NBC chronology

This chronology is indicative only. There's a separate, more general communications and media timeline.

     RCA

1919 Radio Corporation of America (RCA) incorporated to control patents of General Electric, AT&T, Westinghouse, United Fruit

1919 David Sarnoff becomes General Manager of RCA

1926 NBC established by RCA (50%), GE (30%), Westinghouse (20%)

1926 NBC radio network established

1928 first regular schedule of US television programming begun by RCA in Schenectady (broadcasts Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1:30 to 3:30 pm)

1929 RCA and Victor merge

1931 NBC puts TV transmitter atop Empire State Building.

1932 RCA demonstrates all-electronic television system

1932 General Electric sells RCA

1932 NBC and CBS allow prices to be mentioned in radio commercials

1938 first telecast of unscheduled fire, on NBC's W2XBT

1941 RCA sells 'Blue' network (later ABC) to Edward Noble

1950 NBC launches Today show and The Adventures of Superman (faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings etc)

1955 NBC president David Sarnoff says "Television will never be a medium of entertainment"

1965 RCA buys Random House

1973 RCA buys Ballantine Books

1980 RCA sells Random House to Advance

1981 RCA sells Hertz Rent-a-Car, Gibson Greeting Cards, Cushman & Wakefield real estate, CIT consumer finance, Banquet Foods

1985 Disney makes unsuccessful bid for NBC

1985 GE buys NBC

1986 RCA-Victor sold to Bertelsmann