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The first Ship to Shore Radio Transmission
The British Marconi Company utilized various patents to facilitate communication between coast radio stations and ships at sea. -
The Radio Act of 1912
This act was a federal law passed in response to the Titanic tragedy, which required all radio operators to be licensed, ships to have a radio alert system for distress signals, and government regulation over radio communication. -
The First Commercial Radio Stations
KDKA formed in Pittsburgh, PA and broadcasted the presidential election. -
The First Radio Commercial
It aired on WEAF and advertised Hawthorne Court Apartments in Jackson Heights, New York. The company paid $50 for a ten-minute slot. -
NBC
RCA created the National Broadcasting Network -
The First Television Show
"The Queen's Messenger" aired on WGY station in Schenectady, New York. -
The First Television Commercial
Bulova Watches ran a 10-second advertisement during a baseball game. -
"I Love Lucy"
Filmed in front of a live audience and aired on Monday nights. Although it was not the first sitcom, it revolutionized how television shows were made and produced. -
"The Today Show"
Aired on NBC, this show was designed to replace morning radio routines, providing viewers with the latest news. -
The Quiz Show Phenomenon and Scandal
Starting in 1955, quiz shows became so popular that local crime rates dropped because people were busy watching TV. It began with "The $64,000 Question." A contestant on "Twenty-One" exposed the show for rigging the games, which led to a significant decline in trust of television among the American public.