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==History==
==History==


What became CBS was founded as The "Columbia Broadcasting System" in [[1927]] as a joint venture by [[Columbia Records]] and [[New York City]] talent agent [[Arthur Judson]]. It originally went on the air on [[September 18]], 1927 as ''' The Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System''' with 47 radio stations. This [[radio network]] lost money in its first year, and on [[January 18]] [[1929]] Columbia Records sold out its interests in the radio network to a group of private investors for US$400,000, headed by [[William S. Paley]], a Philadelphia cigar manufacturer. The radio network was renamed The Columbia Broadcasting System. For the next nine years Columbia Records and CBS were independent unrelated companies.
What became CBS was founded as The "Columbia Broadcasting System" in [[1927]] as a joint venture by [[Columbia Records]] and [[New York City]] talent agent [[Arthur Judson]]. It originally went on the air on [[September 18]], 1927 as '''The Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System''' with 47 radio stations.


In [[November]] of [[1928]], Columbia paid $390,000 to [[A.H. Grebe]]'s [[Atlantic Broadcasting Company]] for what would become its [[New York, New York|New York]] flagship station, WABC, which moved to a clear channel frequency, 860 kHz, on [[November 8]]. WABC would finally become WCBS on [[November 3]], [[1946]]. (The classic CBS owned-and-operated station lineup from the late 1930s through the 1980s consisted of WCBS New York, KNX [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], WBBM [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], WCAU [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], KMOX [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], and WCCO [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]].)
This third radio network soon had more affiliates than either of the [[NBC]] networks, though the signals were weaker than NBC Red. (The NBC Red and CBS radio networks are now both distributed by [[Westwood One]], a unit of [[Infinity Broadcasting]], owned by [[Viacom]], which also owns CBS Television. However, the CBS Radio Network's news unit—the home of the top-of-the-hour newscasts and the "Weekend Roundup"—is still directly supervised by CBS itself.)

This [[radio network]] lost money in its first year, and on [[January 18]] [[1929]] Columbia Records sold out its interests in the radio network to a group of private investors for US$400,000, headed by [[William S. Paley]], a Philadelphia cigar manufacturer. The radio network was renamed The Columbia Broadcasting System. For the next nine years Columbia Records and CBS were independent unrelated companies.

This third radio network soon had more affiliates than either of the [[NBC]] networks, though the signals were weaker than NBC Red. (Ironically, the radio network now called "NBC" is owned by [[Westwood One]], the operations of which are conducted under a management contract by [[Viacom]]. Although Viacom now owns many of the original NBC Red Network radio stations, the current "NBC Radio" is not related to the original NBC radio networks.)


Founder Paley saw an opportunity to win audiences through news programming, and spent substantial amounts of money to achieve dominance in that area. He hired [[Edward R. Murrow]] as "Director of Talks" as part of this effort. Together with [[William L. Shirer]], Murrow practically invented broadcast journalism as we know it today.
Founder Paley saw an opportunity to win audiences through news programming, and spent substantial amounts of money to achieve dominance in that area. He hired [[Edward R. Murrow]] as "Director of Talks" as part of this effort. Together with [[William L. Shirer]], Murrow practically invented broadcast journalism as we know it today.
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In [[1938]] radio was a major force in entertainment while the record industry was still in the doldrums from the [[Great Depression]], and CBS purchased its former parent company [[Columbia Records]].
In [[1938]] radio was a major force in entertainment while the record industry was still in the doldrums from the [[Great Depression]], and CBS purchased its former parent company [[Columbia Records]].


CBS first broadcast television in [[1939]], with 1 hour of programing per day in [[New York City]]. CBS made the first color broadcasts the following year, but using technology incompatible with existing black-and-white television which would be rejected by the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] a few years later in favor of competing a color television standard developed by [[RCA]]. Television would remain a minor part of CBS until after [[World War II]].
CBS first broadcast television in [[1939]], with 1 hour of programing per day in [[New York City]]. CBS made the first color broadcasts the following year, but using technology incompatible with existing black-and-white television which would be rejected by the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] a few years later in favor of competing a color television standard developed by [[RCA]]. Television would remain a minor part of CBS until after [[World War II]].

Under the leadership of Paley and [[Frank Stanton]], CBS was known for its strong, distinctive standards of [[branding]] and [[graphic design]]. Many of the hallmarks of this design live on today, such as CBS Television's unblinking eye logo (designed by [[William Golden]]), while others have gone by the wayside. (For example, in the Paley/Stanton era, it would never have been acceptable to use the CBS television eye in association with a CBS ''radio'' station or service, whereas today they eye logo is used for everything.) One well-known example of CBS's graphic-design particularity: on all official CBS letterhead, a tiny dot (at most a [[printer's point|point]] in diameter) was pre-printed to indicate to a secretary where the typewriter carriage should be positioned for the salutation of a letter. (Elements of the CBS eye logo later inspired the logo for [[Lew Grade]]'s British television company, [[Associated Television Network Limited|ATV]].)


Since the outset of the television era, its logo has been an unwinking eye. (Elements of the CBS eye logo later inspired the logo for [[Lew Grade]]'s British television company, [[Associated Television Network Limited|ATV]].) From the [[1940s]] until the [[1970s]], CBS was considered the most prestigious of the three major television networks and as a result was known as the ''[[Tiffany]] network''. CBS's dominance was broken in the [[1970s]] by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], although CBS retook the top ratings spot from 1979 to 1984 and again during periods in the early 1990s and 2000s.
From the [[1940s]] until the [[1970s]], CBS was considered the most prestigious of the three major television networks and as a result was known as the ''[[Tiffany]] network''. CBS's dominance was broken in the [[1970s]] by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], although CBS retook the top ratings spot from 1979 to 1984 and again during periods in the early 1990s and 2000s.


In [[1988]], CBS sold the CBS Records Group (including the venerable Columbia label) to [[Sony]], which renamed the group Sony Music Entertainment. The company dropped "Columbia" from its legal corporate name, which was shortened to "CBS Inc."
In [[1988]], CBS sold the CBS Records Group (including the venerable Columbia label) to [[Sony]], which renamed the group Sony Music Entertainment. The company dropped "Columbia" from its legal corporate name, which was shortened to "CBS Inc."

Revision as of 04:03, 31 January 2004


CBS is a major radio and television network in the United States. CBS was one of the three commercial television networks that dominated broadcasting in the United States before the rise of cable television. Today it is owned by Viacom.

History

What became CBS was founded as The "Columbia Broadcasting System" in 1927 as a joint venture by Columbia Records and New York City talent agent Arthur Judson. It originally went on the air on September 18, 1927 as The Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System with 47 radio stations.

In November of 1928, Columbia paid $390,000 to A.H. Grebe's Atlantic Broadcasting Company for what would become its New York flagship station, WABC, which moved to a clear channel frequency, 860 kHz, on November 8. WABC would finally become WCBS on November 3, 1946. (The classic CBS owned-and-operated station lineup from the late 1930s through the 1980s consisted of WCBS New York, KNX Los Angeles, WBBM Chicago, WCAU Philadelphia, KMOX St. Louis, and WCCO Minneapolis.)

This radio network lost money in its first year, and on January 18 1929 Columbia Records sold out its interests in the radio network to a group of private investors for US$400,000, headed by William S. Paley, a Philadelphia cigar manufacturer. The radio network was renamed The Columbia Broadcasting System. For the next nine years Columbia Records and CBS were independent unrelated companies.

This third radio network soon had more affiliates than either of the NBC networks, though the signals were weaker than NBC Red. (Ironically, the radio network now called "NBC" is owned by Westwood One, the operations of which are conducted under a management contract by Viacom. Although Viacom now owns many of the original NBC Red Network radio stations, the current "NBC Radio" is not related to the original NBC radio networks.)

Founder Paley saw an opportunity to win audiences through news programming, and spent substantial amounts of money to achieve dominance in that area. He hired Edward R. Murrow as "Director of Talks" as part of this effort. Together with William L. Shirer, Murrow practically invented broadcast journalism as we know it today.

In 1938 radio was a major force in entertainment while the record industry was still in the doldrums from the Great Depression, and CBS purchased its former parent company Columbia Records.

CBS first broadcast television in 1939, with 1 hour of programing per day in New York City. CBS made the first color broadcasts the following year, but using technology incompatible with existing black-and-white television which would be rejected by the FCC a few years later in favor of competing a color television standard developed by RCA. Television would remain a minor part of CBS until after World War II.

Under the leadership of Paley and Frank Stanton, CBS was known for its strong, distinctive standards of branding and graphic design. Many of the hallmarks of this design live on today, such as CBS Television's unblinking eye logo (designed by William Golden), while others have gone by the wayside. (For example, in the Paley/Stanton era, it would never have been acceptable to use the CBS television eye in association with a CBS radio station or service, whereas today they eye logo is used for everything.) One well-known example of CBS's graphic-design particularity: on all official CBS letterhead, a tiny dot (at most a point in diameter) was pre-printed to indicate to a secretary where the typewriter carriage should be positioned for the salutation of a letter. (Elements of the CBS eye logo later inspired the logo for Lew Grade's British television company, ATV.)

From the 1940s until the 1970s, CBS was considered the most prestigious of the three major television networks and as a result was known as the Tiffany network. CBS's dominance was broken in the 1970s by ABC, although CBS retook the top ratings spot from 1979 to 1984 and again during periods in the early 1990s and 2000s.

In 1988, CBS sold the CBS Records Group (including the venerable Columbia label) to Sony, which renamed the group Sony Music Entertainment. The company dropped "Columbia" from its legal corporate name, which was shortened to "CBS Inc."

In 2001, CBS had a major falling out with one of its news personnel who alleged a pattern of bias in reporting (see Bias).

Related articles

External links

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