1950 in radio

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The year 1950 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events

• 15 March – The Copenhagen Frequency Plan is implemented by broadcasters throughout Europe.
• 1 May – Springbok Radio, South Africa's first commercial radio station, takes to the airwaves. It will broadcast for 35 years, until 31 December 1985.
• 5 June – In the Federal Republic of Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, Süddeutscher Rundfunk, and Südwestfunk jointly establish the ARD consortium of public broadcasting authorities.

Debuts

Programs

• 1 January – Hopalong Cassidy debuts on Mutual.
• 6 January – The Halls of Ivy debuts on NBC.
• 9 January – Hannibal Cobb debuts on ABC.
• 16 January – Listen with Mother debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 22 January – The Adventures of Christopher London debuts on NBC.
• 30 January – Mark Trail debuts on Mutual.
• 1 February – Big Jon and Sparkie debuts on ABC.
• 6 February – Dangerous Assignment debuts on NBC.
• 7 May
  • The Big Guy debuts on NBC.
  • Cloak and Dagger debuts on NBC.
• 6 June – Educating Archie debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 7 June – The Archers pilot episodes debut on BBC radio; it will still be running 65 years later.
• 2 July – Hashknife Hartley debuts on Mutual.
• 3 July – Granby's Green Acres debuts on CBS.
• 24 September – Charlie Wild, Private Detective debuts on NBC.
• 29 October – Meet Frank Sinatra debuts on CBS.
• 5 November
  • The Big Show introduced by Tallulah Bankhead debuts on NBC.
  • Life with the Lyons starring Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 29 November – I Fly Anything debuts on ABC.
• 6 December – American Agent debuts on ABC.

Stations

• 12 February – WPAW Pawtucket, Rhode Island signs on for the first time.
• 1 March - WBUR-FM on the air with studios and a 400 watt transmitter located at 84 Exeter Street in Boston.
• 1 March – DZBB, a radio station owned by Republic Broadcasting Systems (later GMA Network) in the Philippines begins broadcasting from its first studios in Calvo Bldg, Bindondo, Manila.
• 19 April – WTSA Brattleboro, Vermont signs on for the first time.
• 8 October – WARA Attleboro, Massachusetts signs on for the first time.

Closings

• 6 January – Lora Lawson ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 19 January – The Better Half ends its run on network radio (Mutual).
• 29 March – Curtain Time ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 30 April – The Adventures of Christopher London ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 1 June – The Chesterfield Supper Club ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 6 July – Blondie ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 21 July – Ladies Be Seated ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 29 August – The Candid Microphone ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 21 August – Granby's Green Acres ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 1 September – The Adventures of the Thin Man ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 6 September – Chandu the Magician ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 15 September – Bride and Groom (radio program) ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 22 October – Cloak and Dagger ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 29 October – The Big Guy ends its run on network radio (NBC).

Births

• 2 February – Libby Purves, English radio presenter.
• 14 March – Rick Dees, American radio and television personality.
• 12 May – Jenni Murray, English journalist, presenter of Woman's Hour.
• 21 May – Marian Finucane, Irish radio presenter (died 2020).
• 24 September – Alan Colmes, American radio and television talk show host.

Deaths

• 13 January – Thomas S. "Tommy" Lee, son of pioneering broadcaster Don Lee, of a suicide. His death triggers the sale of the Don Lee Network (a station group including KFRC AM/FM in San Francisco and KHJ AM/FM in Los Angeles) to General Tire, forerunner of RKO General.
• 26 July – Austin E. Lathrop, owner of Midnight Sun Broadcasting (KFAR, KENI), rail car collision.
• 2 September – Frank Graham, American announcer for many programs and the star (following Jack Webb) of Jeff Regan, Investigator.