Pub. date: 2009 | Online Pub. Date: December 16, 2009 | DOI: 10.4135/9781412972048 | Print ISBN: 9780761929574 | Online ISBN: 9781412972048| Publisher:SAGE Publications, Inc.About this encyclopedia
Christopher H. Sterling
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC), since 1985 a subsidiary of General Electric, is one of four U.S. national television broadcasting networks. It began as the first American radio network in 1926, has played an important role in the development of both radio and then television journalism, and more recently has become involved in various cable and Internet ventures. The formation of NBC was formally announced by its then owner, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in September 1926 as the first national radio network in the country. By early 1927, NBC was operating two “chains” or networks of stations, dubbed Red and Blue. Each covered most of the country by contracting with independent stations to act as local affiliates. It took years for programming to fill much of the day and early evening. Much of the network's eventual public affairs programming aired on the Blue network and lacked advertiser support. ...