On September 18th, 1927, CBS made history as the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System made its debut. Today, it’s now known as CBS News Radio.
The network began on a Sunday at its flagship station WOR, which was then based in Newark, New Jersey.
The outlet received financial backing from William S. Paley who had previously worked in his family’s cigar business before recognizing that radio advertising could be a lucrative business after seeing what it had done for his shop.
Paley became the first president of CBS. Under his tutelage, the network got off the ground and grew to 49 affiliates before dropping the word “Phonographic” from its name in 1929. Paley led CBS News Radio and helped turn CBS television into a media powerhouse.
CBS News Radio is the last remaining network of the three “original” U.S. radio networks. The network — still owned by Paramount Global — is heard on hundreds of stations across the country.
