RKO Radio Network
Encyclopedia
The RKO Radio Networks, a subsidiary of RKO General
, were the first commercial radio network
s to distribute programming entirely by satellite. When it began operations on October 1, 1979, the initial RKO network was the first new full-service American radio network in 40 years. Satellite distribution allowed high-fidelity (15 kHz) stereo programming to its affiliates.
RKO was popular from the start, signing up hundreds of affiliates 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.
The original network, which fed newscasts at :50 repeated at :00, became known as RKO 1 when RKO 2 debuted on September 1, 1981. RKO 2 fed newscasts at :20 repeated at :30 and was aimed at an older audience. Both networks offered sportscasts, music, public affairs programming and closed-circuit affiliate feeds of news and sports correspondent reports and news-maker actualities.
The networks were home to three groundbreaking long-form programs. NightTime America with Bob Dearborn was the first live, daily, satellite-delivered music show in radio history. Dearborn produced and hosted the five-hour adult contemporary show from January 9, 1981 until 1984. January 9, 1981 was also the premier of America Overnight, a six-hour interview and call-in show hosted by Eric Tracey in Los Angeles and Ed Busch from Dallas. It was the first national talk show delivered by satellite. It also marked the first time a network offered simultaneous overnight programs. Dick Bartley
created, produced and hosted the first live national oldies radio show, Solid Gold Saturday Night.
when RKO General
owned Mutual. RKO also staffed news bureaus in Washington, DC and London.
, recorded at The Dakota
just hours before his death on December 8, 1980, by Dave Sholin, a San Francisco DJ and radio producer who put together music specials for RKO.
. United Stations was merged with Transtar Radio Networks to form Unistar Radio Networks in 1987. Unistar was absorbed by Westwood One
in 1994 and its affiliates were switched to the Mutual Broadcasting System
.
RKO General
RKO General was the main holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and, after General Tire's reorganization in the 1980s, GenCorp. The business was based around the consolidation of its parent company's broadcasting interests, dating to 1943, and...
, were the first commercial radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
s to distribute programming entirely by satellite. When it began operations on October 1, 1979, the initial RKO network was the first new full-service American radio network in 40 years. Satellite distribution allowed high-fidelity (15 kHz) stereo programming to its affiliates.
News and programming
The newscasts, aimed at a young adult audience, had a conversational, high-energy style developed by co-founders Vice President and News Director Dave Cooke, and Vice President of Programming Jo Interrante.RKO was popular from the start, signing up hundreds of affiliates 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.
The original network, which fed newscasts at :50 repeated at :00, became known as RKO 1 when RKO 2 debuted on September 1, 1981. RKO 2 fed newscasts at :20 repeated at :30 and was aimed at an older audience. Both networks offered sportscasts, music, public affairs programming and closed-circuit affiliate feeds of news and sports correspondent reports and news-maker actualities.
The networks were home to three groundbreaking long-form programs. NightTime America with Bob Dearborn was the first live, daily, satellite-delivered music show in radio history. Dearborn produced and hosted the five-hour adult contemporary show from January 9, 1981 until 1984. January 9, 1981 was also the premier of America Overnight, a six-hour interview and call-in show hosted by Eric Tracey in Los Angeles and Ed Busch from Dallas. It was the first national talk show delivered by satellite. It also marked the first time a network offered simultaneous overnight programs. Dick Bartley
Dick Bartley
Dick Bartley, a popular American radio disc jockey since 21 June 1969, hosts several popular syndicated radio shows of the oldies/classic hits genre, including the current Classic Countdown since 1991 and the Saturday night call-in request show Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits since 1982...
created, produced and hosted the first live national oldies radio show, Solid Gold Saturday Night.
Headquarters
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 SystemMutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
when RKO General
RKO General
RKO General was the main holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and, after General Tire's reorganization in the 1980s, GenCorp. The business was based around the consolidation of its parent company's broadcasting interests, dating to 1943, and...
owned Mutual. RKO also staffed news bureaus in Washington, DC and London.
Last John Lennon interview
The network aired the last interview with Beatle John LennonJohn Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, recorded at The Dakota
The Dakota
The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartment building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City...
just hours before his death on December 8, 1980, by Dave Sholin, a San Francisco DJ and radio producer who put together music specials for RKO.
Billing scandal and sale
After advertising billing scandals involving RKO's television stations and later the radio networks came to light, the RKO Radio Networks were sold in 1985 to the United Stations Radio NetworksUnited Stations Radio Networks
United Stations Radio Networks is a radio network providing a wide range of programs and programming services for radio stations across the US and elsewhere...
. United Stations was merged with Transtar Radio Networks to form Unistar Radio Networks in 1987. Unistar was absorbed by Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
in 1994 and its affiliates were switched to the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
.
Staff
Cooke and Interrante had exceptional ears for air talent and assembled a cadre of young broadcasters from stations across the country to staff the fledging operation. Among RKO Radio Network alumni are:- Jonathan Aiken - news anchor (later CNN International anchor)
- John Bisney - Washington correspondent (later CNN Radio correspondent)
- Edward Brown - news anchor (later NBC Radio news anchor)
- Karen Chase - Washington correspondent (later ABC Radio news anchor)
- Les Coleman - White House correspondent ( later CBS & ABC Radio foreign Correspondent)
- Joe Connolly - news anchor (later WCBS-AM business correspondent)
- Therese Crowley - news anchor (later WCBS-AM anchor)
- Richard Davies - London correspondent (later ABC Radio correspondent)
- Diane DimondDiane DimondDiane Dimond is a television journalist, reporter and host. She is best known for her work as a correspondent on Hard Copy, Extra, and Entertainment Tonight.-Career:...
- Washington correspondent (later Court TVCourt TVtruTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
and Hard CopyHard CopyHard Copy is an American tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence....
correspondent) - Joe Ewalt - White House correspondent
- Jeff Finch - news anchor (later NBC Radio news anchor)
- Kevin Gordon - news anchor (later NBC Radio Network news anchor)
- Gil Gross - news anchor (later ABC Radio news anchor)
- Ed Gullo - news anchor (later WCBS-AM anchor)
- Ross Klavin - news anchor
- Kirsten Lindquist - Washington correspondent (later CNN anchor)
- Gary McKenzie - news anchor (later CBS Radio anchor)
- John McConnell - news manager (later ABC Radio vice president)
- Tom Martin - news anchor (later ABC Radio anchor)
- Lou Miliano - London bureau chief (later CBS Radio correspondent)
- Bob Morrison - news anchor (later USA Radio Network news director)
- Harvey Nagler - news manager (later CBS Radio News vice president)
- John Ogle - news anchor (later NBC/Mutual Radio anchor)
- Keith Olberman - sports anchor (later MSNBC anchor)
- Steve PowersSteve PowersSteve Powers is a musician, journalist and teacher who has had a 45 year career in New York City radio and television, as well as academia.-Education:...
- news anchor (later WYNY-TV anchor) - Rich Rieman - news anchor (later Washington bureau chief)
- Leslie Sawyer - news anchor
- Michael Schoen - news anchor (later WCBS-AM anchor)
- Dean Shepherd - news anchor (later Nightly Business ReportNightly Business ReportNightly Business Report is a Business news television magazine broadcast live Monday to Friday evenings on most public television stations in the United States. Every weeknight, Nightly Business Report distills the essence of what matters in the business world, and provides analysis and reflection...
anchor) - Charley SteinerCharley SteinerCharles Harris "Charley" Steiner is an American sportscaster and broadcast journalist. He is currently the main play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network, paired with Rick Monday.-Early career:...
- sports anchor (later ESPN anchor and LA Dodgers radio announcer) - Alice Stockton - anchor (later WINS-AM anchor)
- Steve Taylor - White House correspondent (later ABC Radio anchor)
- Craig Windham - Washington correspondent (later NPR news anchor)
- John Winters - news anchor
- Jeff Young - news anchor (later VOA-TV senior correspondent)
- Nick YoungNick YoungNick Young is an American broadcast journalist now retired from CBS News. Young is former anchor of the morning World News Roundup on the CBS Radio Network. He was born Nicholas Yeazel in Princeton, Illinois December 12, 1948....
- news anchor (later CBS Radio anchor)
See also
- RKO GeneralRKO GeneralRKO General was the main holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and, after General Tire's reorganization in the 1980s, GenCorp. The business was based around the consolidation of its parent company's broadcasting interests, dating to 1943, and...
- Transtar Radio Networks
- United Stations Radio NetworksUnited Stations Radio NetworksUnited Stations Radio Networks is a radio network providing a wide range of programs and programming services for radio stations across the US and elsewhere...