DuMont Television Network
The DuMont network was the first licensed American television network (before CBS, NBC, and ABC). The DuMont Network operated from 1946 through 1956. It was sold to John Kluge who ran and expanded the network as MetroMedia who then sold it to Rupert Murdoch of FOX in 1986.
The DuMont Network was owned by television set manufacturer Allen B. DuMont and the Paramount Pictures movie studio, which previously had its fingers in the young CBS (and later were to be combined through Viacom). Though DuMont had three owned and operated stations, it had no control over the two stations owned by Paramount. But the Federal Communications Commission counted them in the five allowed despite the fact that Paramount didn't broadcast any of the DuMont Network feeds or shows. It said that the stations were the equivalent of being owned by the network, and since the network, or any owner, could only own five VHF stations it had to get rid of some of its stations or Paramount had to. DuMont did not have many primary affiliations, most were secondary, so the network eventually ceased to operate as a network but as a station group. What was the DuMont network formed the nucleus of what became Metromedia, and now is the Fox Television Network. Paramount's divested movie theatre chain United Paramount Theatres merged with the American Broadcasting Company. In New York City, the DuMont station was WABD - named for Allen B.DuMont. DuMont is famed for the beginning of the "Honeymooners" starring Jackie Gleason and for its one and only Emmy winner, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.