The Golden Age of Television

During the Golden Age of television, from the end of the 1960s until the early 1990s, there were only three major networks - NBC, ABC, and CBS. Their programs were designed to reach a wide audience, whether it was a drama, situational comedy, or a soap opera. The networks bought time to broadcast from their affiliate stations in major cities.

Despite their success, the networks were always in competition for advertising dollars. By the mid-1970s, ABC had overtaken NBC.

The first color broadcasting began on prime time television in 1964. This increased the popularity of television. However, it was not compatible with black and white sets. In order to use the color system, consumers would need new sets.

In the early 1930s, television was still in its infancy. Farnsworth's television demonstration was held at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The image was filmed with a single camera. The images were then transmitted to a conductor. The photos were of such poor quality that it was difficult to see the newsman.

Farnsworth was able to secure a patent for his technology in 1930. He sold his patents to RCA, which was the leader in broadcast technology. But RCA challenged Farnsworth's patents.

Despite his successes, he went back to teaching high school. In 1948, only one percent of American households had television. The first sets sold for between $55 and $125. The cost of building a system to get television to the public would not be paid off.