Progressive Broadcasting System
Encyclopedia
The Progressive Broadcasting System was a short-lived radio network
of the early 1950s. The company had hoped to affiliate with around 1,000 radio stations in the United States which did not already have affiliation agreements with the "Big Four" national radio networks of those days: NBC
, CBS
, ABC
, & MBS
, as well as the Liberty Broadcasting System
, second in size to MBS.
Time announced the company's formation on September 4, 1950. Broadcasts began in November of that year.
Progressive planned to offer programming for ten hours of the day on as many as 350 radio stations. 200 stations were needed for the network to break even. However, potential stations were slow to sign on, and the network folded after just over two months of operation, in February 1951.
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
of the early 1950s. The company had hoped to affiliate with around 1,000 radio stations in the United States which did not already have affiliation agreements with the "Big Four" national radio networks of those days: NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, & MBS
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
, as well as the Liberty Broadcasting System
Liberty Broadcasting System
The Liberty Broadcasting System was a U.S. radio network of the late 1940s and early 1950s founded by Gordon McLendon, which mainly broadcast live recreations of Major League Baseball games, by following the action via Western Union ticker reports. The sound effects were very realistic, and many...
, second in size to MBS.
Time announced the company's formation on September 4, 1950. Broadcasts began in November of that year.
Progressive planned to offer programming for ten hours of the day on as many as 350 radio stations. 200 stations were needed for the network to break even. However, potential stations were slow to sign on, and the network folded after just over two months of operation, in February 1951.