Episode 3: The Rise of the Networks: NBC, CBS, and the Shaping of a Medium

Step behind the curtain of radio’s golden age! In this week’s episode, we explore how radio transformed from a patchwork of local stations into a coast-to-coast media revolution engineered by powerhouse networks NBC and CBS. Host RUSC takes us back to the 1920s and ’30s, revealing juicy stories of backroom business deals, government-backed monopolies, and how advertisers quietly took over the airwaves.

You'll hear about:

• The birth of radio giants NBC and CBS—and the surprising role of patent monopolies and government influence

• How the rise of national programming sidelined quirky local flavors and community voices

• The behind-the-scenes grip of sponsors and advertisers, and how radio slowly became a vehicle for commercial messages

• Why decisions made in smoky boardrooms in New York affected what every American family heard at home

• The impact on American culture, from lost local color to the creation of the first true national audience

It’s a fascinating, eye-opening look at how creativity found ways to shine—despite the big business interests shaping what hit the air. Join us for a deeper dive into radio’s dramatic transformation, and stay tuned for next week as we ask: what truly made the golden age golden? Happy listening!