November 15, 1926…The First NBC Radio Broadcast, Part 3

The “Color” Networks…Red, Blue, White, Gold And Orange

If you thought there was just Red and Blue, think again, but these didn’t all occur on November 15, 1926.

In the beginning, NBC operated two networks: NBC Blue, headed by station WJZ, and NBC Red, headed by WEAF. This situation arose, due to NBC then owning two stations in New York City (WEAF and WJZ). WEAF and the ‘Red’ Network became the flagship network and offered most of the established shows…and advertisers. NBC Red was the larger radio network, carrying the leading entertainment and music programs. In addition, many Red affiliates were high-powered, clear-channel stations, heard nationwide. NBC Blue offered most of the company’s news and cultural programs, many of them “sustaining” or unsponsored.

How did they arrive at the names ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’? The legend is that it was either the red and blue pencil marks on the engineering map or the red and blue push pins on the management’s maps.

NBC White was NBC’s Religious Programming network, also referred to as The Watchtower Network, and operated from about 1928 to 1936.

NBC’s Orange Network was it’s West Coast affiliates, KGO, KFI, KGW, KOMO, and KHQ, beginning operations in 1931. NBC also operated a ‘Gold Network’ comprised of KPO, KECA, KEX, KJR, and KGA, soon after disbanded and absorbed by the Orange Network in 1933.

NBC’s Blue Network became ABC in 1943, due to a landmark Supreme Court Ruling that held that NBC had specifically maintained the two parallel, Red and Blue, networks for the express purpose of stifling competition. NBC subsequently extricated itself by selling ‘NBC Blue’ to Edward Noble of the Lifesaver Candy Company, who first called his new network, simply ‘The Blue Network’. That name was followed by ‘The Blue Network of the American Broadcasting Company’ and eventually in 1945, dropped the ‘Blue Network’ appellation altogether and was simply called the American Broadcasting Company.

Below is a map that shows the Red, Blue and Orange network stations. Next up, some great audio from those early NBC days. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

Source