Beech Tree News Network

I figured I’d return to my network origins series.  Today I’ll focus on CBS.  The Colombia Broadcasting System began in 1927 when talent agent Arthur Judson, unable to obtain work for any of his clients on the radio programs carried the National Broadcasting Company(NBC), established his own network, United Independent Broadcasters.  From 22 stations in 1928, the network grew to 114 stations in a decade.  By 1932, it was posting an annual profit of #3 million.  Although the most popular radio stars and programs of the 1930’s and ‘40’s were heard on rival NBC, CBS maintained a huge audience thanks largely to the dynamic leadership of William Paley’s second in command, Frank Stanton, who served as President of CBS from 1946-1971.  The network also built up a strong and influential news division under the guidance of Edward R. Murrow and his successors.  And while it lagged behind the RCA Corporation-owned NBC technologically, CBS took a major step forward in the late 1940’s with the development of long-playing(LP) records by its Colombia Records division. 

During ’48-’49, CBS Television enjoyed a reputation as the “Tiffany Network”, exhibiting high quality from Studio One(’48-’58) to Playhouse 90(‘56’-’61), and variety series’(notably the Ed Sullivan Show).  Even so, the network earned some of its highest ratings with The Andy Griffith Show(’60-’68), Beverly Hillbillies(’62-’71) and Gomer Pyle, USMC(’64-69).  By 1970, CBS was seen as too “old and rural” so ’71 saw All In The Family, which lasted until 1979, M*A*S*H(’72-’83)

In the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, CBS diversified into the production of books, magazines, musical instruments and toys, but from ’85-’88, the company divested itself of all these other operations as well as sold its highly successful record unit, which was bought by Sony.  Under the direction of Lawrence Tisch, who had been brought in in ’86 to prevent a hostile takeover by Ted Turner, CBS concentrated on its core-television and radio.  The acquisition of David Letterman was huge.  His show was a staple of late night on CBS from ’93-’15.  For years the only self-owned broadcasting network, they relinquished that independence when they were sold to Westinghouse for $5.4 billion.  To mark this transformation, Westinghouse dropped its own corporate name and assumed the name CBS Corporation.  If you wonder what happened to CBS Radio, as I did, it was acquired in 2017 by EnterCom Communications.  Collegiate sports are the center of the CBS Sports Network.  The CW Television Network, which debuted in ’06, is a joint venture of CBS Corporation and Warner Brothers Entertainment.  (www.Britannica.com)