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The RKO Radio Network was commercial radio network that operated in the USA from 1979 to 1985. The network was a subsidiary of the RKO General broadcasting company. [1] It became RKO Radio Networks when a second network was added in 1981. After subsequent mergers, its parent company rendered it defunct in 1994.
When it began operations on October 1, 1979, it was the first new full-service American radio network to be launched in 40 years. It was also the first commercial radio network to distribute programming entirely by satellite. RKO was popular from the start, signing up hundreds of network affiliate radio stations from coast to coast. Its base was the RKO General-owned radio stations in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other large markets. RKO initially purchased downlink satellite dishes for its affiliates, creating the nation's first satellite-delivered commercial radio network. Satellite distribution allowed high-fidelity (15 kHz) stereo programming to its affiliates.[ clarification needed ]
RKO 2 debuted on September 1, 1981, at which point the original network became known as RKO 1 and the two collectively became RKO Radio Networks.
In 1985, the RKO Radio Networks were sold to the United Stations Radio Network after advertising billing scandals involving RKO came to light. United Stations was merged with Transtar Radio Networks to form Unistar Radio Networks in 1988. [2] Finally, in 1994, Unistar was absorbed by Westwood One, which switched its affiliates to the Mutual Broadcasting System.
The newscasts, aimed at a young adult audience, had a conversational, high-energy style developed by co-founders Dave Cooke (Vice President and News Director) and Jo Interrante (Vice President of Programming). The original network fed newscasts at :50 repeated at :00. RKO 2 was aimed at an older audience, and fed newscasts at :20 repeated at :30. Both networks offered sportscasts, music, public affairs programming and closed-circuit affiliate feeds of news and sports correspondent reports.
The networks were home to three groundbreaking long-form programs.
The network aired the last interview with John Lennon, recorded at The Dakota just hours before his death on December 8, 1980, by Dave Sholin, a San Francisco DJ, and scriptwriter/newscaster Laurie Kaye, with radio producer Ron Hummel, who put together many music specials for RKO.
The RKO Radio Networks were headquartered at 1440 Broadway in New York City, also the home of co-owned WOR (AM). The offices were the former headquarters of the Mutual Broadcasting System when RKO General owned Mutual. RKO also staffed news bureaus in Washington, D.C., and London.
Among RKO Radio Network alumni are
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WHBQ-TV is a television station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with the Fox network and owned by Imagicomm Communications. The station's studios are located on South Highland Street in East Memphis, and its transmitter is located on Raleigh-LaGrange Road on the city's northeast side.
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WNAC-TV, channel 7, was a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The station was owned by RKO General. Originally established in 1948, WNAC-TV signed off for the final time at 1 a.m. on May 22, 1982, due to improprieties by its parent company; it was replaced that morning with WNEV-TV, which operates on a separate license. The station was Boston's original CBS television affiliate; except for a period from 1961 to 1972 during which it was an ABC affiliate, WNAC-TV would remain with CBS until its replacement with WNEV-TV.
