

July 29, 1949 - BBC radio began broadcasting.

February 16, 1950 - TV game show, What's My Line, debuted; produced by game show magnates Mark Goodson, Bill Todman, ran for 18 years, longest-running prime-time game show in history of television.

August 19, 1950 - American Broadcasting Company aired first Saturday morning television shows for children, Animal Clinic and Acrobat Ranch.

October 11, 1950 - Federal Communications Commission authorized Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to begin commercial color television broadcasts.

October 15, 1950 - First American radio paging service, Aircall of New York City, sent first page, to doctor who was on golf course 25 miles away, via six-ounce pocket radio receiver; call numbers repeated in numerical sequence on air at least once per minute within 30-mile radius.

October 28, 1950 - Jack Benny Show, starring Jack Benny, premiered (ran for 15 years).

1951 - Hallmark Cards sponsored 'Hallmark Presents Sarah Churchill', 15-minute weekly interview series hosted by Sir Winston Churchill's daughter; Hallmark Hall of Fame debuted on NBC with world premier of Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera 'Amahl' and the 'Night Visitors', first original opera commissioned for television.

January 1, 1951 - Zenith Radio Corporation started test transmissions of first pay television in U.S. to limited group of subscribers ( 300 families chosen from 51,000 applicants) in Chicago, IL for 90 days; signal could only be viewed by people having "key signal" sent to them by telephone; company sold over 2,000 program views in first month, not enough to sustain commercial venture.

May 1951 - Leonard H. Goldenson, President of United Paramount Theatres, agreed to acquire $25 million, 14-station ABC network pending FCC approval from Edward J. Noble [Lifesavers candy founder].

June 28, 1951 - "Amos 'N' Andy" premiered on TV, first series to have all-black cast.

April 2, 1956 - Soap operas, "As the World Turns", "The Edge of Night", premiered on television.

April 24, 1962 - MIT executed first satellite relay of TV signal.

April 22, 1976 - Barbara Walters became first female nightly news anchor on network television; signed record-breaking five-year, $5 million contract with ABC; highest paid TV journalist to date.

November 24, 1978 - David Letterman made his first guest appearance on The Tonight Show; 1982 - had his own late-night comedy talk show, Late Night with David Letterman; 1993 - launched Late Show on rival network CBS when NBC chose Jay Leno as host of Tonight Show.

June 1, 1980 - Cable News Network made its debut.

March 6, 1981 - Walter Cronkite signed off for last time as anchorman of "The CBS Evening News."

March 24, 1981 - ABC's nightly Iran Hostage crisis program ("The Iran Crisis--America Held Hostage: Day xxx") renamed Nightline, anchored by Ted Koppel.

August 1, 1981 - Music Television, (MTV), music video cable channel, debuted as operation of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), joint venture of Warner Communications, American Express; programming format created by Bob Pittman, one of most successful radio program directors; developed concept of all video channel - record-company-produced videos programmed as records on radio station; (later became president, chief executive officer, of MTV Networks); 1984 - companies divested WASEC; renamed MTV Networks Inc.; first MTV Video Music Awards show; 1985 - MTV introduced new channel, VH-1, Video Hits One; 1986 - MTV Networks Inc. acquired by Viacom Inc.; renamed MTV Networks.

February 1, 1982 - ''Late Night with David Letterman'' premiered on NBC.

May 2, 1982 - Weather Channel went on air; 10 months from concept to live broadcast (24 hour cable weather station); created by former WLS-TV Chicago chief meteorologist, Good Morning America forecaster John Coleman; took idea to Frank Batten, CEO of Landmark Communications.

November 2, 1982 - Channel Four, public-service television and radio broadcaster in United Kingdom, began transmission; established to provide fourth television service to UK that would break only television services in UK: 1) duopoly of BBC's two established television services, 2) ITV, single commercial broadcasting network; originally a subsidiary of  Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), now owned, operated by Channel Four Television Corporation, public body established in 1990 for this purpose, began operating in 1993, following abolition of the IBA.

January 17, 1984 - U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that private use of home video cassette recorders to tape TV programs did not violate federal copyright laws; decision paved way for success of video store chains like Blockbuster.

March 1985 - News Corporation acquired 50% of TCF Holdings, the parent company of 20th Century Fox movie studio for $250 million; May 1985 - agreed to pay $1.55 billion to acquire independent television stations in six major U.S. media markets from John Kluge's company, Metromedia; October 1985 - Rupert Murdoch announced intentions to form independent television system to compete with three major U.S. television networks; May 6, 1986 - Murdoch, along with newly-hired Fox CEO and chairman Barry Diller and comedian Joan Rivers, announced plans for "FBC" or the "Fox Broadcasting Company", with WNYW in New York as flagship station; October 9, 1986 - Fox network launched; broadcast to 96 stations reaching more than 80% of nation's households.

March 18, 1985 - Capital Cities Communications acquired American Broadcasting Cos. (ABC) for $3.5 billion.

December 11, 1985 - General Electric agreed to acquire RCA and National Broadcasting Co. for $6.3 billion; deal engineered by RCA chairman (former Atlantic Richfield president) Thornton F. Bradshaw; largest acquisition in history outside oil business.

April 5, 1987 - Fox Broadcasting Co. made its prime-time TV debut.

August 4, 1987 - Federal Communications Commission voted to rescind Fairness Doctrine; required radio and television stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.

November 18, 1987 - CBS, under chairman Laurence A. Tisch,  sold non-broadcast affiliates, divisions; agreed to sell CBS Records to Sony Corp. for $3.4 billion (included CBS's manufacturing plants,  subsidiary companies,10,000 employees, Columbia House, direct-mail music club); capped major corporate makeover for CBS.   

February 22, 1989 - First Spanish commercial on network TV (Pepsi-Cola-CBS Grammy Award).

April 11, 1991 - New York City's Museum of Broadcasting became "Museum of Radio and Television".

July 1, 1991 - Court TV debuted.

May 25, 1992 - Jay Leno made his first appearance as host of The Tonight Show; replaced Johnny Carson, who had hosted the show for nearly 30 years.

May 6, 1995 - Classic Sports Network began on cable TV.

July 31, 1995 - Walt Disney Company agreed to acquire Capital Cities-ABC Inc. in a $19 billion deal.

August 1, 1995 - Westinghouse Electric Corporation (founded in 1886) acquired CBS for $5.4 billion; primarily a power company before media power.

January 3, 1996 - Congress amended, repealed sections of Communications Act of 1934 with new Telecommunications Act of 1996; first major overhaul of American telecommunications policy in nearly 62 years.

July 15, 1996 - MSNBC, 24-hour all-news network, made its debut on cable TV, Internet.

October 7, 1996 - Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel made its debut.

February 10, 1997 - Westinghouse/CBS unit of Westinghouse Electric Corp. acquired The Nashville Network (TNN - broadcast in over 70 million homes), Country Music Television (CMT - subscription base of over 38 million viewers) for $1.5 billion from Gaylord Entertainment.

February 23, 1997 - NBC televised Schindler's List, first TV movie without commercial interruption, sponsored by Ford Motor Company; one commercial before, after film.

March 17, 1997 - CNN began Spanish broadcasts.

January 14, 1998 - NBC agreed to pay Warner Bros. record $13 million per episode to retain top-rated TV show, ''ER.''

September 8, 2003 - Recording Industry Association of America, music industry's largest trade group, filed 261 copyright lawsuits across country against Internet users for trading songs online.

March 31, 2004 - Air America, intended as liberal voice in network talk radio, made its debut on five stations.

June 28, 2006 - Univision Communications Inc., largest Spanish-language broadcaster in U.S., fifth largest in U.S. (reaches 98% of Spanish-speaking households), agreed to be acquired by group of investors led by billionaire Haim Saban (including Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Thomas H. Lee Partners) for $12.3 billion.

November 16, 2006 - Clear Channel Communications Inc., nation's largest network of 1,150 radio stations (42 television stations), agreed to $18.7 billion buyout by group led by Thomas H. Lee Partners, Bain Capital Partners.

October 15, 2007 - News Corp., owner of Fox channel, launched Fox Business Network to challenge General Electric Co.'s highly profitable CNBC network; sought to redefine business news for average Americans faced with increasingly complex decisions about  financial futures.

(ABC), Sterling Quinlan; illustrated with photos (1979). Inside ABC: American Broadcasting Company's Rise to Power. (New York, NY: Hastings House, 290 p.). American Broadcasting Company--History.

(ABC), Huntington Williams (1989). Beyond Control: ABC and the Fate of the Networks. (New York, NY: Atheneum, 290 p.). American Broadcasting Company; Television broadcasting -- United States.

(ABC), Leonard H. Goldenson; with Marvin J. Wolf (1991). Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC: The Stars, Struggles, and Egos that Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made It Happen. (New York, NY: Scribner, 495 p.). Postwar Entrepreneur, Chief of ABC Network. Goldenson, Leonard H.; American Broadcasting Company; Television broadcasting--United States. 

(ABC), James E. Duffy (1997). Stay Tuned: My Life & The Business of Running the ABC Television Network. (New York, NY: Dunhill Pub., 407 p.). Duffy, James E., 1926- ; American Broadcasting Company--History; Broadcasters--United States--Biography; Executives--United States--Biography; Businesspeople--United States--Biography.

(BBC), Asa Briggs (1985). The BBC: The First Fifty Years (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 439 p.). British Broadcasting Corporation--History.

(CBS), Christopher Winans (1995). The King of Cash: The inside Story of Laurence Tisch (New York, NY: Wiley, 288 p.). Tisch, Laurence A., 1923- ; CBS Inc.; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography; Capitalists and financiers -- United States -- Biography; Millionaires -- United States -- Biography; Television broadcasting -- United States -- Ownership.

(CNN), Robert Goldberg and Gerald Jay Goldberg (1995). Citizen Turner: The Wild Rise of an American Tycoon (New York, NY: Harcourt Brace & Co., 525 p.). Turner, Ted; Cable News Network--Biography; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Telecommunication--United States--Biography.

(CNN), Porter Bibb (1997). Ted Turner: It Ain't as Easy as It Looks (Boulder, CO: Johnson Books, 480 p.). Turner, Ted; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Telecommunication--United States--Biography; Sports team owners--United States--Biography; Sailors--United States--Biography.

(CNN), Reese Schonfeld (2001). Me and Ted Against the World: The Unauthorized Story of the Founding of CNN. (New York, NY: Cliff Street, 407 p.). Co-founder, CNN. Turner, Ted; Schonfeld, Reese; Cable News Network; Television broadcasting of news--United States.

(CNN), Ken Auletta (2004). Media Man: Ted Turner's Improbable Empire. (New York, NY: Norton, 205 p.). Turner, Ted; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Sports team owners--United States--Biography; Telecommunication--United States--Biography. Contents: Getting fired -- Father and son -- The rabbit -- The rabbit mates -- A billionaire Jeremiah -- Turner wrestles the bear -- The merger from hell -- Hubris -- Exits -- Zorba the Greek.

(Collins Radio), Ken C. Braband ; with excerpts from articles by R.L. Carrel ... [et al.] (1983). The First 50 Years: A History of Collins Radio Company and the Collins Divisions of Rockwell International. (Cedar Rapids, IA: Communications Dept., Avionics Group, Rockwell International, 218 p.). Collins, Arthur Andrew, 1909- ; Collins Radio Company--History; Radio supplies industry--United States--History; Telecommunication equipment industry--United States--History.

(Columbia Pictures Television), Jeb H. Perry (1991). Screen Gems: A History of Columbia Pictures Television from Cohn to Coke, 1948-1983. (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 371 p.). Screen Gems--History; Columbia Pictures Television--History.

(Comcast - founded 1969), Daniel Aaron with David A. Long; foreword by Ralph J. Roberts (2001). Take the Measure of the Man: An American Success Story. (Philadelphia, PA: Veritas Press, 260 p.). Founder, Comcast Corporation. Aaron, Daniel, 1926-2003; Comcast Corporation--History; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Refugees, Jewish--United States--Biography; Antisemitism--Germany--History. Comcast is largest cable company in U.S.

(Comcast), Joseph N. DiStefano (2005). COMCASTed: How Ralph and Brian Roberts Took Over America's TV, One Deal at a Time. (Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books, 294 p.). Philadelphia Inquirer Business Writer. Roberts, Ralph.; Roberts, Brian (Brian Leon); Comcast Corporation--History; Cable television--United States--History. 

(Corporation for Public Broadcasting), Ralph B. Rogers (1993). Splendid Torch. (West Kennebunk, ME: Phoenix Pub., 327 p.). Former CEO (Texas Industries, Inc.). Rogers, Ralph B., 1909- ; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Industrialists--United States--Biography; Public broadcasting--United States.

(Crosley Broadcasting Corporation), Rusty McClure; with Michael Banks and Dave Stern (2006). Crosley: The Story of Two Brothers and the Business Empire that Transformed a Nation. (Cincinnati, OH: Clerisy Press, 320 p.). Crosley, Powel; Crosley, Lewis; Crosley Broadcasting Corporation; WLW-Nation's Station; Businessmen--Ohio--Cincinnati--Biography; Industrialists--Ohio--Cincinnati--Biography. Invented first mass-produced economy car, push-button radio; breakthroughs in broadcasting and advertising made them wealthy and famous, as did their ownership of the Cincinnati Reds.

(CTV Television Network), Michael Nolan (2001). CTV, The Network that Means Business. (Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta Press, 405 p.). CTV Television Network--History; Reseau de television CTV--Histoire; Television broadcasting--Canada--History; Television--Canada--Histoire.

(Du Mont Television Network), Gary Newton Hess (1979). An Historical Study of the Du Mont Television Network. (New York, NY: Arno Press, 233 p.). Du Mont Television Network. Originally presented as the author’s thesis, Northwestern University, 1960.

(Du Mont Television Network), Ted Bergmann, Ira Skutch (2002). The Du Mont Television Network: What Happened?: A Significant Episode in the History of Broadcasting. (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 146 p.). Former Managing Director of the Du Mont Network. Du Mont Television Network--History.

(Du Mont Television Network), David Weinstein (2004). The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television. (Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 288 p.). Senior Program Officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Du Mont, Allen B. (Allen Balcom), 1901-1965; Du Mont Television Network--History.

(ESPN), Michael Freeman (2000). ESPN: The Uncensored History. (Dallas, TX: Taylor Pub. Co., 286 p.). ESPN (TV network)--History; Television broadcasting of sports--History.

(Fox Broadcasting), Alex Ben Block (1990). Outfoxed: Marvin Davis, Barry Diller, Rupert Murdoch, Joan Rivers and the Inside Story of America's Fourth Television Network. (New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 304 p.). Fox Broadcasting Company; Television broadcasting--United States.

(Fox Broadcasting), Kristal Brent Zook (1999). Color by Fox: The Fox Network and the Revolution in Black Television. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 148 p.). African Americans on television; African Americans in television broadcasting. Explosion of black television programming in 1980s, 1990s to salvage network profits lost in war against video cassettes, cable T.V.; radical representations of African-American memory, experience; interpretation of black TV; how Fox hip-hop sitcom reinforced, rebelled against black sitcoms from 1960s, 1970s; production, reception among African-American viewers; deep-rooted ties to African-American protest literature, autobiography, desire for social transformation.

(Fox Broadcasting), Scott Collins (2004). Crazy Like a Fox: The Inside Story of How Fox News Beat CNN. (New York, NY: Portfolio, 242 p.). Reporter (Los Angeles Times). Fox News; Cable News Network; Television broadcasting of news--United States--History.

(Fox Broadcasting), Daniel M. Kimmel (2004). The Fourth Network: How Fox Broke the Rules and Reinvented Television. (Chicago, IL: I. R. Dee, 323 p.). Fox Broadcasting Company--History. 

(Hazeltine Corporation), Harold Alden Wheeler (1982). The Early Days of Wheeler and Hazeltine Corporation--Profiles in Radio and Electronics. (Greenlawn, NY: Hazeltine Corporation, 432 p.). Hazeltine Corporation--History; Radio supplies industry--United States--History; Electronic industries--United States--History.

(King Broadcasting), Delphine Haley (1995). Dorothy Stimson Bullitt: An Uncommon Life. (Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books, 344 p.). Bullitt,  Dorothy Stimson, Dorothy Stimson, 1892-1989; King Broadcasting Company; Broadcasters--United States--Biography.

(King Broadcasting), O. Casey Corr (1996). King: The Bullitts of Seattle and Their Communications Empire. (Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 306 p.). Bullitt, Dorothy Stimson, 1892-1989; King Broadcasting Company -- History.

(KMA Radio), Robert Birkby (1985). KMA Radio, The First Sixty Years. (Shenandoah, IA: May Broadcasting Co., 248 p.). KMA (Radio station : Shenandoah, Iowa)--History; Radio broadcasting--Iowa--Shenandoah--History.

(London Weekend Television Ltd.), ,David Docherty (1990). Running the Show: 21 Years of London Weekend Television. (London, UK: Boxtree, 218 p.). London Weekend Television, ltd. History; Television broadcasting--Great Britain--History; Television stations--England--London--History.

(MTV), Paul Temporal (2008). The Branding of MTV: Will Internet Kill the Video Star. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 250 p.). Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford, Visiting Professor in Marketing at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. MTV; brand. Consumer-oriented brand managed across multiple markets; how company built cult following, enviable reputation through creating, developing, managing powerful brand that caters for complex but universal array of needs, want; how to build, manage brand culture when faced with simultaneous needs for consistency and change, in both global, local markets.

(NBC), Robert Campbell (1976). The Golden Years of Broadcasting: A Celebration of the First 50 Years of Radio and TV on NBC. (New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 256 p.). National Broadcasting Company, inc.; Television programs--United States--History; Radio programs--United States--History.

(NBC), Alan Pearce (1979). NBC News Division and The Economics of Prime Time Access. (New York, NY: Arno Press, 370 p.). NBC News; Television broadcasting of news -- Costs; Television broadcasting -- United States.

(NBC), Mark Christensen & Cameron Stauth (1984). The Sweeps: Behind the Scenes in Network TV. (New York, NY: Morrow, 416 p.). National Broadcasting Company, inc.

(National Public Radio), Jack W. Mitchell (2005). Listener Supported: The Culture and History of Public Radio. (Westport, CT: Praeger, 219 p.). Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications (University of Wisconsin); First producer of "All Things Considered", Served Three Times as Chair of the NPR Board of Directors. National Public Radio (U.S.)--History; Public radio--United States--History; Radio programs, Public service--United States--History; Public radio--United States--Public opinion; Public opinion--United States.

(Nickelodeon), Sarah Banet-Weiser (2007). Kids Rule!: Nickelodeon and Consumer Citizenship. (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 276 p.). Associate Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication (University of Southern California). Nickelodeon (Television network); Television programs for children--United States; Child consumers--United States. Relationship between children, media, citizenship, consumerism; construction of children as citizens within commercial context; self-conscious engagement with kids appeals to kids’ formidable purchasing power, asserts their political, cultural power; analysis of political citizenship, commercial citizenship in tandem.

(RCA), Eugene Lyons (1966). David Sarnoff: A Biography (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 372 p.). Sarnoff, David, 1891-1971.

(RCA), Kenneth Bilby (1986). The General: David Sarnoff and the Rise of the Communications Industry. (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 326 p.). Sarnoff, David, 1891-1971; Radio Corporation of America--History; Broadcasters--United States--Biography; Industrialists--United States--Biography.

(RCA), Frederick O. Barnum, III (1991). "His Master’s Voice" in America: Ninety Years of Communications Pioneering and Progress: Victor Talking Machine Company, Radio Corporation of America, General Electric Company. (Camden, NJ: General Electric Co., 385 p.). Victor Talking Machine Company--History; Radio Corporation of America--History; General Electric Company--History; RCA Corporation--History; Electronic industries--United States--History; Mass media--United States--History; Communication and traffic--United States--History.

(RCA), Jefferson R, Cowie (1999). Capital Moves: RCA's Seventy-year Quest for Cheap Labor. (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 272 p.). RCA Corporation -- History; RCA Corporation -- Employees -- History; Electronics industry workers -- United States -- History; Business relocation.

(RCA), Eric P. Wenaas (2007). Radiola: The Golden Age of RCA, 1919-1929. (Chandler, AZ: Sonoran, 475 p.). Radio Corporation of America--History; Electronic industries--United States--History; Radio--Receivers and reception--History; Radio broadcasting--United States--History. Radiola - trade name used on broadcast receivers sold by Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1920s, early 30s; radio receiver, accessories sold by RCA during first decade.

(Tele-Communications Inc.), Lawrence J. Davis (1998). Billionaire Shell Game: How Cable Baron John Malone and Assorted Corporate Titans Invented a Future Nobody Wanted. (New York, NY: Doubleday, 292 p.). Tele-Communications Inc., Cable Television, John Malone.

(Tele-Communications Inc.), Mark Robichaux (2002). Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable Business. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 310 p.). Malone, John, 1941- ; Tele-Communications, Inc.--History; Businessmen--United States--Biography.

(Tyne Tees Television), Geoff Phillips (1998). Memories of Tyne Tees Television. (Durham City, UK: G P Electronic Services, 144 p.). Tyne Tees Television -- History; Television stations -- England, North East -- History; Television broadcasting -- England, North East -- History.

(Universal Television), Jeb H. Perry (1983). Universal Television: The Studio and Its Programs, 1950-1980. (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 443 p.). (Firm).

(USA Cable), Kay Koplovitz with Peter Israel (2002). Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning To Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game. (New York, NY: Public Affairs, 265 p.). Founder, USA Cable Network. Women executives; New business enterprises; Entrepreneurship.

(WB Television Network), Suzanne Daniels and Cynthia Littleton. (2007). Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN. (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 400 p.). Former President of Entertainment at WB; Deputy Editor of News Development (Variety). WB Television Network--History; UPN (Television network)--History.  Dreams, tragicomic reality of trying to launch two old–style broadcast TV networks when cable TV, Internet were finally ending dominance of network television; entertainment industry remains business of big hunches, big gambles, big disasters.

(WCCO), Larry Haeg, Jr. (1984). Sixty Years Strong: The Story of One of America’s Great Radio Stations, 1924-1984: 50.000 Watts Clear Channel, Minneapolis, St. Paul. (Minneapolis, MN: WCCO Radio, 132 p.). WCCO (Radio station : Minneapolis, Minn.)--History.

(Weather Channel), Frank Batten with Jeffrey L. Cruikshank (2002). The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon. (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 276 p.). Founder, Weather Channel. Weather Channel (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)--History--20th century; Television weathercasting--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century. 

(WNAX 570 Radio), Marilyn Kratz and Stan Ray (2006). WNAX 570 Radio: 1922-2007. (Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 128 p.). WNAX (Radio station: Yankton, S.D.)--History--Pictorial works; Radio stations--South Dakota--Yankton--History--Pictorial works; Yankton (S.D.)--History--Pictorial works. 1922 - Al Madson, proprietor of Yankton radio parts shop, made a radio transmitter; formed broadcasting company; November 25, 1922 - WNAX broadcast first program; .has influenced history of five-state area it covers.

(WSM-AM), Craig Havighurst (2007). Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City. (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 279 p.). WSM (Radio station : Nashville, Tenn.); Radio broadcasting--Tennessee--Nashville--History. Nashville, radio, and country music in American culture. 1925 - National Life and Accident Insurance Company started WSM radio in Nashville - "Music City USA". 

(WWL Radio), C. Joseph Pusateri (1980). Enterprise in Radio: WWL and the Business of Broadcasting in America. (Washington, DC: University Press of America, 366 p.). WWL (Radio station : New Orleans, La.)--History; Radio broadcasting--United States--History.

Ken Auletta (1991). Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way (New York, NY: Random House, 642 p.).

Erik Barnouw (1966-1970). A History of Broadcasting in the United States (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 3 vols.: v. 1. A Tower in Babel; to 1933.--v. 2. The Golden Web, 1933 to 1953.--v. 3. The Image Empire; from 1953).

Erik Barnouw (1966-1970). A Tower in Babel: A History of Broadcasting in the United States. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 3 vols.). Broadcasting--United States--History. v. 1. to 1933.

--- (1966-1970). The Golden Web: A History of Broadcasting in the United States. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 3 vols.). Broadcasting--United States--History. v. 2. 1933 to 1953.

--- (1966-1970). The Image Empire; from 1953: A History of Broadcasting in the United States. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 3 vols.). Broadcasting--United States--History. v. 3.  from 1953.

--- (1990). Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 607 p. [2nd rev. ed.]). Television broadcasting--United States--History.

James L. Baughman (2007). Same Time, Same Station: Creating American Television, 1948--1961. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 460 p.). Professor, Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (University of Wisconsin--Madison). Television broadcasting--United States--History. Commercial success over cultural aspiration; battle of ideas in early 1950s which determined future of television

Asa Briggs (1961-1970, 1995). The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 5 vols.). Broadcasting--Great Britain--History.

Asa Briggs (1961-1970, 1995). The Birth of Broadcasting: The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Vol 1.). Broadcasting--Great Britain--History.

--- (1961-1970, 1995). The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The Golden Age of Wireless. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Vol. 2). Broadcasting--Great Britain--History.

Asa Briggs (1961-1970, 1995). The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The War of Words. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Vol. 3). Broadcasting--Great Britain--History.

Asa Briggs and Joanna Spicer (1986). The Franchise Affair: Creating Fortunes and Failures in Independent Television. (London, UK: Century, 226 p.). Television broadcasting--Great Britain.

Les Brown (1971). Television; The Business Behind the Box. (New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 374 p.). Television broadcasting--United States; Television advertising--United States.

Richard E. Caves; with Karen Guo ... [et al.] (2005). Switching Channels: Organization and Change in TV Broadcasting. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 360 p.). Nathaniel Ropes Research Professor of Political Economy (Harvard University). Television broadcasting--Economic aspects--United States; Television broadcasting--United States. Why the television industry produces what it does.

James T. Hamilton (1998). Channeling Violence: The Economic Market for Violent Television Programming. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 390 p.). Charles S. Sydnor Professor of Public Policy, Economics, and Political Science (Duke University). Violence on television; Television broadcasting--Economic aspects--United States.

--- (2004). All the News That’s Fit To Sell: How the Market Transforms Information into News. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 337 p.). Charles S. Sydnor Professor of Public Policy, Economics, and Political Science (Duke University). Television broadcasting of news--United States; Television broadcasting of news--Economic aspects--United States; Press--United States; Press--Economic aspects--United States.

Alvin F. Harlow (1971). Old Wires and New Waves. (New York, NY: Arno Press, 548 p. [orig. pub. 1936]). Telegraph--History; Telephone--History; Radio--History.

Harvard University Addresses to the Students of the Graduate School of Business Administration (1974). The Radio Industry; The Story of Its Development, as Told by Leaders of the Industry. (New York, NY: Arno Press, 330 p. [orig. pub. 1928]). Radio broadcasting; Radio--History. 

James Ledbetter (1997). Made Possible By-- ; The Death of Public Broadcasting in the United States. (New York, NY: Verso, 280 p.). Public broadcasting--United States.

John Motavalli (2002). Bamboozled at the Revolution: How Big Media Lost Billions in the Battle for the Internet. (New York, NY: Viking, 334 p.). Television broadcasting--United States; Interactive television--United States; Mass media--United States; Internet industry--United States.

Megan Mullen (2008). Television in the Multichannel Age: A Brief History of Cable Television. (Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 238 p.). Associate Professor of Communication and Co-Director of the Humanities Program (University of Wisconsin-Parkside). Cable television--History. History of multichannel television in all forms; evolution of cable television from pre-historical origins in late 1940s to communications satellites, DBS distribution systems of modern digital age; factors that influence today’s television landscape.

Patrick Parsons (2008). Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television. (Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 816 p.). Don Davis Professor of Ethics, College of Communications (Penn State University). Cable television--United States--History. Complete history of cable television, most influential technology affecting lives of almost every American; early days of cable; pioneers in last half of twentieth century whose business skills, entrepreneurial instinct, luck played give rise to most ubiquitous technology in country.

Stephen Singular (2003). Relentless: Bill Daniels and the Triumph of Cable TV. (Denver, CO: The Bill Daniels Estate, 320 p.). Daniels, Bill; cable television--United States--History.

Kristal Brent Zook (2008). I See Black People: The Rise and Fall of African American-Owned Television and Radio. (New York, NY: Nation Books, 200 p.). Television stations --United States --Management; Radio stations --United States --Management; African Americans in television broadcasting; African Americans in radio broadcasting; African American businesspeople --Biography. Minorities form 33% of population, control only 3% of broadcast media; African Americans own less than 1% of all television stations in country; powerful case that ownership does matter. When media fails to reflect the diversity of its audience, inevitable that voices of  least powerful vanish first from airwaves.

The American Archive of Broadcasting Http://Www.Tol.Lib.Ca.Us/1specoll.Html                                        The Special Collections Reading Room of the Thousand Oaks Library System is home to one of the largest archival collections on the history of radio broadcasting in the United States. Materials include books, manuscripts, photographs, documents, pamphlets, scripts, sound recordings, and realia.

American Museum of Radio                   www.americanradiomuseum.com                                                Radio collection of John Jenkins assembled by Jonathan Winter.

American Radio History: The First Hundred Years http://www.tangentsunset.com/usradiohistory.htm                               Survey of radio history in the United States and chapters on the history of radio in several metropolitan areas across the country.

Antique Wireless Association                              www.antiquewireless.org                                                         50th Anniversary (2002): 3,800 members worldwide - good source of historical and technical information.

BBC History                                   http://www.bbc.co.uk/heritage/story/                                        The following pages give a short history of the BBC, with highlights from each decade. Links to further information about broadcasting, technical developments and the growth of services are available.

Birth of TV [Windows Media Player]                                      http://www.birth-of-tv.org/                                                                Numerous clips of early television programs, insightful commentaries, and early television guides. The BIRTH Television Archive was created from materials offered by five major European television archives, including the BBC and Osterreichischer Rundfunk. The "Library" contains links to the previously mentioned articles, which deal with the early era of television plays, the production of early television, and taboos in early television. Visitors can also view several hundred clips of early television programs, read about the project’s creation, and look over a multilingual thesaurus. 

The Cable Center                     http://www.cablecenter.org/library/collections/ oral_histories/index.cfm Oral history project began in 1985 - over 200 video and audio recordings provide a unique source of documentation about the development of the cable industry; first hand accounts, from industry leaders, trace the history of cable from its beginnings to the present and provide invaluable primary source material for research, study and teaching.

The Complete Lee de Forest                         http://www.leedeforest.org/                                                          Dr. Lee de Forest was an inventor who changed the world with electronics. His two major inventions were the vacuum tube and sound for motion pictures. One of the most important 20th Century inventors of radio and electronics technology, a formally educated scientist whose inventions touch every life.

Hallmark Hall of Fame: The First Fifty Years http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/hallmark/                                              This site celebrates television broadcasts sponsored by Hallmark from 1951 through 2001. It features an introductory essay, timeline, and synopses of programs (browsable by title or by decade) such as for the memorable live premiere in 1951 of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and the 1953 production of "Hamlet," which "marked the first presentation of a Shakespearean play on U.S. network television." From the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

Radio and Television History http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/recording/radio-television0.html  Organized by Steve Schoenherr, Professor of History, University of San Diego.