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KDKA begins broadcasting
Once KDKA was established and began broadcasting, there was an immediate boom in the industry. Hundreds of other stations emerged and the demand for at-home radios sky-rocketed. In the span of 5 years, radio became an at-home staple for 10% of American households, when it used to be less than .5%. (Cook) -
Early television programs
Sports programming allowed fans who weren't at the games themselves to still have the experience of watching their team succeed or lose. -
Beginning of late night shows
Late night talk shows began emerging, first with Texaco Star Theatre with Milton Berle and Toast of the Town. This allowed broadcast hosts to make names for themselves across American households. -
Situational comedies on screen
Often based off fictional radio programs, situational comedies began to air across American televisions. Many programs are still discussed and analyzed today, such as I Love Lucy. -
Quiz Show Scandal
The game show became a popular form of television entertainment, intending to reward their contestants with a large sum of money. The $64,000 Question was an immediate and huge success when it began airing. However, many of these game shows were rigged from the start.
When the news broke that many winners had been predetermined by the shows' producers, Americans were outraged. -
Changes to the Communications Act
After the backlash many game shows received for deciding the winners before airing, several changes were made to the Communications Act. These changes forbade game show producers from being "put forward in any way that was pre-arranged" and requiring producers to "make it clear on the air when money or other consideration has been received for broadcast material." (PBS)