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Broadcasting in the United States
Broadcasting in the United States began with experiments with wireless transmission during the 19th century, with varying degrees of success. These transmissions were initially by radio hobbyists fascinated with the technology. Once techniques were perfected, radio became a necessity for military and commercial users alike. Eventually, broadcasting would come to have a major impact throughout the country. Growth divided television broadcasting into several genres, such as fiction, news, sports, and reality television. Cable television provided more channels, especially for entertainment. By the late 20th century radio (sound) broadcasting had similarly divided, with stations specializing in a particular musical genre, or news or sports.
In 1901 Reginald Aubrey Fessenden made a significant step toward the possibility of broadcasting when he succeeded in superimposing a human voice onto a continuous Hertzian wave.[citation needed] Success in this experiment created a need for more advanced equipment, including an alternating-current generator large enough to produce the necessary power to carry his transmissions. Fessenden received the backing of T.H. Given and Hay Walker Jr. who contributed money to purchase a powerful generator from General Electric. He had it installed at Brant Rock, MA, and at 9pm local time on December 24, 1906, he began a broadcast that could be heard by several United Fruit Company ships at sea. After an introduction, the program consisted of the following:
The broadcast with Christmas greetings and a request for listeners to write him and report on the broadcast wherever they were. Fessenden received letters from many of his listeners who heard him from as far away as the West Indies.
Many individuals continued to experiment with their own methods of broadcasting. For example, Charles Herrold of San Jose, California sent out broadcasts as early as April 1909 from his Herrold School electronics institute in downtown San Jose, using the identification San Jose Calling, and then a variety of different call signs as the United States Department of Commerce began to regulate radio. His station was first called FN, then SJN (probably illegally). By 1912, the government began requiring radio operators to obtain licenses to send out signals. Herrold received licenses for 6XF and 6XE (a mobile transmitter) in 1916. He was on the air daily for nearly a decade when World War I interrupted operations.
The involvement of the United States in World War I would bring about changes that would take broadcasting out of the hobbyist's workshop and on to a grand stage. The United States Navy would use broadcasting to relay messages between ships, airplanes, and shore stations throughout the war. The result of the Navy's demand for broadcasting was the mass production of radio equipment with simplified construction and operation requirements so they could be readily used by the common man. Receivers like the Westinghouse SCR-70 were a single, self-contained unit that required minimal technical ability. Following the war, these units were so plentiful and reasonably priced that virtually every American could own one. This wide availability led to the realization of a market which included everyone.
The formation of broadcasting corporations was necessary to produce the capital needed to reach a large audience which would serve as a broad consumer base. Many experimenters created their own corporations including Fessenden's “National Electric Signaling Company.” Most of these corporations however, did not survive for very long with the exception of the "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America (American Marconi).” This company would eventually give way to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) on November 10, 1919, when American Marconi sold off all of its assets.
To compete with RCA (which was a subsidiary of General Electric), Westinghouse Broadcasting entered the market, hoping for sale of its radio sets and publicity. On October 27, 1920, the Department of Commerce granted Westinghouse a permit to broadcast in Pittsburgh, PA under the call letters KDKA. They began the first commercial broadcasts in the United States on November 2, 1920, to report the results of that year's presidential election. They used a hand-wound phonograph to play music over the air to fill time between returns.
KDKA would prove to be a very successful broadcasting station as a result of superior Westinghouse equipment that was developed from the company's acquisition of the Armstrong-Pupin patents.[citation needed] Rather than compete with Westinghouse, General Electric (GE), RCA, and AT&T formed an alliance with the company on June 30, 1921. Combining the patents owned by all four companies, they would work to improve the broadcasting process and increase the quality of receivers.
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Broadcasting in the United States
Broadcasting in the United States began with experiments with wireless transmission during the 19th century, with varying degrees of success. These transmissions were initially by radio hobbyists fascinated with the technology. Once techniques were perfected, radio became a necessity for military and commercial users alike. Eventually, broadcasting would come to have a major impact throughout the country. Growth divided television broadcasting into several genres, such as fiction, news, sports, and reality television. Cable television provided more channels, especially for entertainment. By the late 20th century radio (sound) broadcasting had similarly divided, with stations specializing in a particular musical genre, or news or sports.
In 1901 Reginald Aubrey Fessenden made a significant step toward the possibility of broadcasting when he succeeded in superimposing a human voice onto a continuous Hertzian wave.[citation needed] Success in this experiment created a need for more advanced equipment, including an alternating-current generator large enough to produce the necessary power to carry his transmissions. Fessenden received the backing of T.H. Given and Hay Walker Jr. who contributed money to purchase a powerful generator from General Electric. He had it installed at Brant Rock, MA, and at 9pm local time on December 24, 1906, he began a broadcast that could be heard by several United Fruit Company ships at sea. After an introduction, the program consisted of the following:
The broadcast with Christmas greetings and a request for listeners to write him and report on the broadcast wherever they were. Fessenden received letters from many of his listeners who heard him from as far away as the West Indies.
Many individuals continued to experiment with their own methods of broadcasting. For example, Charles Herrold of San Jose, California sent out broadcasts as early as April 1909 from his Herrold School electronics institute in downtown San Jose, using the identification San Jose Calling, and then a variety of different call signs as the United States Department of Commerce began to regulate radio. His station was first called FN, then SJN (probably illegally). By 1912, the government began requiring radio operators to obtain licenses to send out signals. Herrold received licenses for 6XF and 6XE (a mobile transmitter) in 1916. He was on the air daily for nearly a decade when World War I interrupted operations.
The involvement of the United States in World War I would bring about changes that would take broadcasting out of the hobbyist's workshop and on to a grand stage. The United States Navy would use broadcasting to relay messages between ships, airplanes, and shore stations throughout the war. The result of the Navy's demand for broadcasting was the mass production of radio equipment with simplified construction and operation requirements so they could be readily used by the common man. Receivers like the Westinghouse SCR-70 were a single, self-contained unit that required minimal technical ability. Following the war, these units were so plentiful and reasonably priced that virtually every American could own one. This wide availability led to the realization of a market which included everyone.
The formation of broadcasting corporations was necessary to produce the capital needed to reach a large audience which would serve as a broad consumer base. Many experimenters created their own corporations including Fessenden's “National Electric Signaling Company.” Most of these corporations however, did not survive for very long with the exception of the "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America (American Marconi).” This company would eventually give way to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) on November 10, 1919, when American Marconi sold off all of its assets.
To compete with RCA (which was a subsidiary of General Electric), Westinghouse Broadcasting entered the market, hoping for sale of its radio sets and publicity. On October 27, 1920, the Department of Commerce granted Westinghouse a permit to broadcast in Pittsburgh, PA under the call letters KDKA. They began the first commercial broadcasts in the United States on November 2, 1920, to report the results of that year's presidential election. They used a hand-wound phonograph to play music over the air to fill time between returns.
KDKA would prove to be a very successful broadcasting station as a result of superior Westinghouse equipment that was developed from the company's acquisition of the Armstrong-Pupin patents.[citation needed] Rather than compete with Westinghouse, General Electric (GE), RCA, and AT&T formed an alliance with the company on June 30, 1921. Combining the patents owned by all four companies, they would work to improve the broadcasting process and increase the quality of receivers.