One of the three major commercial networks, CBS were organized 1. ____ in l928 which its founder, William Paley, acquired 2. ____
" {% w. J3 n/ L+ q, Z ownership of a group of radio stations. As the" M8 m7 q D4 T# L
Columbia Broadcasting System expanded its operations,
5 Y" X& @( O5 ]7 y. y- ~% W soon become the largest radio network in the 3. ____
" j2 r3 j1 K1 l# h: { United States, it precociously recognized the potential9 g) l( ] q* U% ?
for the rapidly evolved television broadcasting 4. ____
! n7 e: ?! o# U; V0 V technology. On July 13th, 1931, it began experimentally 5. ____) t3 z! m0 d+ W
television broadcasting in New York, and ten years later: f( \/ {" V. _4 f2 h
began regular black and white week broadcasts over 6. ____
" r$ c" M% n/ m its WCBWTV station in the same city, that became 7. _ __
0 C0 |, Z5 R3 J' Z! o/ y H! G WCBSTV in November 1946. With Television City
8 s5 z0 M$ x1 s5 k) q in Hollywood, CBS launched the industry’s first full
- k, f b; N! x0 K$ {! U scale production studio. ! B4 N2 q7 h8 K9 i
Today CBS owns television stations, radio stations,8 s T* _3 B1 L9 m1 e/ o" g
and home video production and distribution interests.
: L; G* \& K0 b- o! F! V The CBS \ Broadcasting Group composed of six 8. ____
7 v) x4 h& {* Z& h6 N5 D, n- D( p divisions : television network, entertainment, sports,1 V" p1 o: k7 R# k! ^( |) o
news, local television stations, and radio. - O, F q# d3 f6 \
For most of commercial television history, CBS/ y' D" C+ c; j \1 `
has been the leader in prime-time ratings, having the
) G8 @: \2 r H- y6 D5 Q* \* o) L highest-rated shows in almost every year from the
' Y6 r* r; o! h* \; l mid1950s through the mid1980s. During the late
- c$ d; `7 v% E! G. d 1980s, however, CBS lost its top position from NBC. 9. ____: F7 m: ^5 c7 D$ \1 Y
CBS has traditionally been strong in the TV2 Q. T- o9 k( x( ^
news area. The network began the first regular TV news: X4 V' M6 ?2 C
program in l948 with Douglas Edwards as anchor,8 v! g0 ?/ |# B9 X7 R$ j& b5 I
Journalism legends such as Edward R. Murrow and " q! ]& T6 d9 \4 \) |
Walter Cronkite gave CBS its reputation as quality 10. ____( M6 S9 D7 j) d% o' t) |
news broadcaster. |