 The Birth of Television RTV 3007 Intro to Television

 The rise and fall of the radio amateur

The rise and fall of the radio amateur  After World War 1, ham radio exploded. Amateurs sent and received broadcasts all over the US.  In 1920 an enthusiast in Pittsburgh regularly broadcast phonographic recordings under the call letters 8XK. A Pittsburgh department store picked up the broadcast for its customers, and sold radio kits for $10. Amateur Radio, First Social Media:

The rise and fall of the radio amateur  Westinghouse Corp. learned of this and set up the first radio station, KDKA. It debuted on November 2 to broadcast the 1920 presidential election returns from 8pm-12am.  Success of KDKA led to Westinghouse stations in Newark, NJ; Springfield, MA; and Chicago. General Electric started radio stations in Schenectady, San Francisco and Denver. RCA started stations in Jersey City and Washington, DC.

 The Professionalization of Radio

Broadcasting & Copyright  In the early days of radio, actors, singers and other entertainers performed for free to test out the new medium.  For several years, broadcasters played phonographic recordings free of charge.  In 1923 ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) demanded payment for broadcasts of protected works.  Courts upheld ASCAP’s claim. Stations paid $250 per year for rights to broadcast copyrighted material.  Today radio stations and Webcasting stations pay annual fees to ASCAP, BMI, SoundExchange and SESAC (collectively called Performance Rights Organizations).  A Brief History of ASCAP:

The Monetization Problem  Early radio pioneers had to find a way to make radio sustainable. To make enough money to keep the stations going. Several schemes were proposed :  Government financing (similar to roads and schools).  A tax on radio receivers. Taxes would be used to support ongoing radio operations. (TV in the UK uses this model.)  Patronage by wealthy individuals who would sponsor radio programming.  Toll broadcasting, where anyone could air any content, provided they paid for the privilege.

The Radio Act of 1927  The Radio Act enabled the creation of a national radio broadcasting network  Of stations on temporary licenses  Linked by telephone lines  Supported by advertising  Managed by a regulatory system based on “the public interest”  The Radio Act of 1927 was written to include television.  The Radio Act helped propel the development of television.

 The Road to Television

The Road to Television  the Radio Act enabled the creation of a national radio broadcasting network  The Jazz Singer debuted as the first “talkie,” or talking movie  the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) was born, the first competitor to NBC.  Radio, “talkie” movies and TV experiments boomed.  NBC stock prices rose 600% between 1927 and 1929.

The Great Depression  In November 1929, the Great Depression hit the US.  RCA stock fell to 1/10 th of its previous value.  Average Americans stopped buying radio sets.  Money for TV development slowed.

Radio Saves Television  People who had radio sets before the Depression kept them.  Quality of radio programming increased.  President Roosevelt broadcast Fireside Chats.  Vaudeville theater actors turned to radio as live theaters closed down.  Radio advertising increased.  RCA’s David Sarnoff used radio ad revenue to fund the development of television.  Beginning 1938, CBS radio becomes a competitive force by offering better content than NBC: more news, experimental drama, more entertainment. Fireside_Chat_1_On_the_Banking_Crisis_ (March_12,_1933)_ Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt.ogg

The Communications Act of 1934  Established the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate both broadcasting and telephony.  FCC became responsible for allocating spectrum for wireless communication.  FCC set technical standards for telephony, radio and the emerging television industry.  In 1940 FCC forced the TV industry to use FM radio technology for sound.

The World’s Fair of 1939  RCA president David Sarnoff introduced television to the world at the1939 World’s Fair.  RCA made a film of Sarnoff’s announcement. LC-o  NBC began regular TV broadcasts on April 30, 1939.