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When did ABC get into television?

K

KeithE4

Conventional wisdom states that it was when it first aired network programming on 4/19/1948, a few months before its own flagship station, WJZ-TV, went on the air. But while I was researching WBKB Chicago, I found that it had either sponsored or produced programming for WBKB, WRGB Schenectady, WFIL-TV Philadelphia, and Dumont's WABD New York and WTTG Washington (which were connected and aired early ABC programming), starting in 1946. Of course, other than WABD and WTTG, none of these stations were connected via coax yet. My source was Broadcasting Magazine for 7/15/46.

Another issue of Broadcasting, 11/11/46, mentions ABC producing hockey games in Chicago (WBKB) and Philadelphia (WFIL). Of course, it would have had to have been minor league hockey in Philly, since the NHL Flyers didn't join the league until 1967.

I knew that ABC in New York produced some shows that aired on Dumont until WJZ-TV was ready to go, but I wasn't aware of their earlier programming efforts. You learn something new every day. :D
 
KeithE4 said:
Conventional wisdom states that it was when it first aired network programming on 4/19/1948, a few months before its own flagship station, WJZ-TV, went on the air. But while I was researching WBKB Chicago, I found that it had either sponsored or produced programming for WBKB, WRGB Schenectady, WFIL-TV Philadelphia, and Dumont's WABD New York and WTTG Washington (which were connected and aired early ABC programming), starting in 1946. Of course, other than WABD and WTTG, none of these stations were connected via coax yet. My source was Broadcasting Magazine for 7/15/46.

Another issue of Broadcasting, 11/11/46, mentions ABC producing hockey games in Chicago (WBKB) and Philadelphia (WFIL). Of course, it would have had to have been minor league hockey in Philly, since the NHL Flyers didn't join the league until 1967.

I knew that ABC in New York produced some shows that aired on Dumont until WJZ-TV was ready to go, but I wasn't aware of their earlier programming efforts. You learn something new every day. :D
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I heard WFIL-TV(Now known as WPVI), WMAL-TV Now known as WJLA-TV and WMAR-TV were named as the first ABC Affiliates. But its interesting to hear WBKB named as the first affiliates to air ABC content along with WPTZ Philadelphia in the 7/15/1946 article

eyesofageneration.com

April 19, 1948...The Start Of The ABC Television Network - Eyes Of A Generation...Television's Living History

April 19, 1948...The Start Of The ABC Television Network 68 years ago today, on April 19, 1948, the ABC Television Network began its broadcasts on its first primary affiliate, WFIL-TV in Philadelphia. The debut show was "On The Corner" with host Henry Morgan, which was also the name of his…
eyesofageneration.com eyesofageneration.com

This was when ABC O&O's were waiting for their construction permits for transmitters to be approved.

68 years ago today, on April 19, 1948, the ABC Television Network began its broadcasts on its first primary affiliate, WFIL-TV in Philadelphia. The debut show was “On The Corner” with host Henry Morgan, which was also the name of his radio show on ABC’s Blue Network. Until WJZ-TV signed on in August, ABC programs were carried in New York by Dumont’s WABD. Other stations carrying the initial broadcast were WMAR-TV in Baltimore, and WMAL-TV in Washington, D.C.

In August 1948, the network’s flagship owned-and-operated station, WJZ-TV in New York City, began its broadcasts. That first WJZ broadcast ran for two hours on the evening of August 10, 1948. ABC’s other owned-and-operated stations launched over the course of the next 13 months.

WENR-TV in Chicago launched on September 17, 1948, while WXYZ-TV in Detroit went on the air October 9, 1948. KGO-TV in San Francisco went on the air May 5, 1949.

In early 1948, ABC bought the Durland Riding Academy at 7 West 66th Street, in preparation for network and local program production. On May 7, 1949, Billboard revealed that ABC would spend $2.5 million to convert the old Vitagraph/Warner East Annex in Hollywood into The Prospect Studios, and construct a transmitter on Mount Wilson in anticipation of the launch of KECA-TV, which went on the air on September 16, 1949.
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A good book to read on the subject is Leonard Goldenson's autobiography: Beating The Odds

Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC : The Stars, Struggles, and Egos That Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made I: Goldenson, Leonard H., Wolf, Marvin J.: 9780684190556: Amazon.com: Books

Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC : The Stars, Struggles, and Egos That Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made I [Goldenson, Leonard H., Wolf, Marvin J.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of...
www.amazon.com

Goldenson was with United Paramount Theaters and bought ABC in 1951 from founder Ed Noble.
 
TheBigA said:
A good book to read on the subject is Leonard Goldenson's autobiography: Beating The Odds

Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC : The Stars, Struggles, and Egos That Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made I: Goldenson, Leonard H., Wolf, Marvin J.: 9780684190556: Amazon.com: Books

Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of ABC : The Stars, Struggles, and Egos That Transformed Network Television by the Man Who Made I [Goldenson, Leonard H., Wolf, Marvin J.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Beating the Odds: The Untold Story Behind the Rise of...
www.amazon.com

Goldenson was with United Paramount Theaters and bought ABC in 1951 from founder Ed Noble.
Click to expand...
I read that book in the 90s.
 
According to today's article in the Old TV History blog, ABC's first TV program predates ABC. It was still the Blue Network when its first show aired in February 1945. Of course, it was broadcast over Dumont's WABD New York, using their facilities.

Blue became ABC on 6/15/1945, the ABC Television Network started up on 4/19/48, and WJZ-TV/7 first aired on 8/10/48.

OLD TV HISTORY

oldtvhistory.blogspot.com oldtvhistory.blogspot.com
 
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