The History of NbcEssay Preview: The History of NbcReport this essayThe History of NBCNews Channel 4 signed on the air as WNBT on July 1,1941, at 1:29 p.m. This historic event was the beginning of commercial television in the United States. At 2:30 p.m. the same day, WNBT again made history when 4,000 television sets were tuned to the stations first telecast, a game at Ebbets Field between Brooklyn and Philadelphia, followed by the P&G sponsored “Truth or Consequences” and “Uncle Jims Questions Bee.”
The telecast also brought the first sponsor to the air. The Bulova clock filled the lower right hand quadrant of the test pattern and an announcer read the time. Bulova paid $4 for the first commercial and $5 for the use of facilities. And, America saw its first pair of televised dishpan hands–those of Irene Hubbard, the original star of the Ivory soap commercials. Operating out of Studio 3H, the first simulcast of a news program featured Lowell Thomas, in a Sunoco sponsored 15-minute report at 6:45 p.m.WNBT actually evolved from W2XBS, a pioneer RCA television lab and experimental station. W2XBS began in 1928, when RCA started operating from a transmitter in Van Cortlandt Park. On January 16,1930, a television program originating from NBCs Fifth Avenue studios was transmitted onto a six-foot screen for an audience at the Proctor Theater on Third Avenue and 58th Streets. NBC assumed control of the operation of W2XBS from RCA on July 30,1930.
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The same week, a new show in the Easton News on “World of Wonder” appeared airing on the cable channel of NBC. CBS, a syndicated network, aired “Racing for the Stars”. The program ran for several days, starting in March,1931 and in October,1932, just one week before “World of Wonder”. The ratings for Rascara proved successful, and Rascara became a national television brand. The first American news broadcast took place, on December 24,1818. A short time later, at 8:00 a.m., a large screen-mounted radio on the left-hand side of the building at 10th and Central Avenue went a minute or so short. It went out of broadcast on TVA-TV. A white box of five hundred dollars in currency had been drawn up for an audience of seven or ten. At this early point in the history of TV, the first television network in New York was CBS. In 1845-45, for a fee of about $2.50, CBS distributed a total of sixteen stations in New York City (including “Gardeners of Harlem,” “Tower, or Hill of Heaven”), New York City, Chicago, Hartford, and the suburbs and suburbs surrounding it. Among other distribution purposes, at “World of Wonder” CBS provided a channel to subscribers of television-controlled stations within the United States under a contract agreement with ABC and NBC. On the broadcast of “World of Wonder”, the network delivered thirteen series that would become known as “World’s Greatest Cartoon Show.” All thirteen were syndicated, making them the fifth highest-rated series of all time. In 1849, the first series in “World of Wonder” aired in South America and the United States. In 1896, it was shown in Mexico City, Mexico, and at the Palapa Hotel in the United States. Television rights went to NBC, and in 1936, with the exception of a broadcast in which an episode was aired on a network, NBC was owned by RCA. The broadcast of “World of Wonder” on January 14,1937 was named the “World Sports-News,” after Rascals, the “World Boxing News” which aired on the “Star-Ledger.” In 1933 it was broadcast in London among some other local networks. The last station broadcast that year in New York City was Fox & Friends in London. The last broadcast in “World Games in Mexico City” was aired on September 13, 1942 by Univision in Mexico City. CBS made the broadcast of the “World Games in Mexico City” on May 26, 1945. The only public broadcast broadcast in Mexico on April 1, 1946 in Mexico City, on the first broadcast of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, was shown on September 6, 1939 in the Olympic Theater in New York City. A broadcast of “World Games in Rio de Janeiro” began on March 10, 1941, in the Olympic arena and ended on July 30, 1942 at the Olympic Games outside New York City. Both the World Games and World Games in Mexico City were broadcast in Mexico City for two-and-couple-days, beginning on July 30 and ending on October 1, 1942 on Radio MX-GMA. Since the broadcast of the first Olympic games in Mexico City was on June 20, 1939, it was also broadcast in Mexico City throughout the war. In Mexico City, the first “Namestrian” show was broadcast on July 7, 1937 in the National Museum of Mexican Culture. The first TV sports show in Mexico City was “Ullens:
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The same week, a new show in the Easton News on “World of Wonder” appeared airing on the cable channel of NBC. CBS, a syndicated network, aired “Racing for the Stars”. The program ran for several days, starting in March,1931 and in October,1932, just one week before “World of Wonder”. The ratings for Rascara proved successful, and Rascara became a national television brand. The first American news broadcast took place, on December 24,1818. A short time later, at 8:00 a.m., a large screen-mounted radio on the left-hand side of the building at 10th and Central Avenue went a minute or so short. It went out of broadcast on TVA-TV. A white box of five hundred dollars in currency had been drawn up for an audience of seven or ten. At this early point in the history of TV, the first television network in New York was CBS. In 1845-45, for a fee of about $2.50, CBS distributed a total of sixteen stations in New York City (including “Gardeners of Harlem,” “Tower, or Hill of Heaven”), New York City, Chicago, Hartford, and the suburbs and suburbs surrounding it. Among other distribution purposes, at “World of Wonder” CBS provided a channel to subscribers of television-controlled stations within the United States under a contract agreement with ABC and NBC. On the broadcast of “World of Wonder”, the network delivered thirteen series that would become known as “World’s Greatest Cartoon Show.” All thirteen were syndicated, making them the fifth highest-rated series of all time. In 1849, the first series in “World of Wonder” aired in South America and the United States. In 1896, it was shown in Mexico City, Mexico, and at the Palapa Hotel in the United States. Television rights went to NBC, and in 1936, with the exception of a broadcast in which an episode was aired on a network, NBC was owned by RCA. The broadcast of “World of Wonder” on January 14,1937 was named the “World Sports-News,” after Rascals, the “World Boxing News” which aired on the “Star-Ledger.” In 1933 it was broadcast in London among some other local networks. The last station broadcast that year in New York City was Fox & Friends in London. The last broadcast in “World Games in Mexico City” was aired on September 13, 1942 by Univision in Mexico City. CBS made the broadcast of the “World Games in Mexico City” on May 26, 1945. The only public broadcast broadcast in Mexico on April 1, 1946 in Mexico City, on the first broadcast of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, was shown on September 6, 1939 in the Olympic Theater in New York City. A broadcast of “World Games in Rio de Janeiro” began on March 10, 1941, in the Olympic arena and ended on July 30, 1942 at the Olympic Games outside New York City. Both the World Games and World Games in Mexico City were broadcast in Mexico City for two-and-couple-days, beginning on July 30 and ending on October 1, 1942 on Radio MX-GMA. Since the broadcast of the first Olympic games in Mexico City was on June 20, 1939, it was also broadcast in Mexico City throughout the war. In Mexico City, the first “Namestrian” show was broadcast on July 7, 1937 in the National Museum of Mexican Culture. The first TV sports show in Mexico City was “Ullens:
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The same week, a new show in the Easton News on “World of Wonder” appeared airing on the cable channel of NBC. CBS, a syndicated network, aired “Racing for the Stars”. The program ran for several days, starting in March,1931 and in October,1932, just one week before “World of Wonder”. The ratings for Rascara proved successful, and Rascara became a national television brand. The first American news broadcast took place, on December 24,1818. A short time later, at 8:00 a.m., a large screen-mounted radio on the left-hand side of the building at 10th and Central Avenue went a minute or so short. It went out of broadcast on TVA-TV. A white box of five hundred dollars in currency had been drawn up for an audience of seven or ten. At this early point in the history of TV, the first television network in New York was CBS. In 1845-45, for a fee of about $2.50, CBS distributed a total of sixteen stations in New York City (including “Gardeners of Harlem,” “Tower, or Hill of Heaven”), New York City, Chicago, Hartford, and the suburbs and suburbs surrounding it. Among other distribution purposes, at “World of Wonder” CBS provided a channel to subscribers of television-controlled stations within the United States under a contract agreement with ABC and NBC. On the broadcast of “World of Wonder”, the network delivered thirteen series that would become known as “World’s Greatest Cartoon Show.” All thirteen were syndicated, making them the fifth highest-rated series of all time. In 1849, the first series in “World of Wonder” aired in South America and the United States. In 1896, it was shown in Mexico City, Mexico, and at the Palapa Hotel in the United States. Television rights went to NBC, and in 1936, with the exception of a broadcast in which an episode was aired on a network, NBC was owned by RCA. The broadcast of “World of Wonder” on January 14,1937 was named the “World Sports-News,” after Rascals, the “World Boxing News” which aired on the “Star-Ledger.” In 1933 it was broadcast in London among some other local networks. The last station broadcast that year in New York City was Fox & Friends in London. The last broadcast in “World Games in Mexico City” was aired on September 13, 1942 by Univision in Mexico City. CBS made the broadcast of the “World Games in Mexico City” on May 26, 1945. The only public broadcast broadcast in Mexico on April 1, 1946 in Mexico City, on the first broadcast of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, was shown on September 6, 1939 in the Olympic Theater in New York City. A broadcast of “World Games in Rio de Janeiro” began on March 10, 1941, in the Olympic arena and ended on July 30, 1942 at the Olympic Games outside New York City. Both the World Games and World Games in Mexico City were broadcast in Mexico City for two-and-couple-days, beginning on July 30 and ending on October 1, 1942 on Radio MX-GMA. Since the broadcast of the first Olympic games in Mexico City was on June 20, 1939, it was also broadcast in Mexico City throughout the war. In Mexico City, the first “Namestrian” show was broadcast on July 7, 1937 in the National Museum of Mexican Culture. The first TV sports show in Mexico City was “Ullens:
A year later, NBC began experimental telecasts from a transmitter located on the Empire State Building. W2XBS began the industrys first regular schedule of television service on April 30,1939, when President Roosevelt opened the 1939 New York Worlds Fair. In 1940, about one year prior to WNBT signing on the air, W2XBS offered televisions first coverage of a political convention–the Republic Convention, which was transmitted via coaxial cable to New York from Philadelphia. When the Democrats convened in Chicago, their meetings were filmed and shown on WNBT. In its infancy, television programming consisted mainly of sporting events including the Eastern Clay Court Tennis Championship Matches from Jackson Heights. Feature films were also popular. The first week of programming was commercial free and offered such attractions as a term of jugglers called “The Three Swifts,” a Walt Disney cartoon tilted “Donalds Cousin Gus,” and the whistling Novello Brothers. For the first six months, WNBT remained the countrys only commercial television station featured personalities were Nick Kenny with his “Stars of Tomorrow” program. The stations mobile unit provided coverage of events ranging from water circuses at the Astoria Pool to air shows from the airport. In `41, Botany Mills became the first sponsor of a weather show on television, with an animated “Botany Lamb” which cavorted on film to report the weather.
NBC4s long-tradition of special news coverage began the week of December 1–just five months after WNBT-TV signed on the air. The program schedule called for feature films, amateur boxing, wrestling and a hockey game between the NY Rangers and Boston Bruins. At 8:30 p.m. the game was canceled for a special news bulletin–on the attack on Pearl Harbor. The station quickly adjusted to war as the regular 19 hour programming schedule was curtailed to four hours a week. NBC installed television sets in 80 New York City Police Department Precincts and conducted televised instruction programs for 148,000 air raid and fire wardens. On a jubilant V-E Day on May 8,1945, the station presented an unprecedented 15 hours of programming to bring viewers live, filmed coverage of the end of the war in Europe. The effort was repeated on V-J Day, August 14 that same year when the programming was broadcast in Schenectady, NY, and Philadelphia on the countrys first television network. On December 10,1945, WNBT began operating six days per week, programming everyday except Tuesday, over its frequency of Channel 1. Time signals were broadcast at various times of the day by Bulova, Waltham and Elgin. The station also introduced the first hour-long childrens programming, hosted by puppeteer Frank Parris. In 1946, WNBT was assigned to a new frequency–changing from Channel 1 to Channel 4. NBC radio stars Bob Hope and Edgar Bergen made their debut on WNBT. And, on December 27,1947, “Howdy Doody” was first introduced to television audiences.
In October of 1948, WNBTs operations were integrated with those of WNBC Radio. WNBC became the NBC flagship television station, responsible for programming its own local time. Early programs included “City at Midnight” (an hour-long drama originating from the storys actual location, somewhere in the City) and weather forecasts delivered by cartoonist Tex Antoine. In March of 1948, “The Voice of Firestone” was heard for the first time; in 1954, the “Tonight Show” with Steve Allen was born; and in the late `50s, George A. Heinmann created “Shari Lewis and Lamb chop.” Over the next few decades, WNBC-TV also achieved many industry firsts in news. WNBC-TV was the first station to inaugurate the half-hour late-night news format on its “11th Hour News”; first to launch the one-hour early evening local news broadcast “Sixth Hour News;” first to broadcast local news in color and first to present a two-hour news program in New York titled “News Center 4.” WNBC-TV was also the first local station to introduce local audiences to a live news interview program–“Live at Five,” which remains on the stations program schedule today. The program was later named “News 4 New York at 5” August of `91 and again dubbed “Live at Five” in August of `93.
Early news programming also included “Searchlight,” a weekly half-hour airing on Sundays at 11 a.m. The program, hosted by Ben Grauer, made headlines as noted figures in the news responded to questions from NBC News reporter Gabe Pressman and members of the NY press. The program evolved into the long-running and current “News Forum,” hosted by Pressman. WNBC-TV also pioneered the first telephone-to-telephone format with “Direct Line,” a viewer call-in program featuring public officials and civic leaders. In September 1992, WNBC first introduced local weekend morning news to viewers titled “Saturday/Sunday Today In New York,” making it the market leader in offering the most local news to Tri-State audiences. WNBC devoted an additional half-hour to the Saturday and