Radio: Beginning

The world’s first regularly operating television network began serving New York, Philadelphia, Schenectady and Washington last week. Opening night, NBC televised a speech by FCChairman Charles R. Denny (from Washington), a variety show, some boxing bouts from Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, a film of Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony. By early 1952, NBC hopes to cast its net from coast to coast. One big obstacle to the big plans: A.T. & T.’s proposed cable rates—almost ten times the rate for radio broadcasts.