Robert Pauley
Encyclopedia
Robert Reinhold Pauley was an American
radio broadcasting executive who served as president of the ABC Radio network during a period when it faced challenges from television as the most popular form of mass media.
on October 17, 1923. During World War II
, he served for three years in the United States Merchant Marine
, attaining the rank of Lieutenant
. Following the conclusion of his military service he attended Harvard Business School
.
and NBC Radio
networks.
He was hired by ABC Radio in 1957, and was named as vice president overseeing programming by 1960. He was named as the network's president in 1961, at a time when the industry was facing dire competition from television. Pauley's addition of sports programming and other live events drew additional listeners, with the 1964 Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston bout drawing an estimated 75 million radio listeners.
Pauley hired Howard Cosell
in 1960, a then-little-known sports announcer who had offered a proposal for a weekly radio program. Pauley tried to rebuff Cosell by telling him that the network had no money to create a show but that he'd air the program if Cosell could get a sponsor, which Pauley assumed he would be unable to do. Cosell found a shirt company owned by a relative as a sponsor and Pauley followed thorough on his commitment, adding a show aired variously as Speaking of Sports, which was broadcast on the network for 30 years.
Pauley believed that radio's intimacy would always attract listeners and advertisers, and was able to increase advertising sales and add 100 stations to ABC's network. He was forced out of his position in 1967 amid a decision by the parent company to split the radio network into four separate divisions, despite the fact that the radio network's income in the previous quarter had been its best ever.
to offer news programs to local stations nationwide. He created Television News Inc. in 1973, with the goal of countering the perceived liberal bias in the media, with the support of investor Joseph Coors
. Roger Ailes
, who later created Fox News Channel
was an employee. The network was terminated in 1975 when funding from Coors was withdrawn.
Pauley died at age 85 on May 2, 2009 in New Haven, Connecticut
due to heart and lung
failure. He is survived by his wife, the former Barbara Anne Cotton, as well as three sons and a daughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio broadcasting executive who served as president of the ABC Radio network during a period when it faced challenges from television as the most popular form of mass media.
Biography
Pauley was born in New Canaan, ConnecticutNew Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
on October 17, 1923. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served for three years in the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
, attaining the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Following the conclusion of his military service he attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
.
Radio
He worked for a local radio station selling advertising and later worked in that capacity at both the CBS RadioCBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
and NBC Radio
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
networks.
He was hired by ABC Radio in 1957, and was named as vice president overseeing programming by 1960. He was named as the network's president in 1961, at a time when the industry was facing dire competition from television. Pauley's addition of sports programming and other live events drew additional listeners, with the 1964 Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston bout drawing an estimated 75 million radio listeners.
Pauley hired Howard Cosell
Howard Cosell
Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
in 1960, a then-little-known sports announcer who had offered a proposal for a weekly radio program. Pauley tried to rebuff Cosell by telling him that the network had no money to create a show but that he'd air the program if Cosell could get a sponsor, which Pauley assumed he would be unable to do. Cosell found a shirt company owned by a relative as a sponsor and Pauley followed thorough on his commitment, adding a show aired variously as Speaking of Sports, which was broadcast on the network for 30 years.
Pauley believed that radio's intimacy would always attract listeners and advertisers, and was able to increase advertising sales and add 100 stations to ABC's network. He was forced out of his position in 1967 amid a decision by the parent company to split the radio network into four separate divisions, despite the fact that the radio network's income in the previous quarter had been its best ever.
Television
Pauley had hoped to establish a fourth television networkFourth television network
In American television terminology, a fourth network is a reference to a fourth broadcast television network, as opposed to the Big Three television networks that dominated US TV from the 1950s to the 1990s: ABC, CBS, and NBC....
to offer news programs to local stations nationwide. He created Television News Inc. in 1973, with the goal of countering the perceived liberal bias in the media, with the support of investor Joseph Coors
Joseph Coors
Joseph Coors, Sr. , was the grandson of Adolph Coors and president of Coors Brewing Company. -Birth and education:...
. Roger Ailes
Roger Ailes
Roger Eugene Ailes is president of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group. Ailes was a media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W...
, who later created Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
was an employee. The network was terminated in 1975 when funding from Coors was withdrawn.
Pauley died at age 85 on May 2, 2009 in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
due to heart and lung
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
failure. He is survived by his wife, the former Barbara Anne Cotton, as well as three sons and a daughter.