ABC News: An Outlet for current news. Pushing the boundaries of the news business
ABC began news broadcasts early in its independent existence as a radio network after the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) ordered NBC to spin off the former NBC Blue Network into an independent company in 1943. NBC and CBS dominated the radio market, and in particular, was intended to prevent the limited competition from dominating news and political broadcasting and projecting narrow points of view.
Regular television news broadcasts on ABC began soon after the network signed on its initial owned and operated television station and production center in New York City in August 1948. ABC news broadcasts have continued as the television network expanded nationwide, a process that took many years beginning with its launch in 1948. However, from the 1950s through the early 1970s, ABC News' programs consistently ranked third in viewership behind news programs on CBS and NBC.
Regular television news broadcasts on ABC began soon after the network signed on its initial owned and operated television station and production center in New York City in August 1948. ABC news broadcasts have continued as the television network expanded nationwide, a process that took many years beginning with its launch in 1948. However, from the 1950s through the early 1970s, ABC News' programs consistently ranked third in viewership behind news programs on CBS and NBC.