Editing Broadcast network (section)

===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>