July 1, 1941
NBC broadcasts the first TV commercial to be
sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC began licensing commercial television
stations in May 1941, granting the first license to NBC. During a
Dodgers-Phillies game that was broadcast July 1, NBC ran its first commercial.
Advertiser Bulova paid $9 to advertise its watches on the air.Although the first TV
license was issued by the Federal Radio Commission (which later became the FCC)
in 1928, all licenses were noncommercial until 1941, meaning they were not
allowed to sell air time for advertisements or other commercial purposes. However,
several stations had already aired advertisements by the time the FCC began
issuing commercial licenses.
Although
the development of television had been eagerly pursued by radio companies for
decades, World War II slowed the development process. Only in the late 1940s
did the medium become widespread: Until 1947, no commercial TV stations were
licensed west of the Mississippi. Geographically Speaking, the first
commercially sponsored TV show, debuted in 1946 with the backing of
Bristol-Myers. Many other sponsored shows debuted in the early 1950s.
July 1, 1941
NBC broadcasts the first TV commercial to be sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC began licensing commercial television stations in May 1941, granting the first license to NBC. During a Dodgers-Phillies game that was broadcast July 1, NBC ran its first commercial. Advertiser Bulova paid $9 to advertise its watches on the air.Although the first TV
license was issued by the Federal Radio Commission (which later became the FCC)
in 1928, all licenses were noncommercial until 1941, meaning they were not
allowed to sell air time for advertisements or other commercial purposes. However,
several stations had already aired advertisements by the time the FCC began
issuing commercial licenses.
Although
the development of television had been eagerly pursued by radio companies for
decades, World War II slowed the development process. Only in the late 1940s
did the medium become widespread: Until 1947, no commercial TV stations were
licensed west of the Mississippi. Geographically Speaking, the first
commercially sponsored TV show, debuted in 1946 with the backing of
Bristol-Myers. Many other sponsored shows debuted in the early 1950s.
of reasonableness, and
directing the networks to indicate by a specified date how they intended to
fulfill their statutory obligations. On the networks' petition for review, the
Court of Appeals affirmed the FCC's orders, holding that the statute created a
new, affirmative right of access to the broadcast media for individual
candidates for federal elective office, and that the FCC has the authority to
independently evaluate whether a campaign has begun for purposes of the
statute. The court approved the FCC's insistence that, in responding to a
candidate's request for time, broadcasters must weigh certain factors,
including the individual needs of the candidate (as expressed by the
candidate); the amount of time previously provided to the candidate; potential
disruption of regular programming; the number of other candidates likely to
invoke equal opportunity rights if the broadcaster granted the request before
it; and the timing of the request. The court determined that the record
supported the FCC's conclusion that the networks failed to apply the proper
standards, and had thus violated the statute's "reasonable access"
requirement. The court also rejected petitioners' First Amendment challenge to
§ 312(a)(7) as applied.
of reasonableness, and
directing the networks to indicate by a specified date how they intended to
fulfill their statutory obligations. On the networks' petition for review, the
Court of Appeals affirmed the FCC's orders, holding that the statute created a
new, affirmative right of access to the broadcast media for individual
candidates for federal elective office, and that the FCC has the authority to
independently evaluate whether a campaign has begun for purposes of the
statute. The court approved the FCC's insistence that, in responding to a
candidate's request for time, broadcasters must weigh certain factors,
including the individual needs of the candidate (as expressed by the
candidate); the amount of time previously provided to the candidate; potential
disruption of regular programming; the number of other candidates likely to
invoke equal opportunity rights if the broadcaster granted the request before
it; and the timing of the request. The court determined that the record
supported the FCC's conclusion that the networks failed to apply the proper
standards, and had thus violated the statute's "reasonable access"
requirement. The court also rejected petitioners' First Amendment challenge to
§ 312(a)(7) as applied.
