Editing Broadcast network (section)

==American networks==
===AT&T's "WEAF Chain"===
{{main|Broadcasting Company of America#Network operations and the "WEAF chain"}}
[[File:Broadcasting chains (original).gif|thumb|right|upright=2.5|Original major radio broadcasting networks in the United States]]
[[File:WEAF and WJZ Chains.jpg|350px|thumb|right|The WEAF and WJZ chains]]

Following the [[Radio in the United States|introduction of radio broadcasting]] in the early 1920s, the [[AT&T Corporation|American Telephone and Telegraph Company]] (AT&T) developed the first [[radio network]], linking together individual stations with specially prepared long-distance [[telephone line]]s in what at the time was called a "chain". The key station was AT&T's [[WFAN (AM)|WEAF]] (now WFAN) in [[New York City]]. The network featured a variety of regularly scheduled programs which included sponsorships (at the time not called advertising but "toll broadcasting").<ref name="snyder">{{cite web|last=Snyder|first=James|title=National Broadcasting Company|url=http://www.oldradio.com/archives/prog/nbc-js.htm}}</ref>

From the beginning, AT&T planned to eventually expand nationwide, so that national companies would be able reach large portions of the nation with their brand names and slogans in an efficient manner. At first the network's expansion was slow. In 1924, the ''Eveready Hour'' was broadcast over 12 stations, primarily located in the [[northeastern United States|U.S. Northeast]]. ''Eveready Hour'' was the first commercially [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsored]] [[variety show]] in the history of broadcasting. By 1925, AT&T had linked together 26 stations in its network.<ref name="perry"/>

AT&T eventually decided to concentrate on its most profitable business, telephones, and in 1926 sold its broadcasting interests to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). RCA's purchase included an agreement to lease AT&T phone lines.<ref name="perry">Perry, Stephen D. (2004). A Consolidated History of Media (4th edition). Bloomington, IL: Epistelogic</ref>

===RCA's "WJZ Chain"===
In 1922, the [[Radio Corporation of America]] (RCA) followed AT&T's network model lead, and formed a small competing network centered on its New York City station, [[WABC (AM)|WJZ]] (now WABC). However, conflict resulted as RCA had a limited ability to lease lines from AT&T and often had to use telegraph lines to connect stations, which had inferior acoustical properties.<ref name="perry"/>

===NBC===
{{main|NBC}}
After acquiring WEAF and AT&T's network assets in 1926, RCA created the [[NBC|National Broadcasting Company]] (NBC) and reorganized the WEAF chain (with [[WGR]], [[WTIC (AM)|WTIC]], [[WTAG]], [[WEEI (AM)|WEEI]], [[WHJJ|WJAR]], [[WCSH|WZAN]], [[WFIL|WFI-WLIT]], [[WPGP (AM)|WCAE]], [[WTEM|WRC]], [[WTAM]], [[WSAI]], [[WWJ (AM)|WWJ]], [[WGN (AM)|WGN]], [[WOC (AM)|WOC]], [[KTRS (AM)|KSD]], [[KCSP (AM)|WDAF]], [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO]]) as the [[NBC Radio Network|NBC Red]] network and the WJZ chain as the [[Blue Network|NBC Blue]] network (with [[WBZ (AM)|WBZ]], [[WBZ (AM)|WBZA]], [[KYW (AM)|KYW]], [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]]). (One explanation for the color designations is that they reflected the red and blue push pins used on a map that AT&T originally used to designate the affiliated stations on the two networks.)<ref name="snyder"/>

On 23 December 1928, NBC instituted the first permanent transcontinental network. As of September 1938, when there were 154 NBC outlets; 23 composed the basic Red network and 24 composed the basic Blue network. Supplementing these basic networks were 107 stations, of which one was available only to the basic Red network, six were available only to the basic Blue network, and the remainder available to either. NBC also had a chain of [[shortwave transmitter|shortwave stations]], called the "NBC White Network", in the 1930s.

In 1941, the [[Federal Communications Commission]]'s (FCC) ''Report on Chain Broadcasting''<ref>Federal Communications Commission: [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b78643&view=1up&seq=7 ''Report on Chain Broadcasting''] (May 1941).</ref> reviewed the alleged monopolistic practices of the radio networks. The FCC was concerned NBC Red and NBC Blue were anti-competitive. Because the FCC did not have the power to directly regulate networks, it decided to enact regulations affecting the stations, and adopted standards intended to force NBC to relinquish one of its networks. In 1943, the Supreme Court upheld the FCC's power to enforce its chain broadcasting regulations.<ref name="Rivera-Sanchez">Rivera-Sanchez, M. (1998). Report on Chain Broadcasting. History of the Mass Media in the United States, An Encyclopedia, pg 590–591.</ref><ref>[[NBC, Inc. v. United States|National Broadcasting Co. v. U.S.]], 310 U.S. 190 (1943).</ref> As a consequence, NBC Blue was sold to [[Edward Noble]] who later named it the [[American Broadcasting Company]] (ABC).<ref name="Rivera-Sanchez"/> After NBC Blue was divested the remaining NBC Red network was renamed the NBC Radio Network.<ref name="snyder"/>

===CBS===
{{main|CBS}}
In 1927, United Independent Broadcasters, Inc., supported by the [[Columbia Phonograph Company|Columbia Phonograph Record Company]], started a new network of 16 stations ([[WOR (AM)|WOR]] New York, [[WFBL]] Syracuse, [[WBEN (AM)|WMAK]] Buffalo-Lockport, [[WRKO|WNAC]] Boston, [[WPRV|WEAN]] Providence, [[WPHT|WCAU]] Philadelphia, [[WJAS]] Pittsburgh, [[WCAO]] Baltimore, [[WARF|WADC]] Akron, [[WTVN|WAIU]] Columbus, [[WKRC (AM)|WKRC]] Cincinnati, [[WXYT (AM)|WGHP]] Detroit, [[WOWO (AM)|WOWO]] Fort Wayne, [[WMAQ (AM)|WMAQ]] Chicago, [[KMOX]] St. Louis, [[KOIL]] Council Bluffs) named the ''Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System''.

In 1928, [[William S. Paley]] assumed control of the network, which under his leadership focused on entertainment programming, news, and news affiliation. He quickly turned the failing company around, which was named Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. ([[CBS]]) in 1929. By the end of 1938 there were 113 CBS outlets. Regional networks on CBS also existed in various parts of the country.<ref name="perry"/>

CBS later hired [[Edward R. Murrow]] who is credited with boosting ratings dramatically. Murrow and CBS covered the war in Europe while [[Adolf Hitler]] was in power. NBC and ABC withdrew from the war for safety reasons. As a result of taking the risk, CBS's ratings skyrocketed.<ref>Edwards, B. (2004). Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism. New Jersey: Navta Associates, Inc.</ref>

===ABC===
{{Main|American Broadcasting Company}}
In 1945, the NBC Blue network was sold to [[Edward John Noble]], who later renamed it [[American Broadcasting Company]] (ABC).<ref name="Rivera-Sanchez"/> By the mid-1940s broadcasting had become a [[big Three television networks]] battle. ABC almost went [[bankrupt]] and in 1951 [[Leonard Goldenson]] and [[United Paramount Theaters]] bought the network for $25 million. In 1964, ABC won the ratings race in the 50 largest American markets. In the 1970–71 season, ABC ranked #1 in the [[Nielsen ratings]] with a [[medical drama]] called [[Marcus Welby, M.D.]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museum.tv/eotv/americanbroa.htm |title=American Broadcasting Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005150045/http://www.museum.tv/eotv/americanbroa.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |publisher=The Museum of Broadcast Communications}}</ref> the first ABC [[television show]] to top the list.

===Mutual===
{{main|Mutual Broadcasting System}}
In 1929, a group of four radio stations in the major markets of New York City, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Detroit organized into a loose confederation known as the Quality Network. In 1934 this was reorganized as the Mutual Broadcasting System. The network was organized with the members contracting for telephone-line transmission facilities and agreeing to collectively enter into contracts with advertisers for their networked shows.

===Westwood One News===
{{main|Westwood One News}}
Radio news network launched on January 1, 2015, and operated by [[Westwood One (current)|Westwood One]] through its parent company [[Cumulus Media]].<ref>[http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/89589/cumuluswestwoodone-to-establish-cnn-powered-news-service/ Cumulus/WestwoodOne To Establish CNN Powered News Service] – ''Radio Insight'' (accessed February 21, 2019)</ref>