Question

Over the course of the 1920's, radio emerged as a major industry through both the marketing and selling of radio sets and the selling of airtime to advertisers. Which radio station aired the first commercial/public broadcast? In what year?

Answer 1

The first commercial/public radio broadcast was aired by KDKA in 1920. The expansion of radio networks like NBC and CBS, and the subsequent advertiser-supported programming, led to the 'Golden Age' of radio. Regulatory bodies like the FRC and later the FCC were established to oversee the rapidly growing industry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The radio station KDKA aired the first commercial/public broadcast in 1920. This period marked the beginning of the radio as a powerful medium for both information and entertainment.

Companies like the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and later the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), capitalized on the commercial potential of radio by creating networks that offered advertiser-supported programming.

This led to what is known as the 'Golden Age' of radio in the late 1930s, where four out of five US households had a radio.

The formation of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1919 was a pivotal moment, as they realized the economic potential of radio for broadcasts, driving the need for radio receivers. The rapid growth of professional and amateur radio stations eventually led to the creation of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) with the Radio Act of 1927 to set standards and organize the industry. The FRC's work was later continued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after the passage of the Communications Act in 1934.