COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 513120

Television Broadcasting Stations

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

42companies1851–2001founding years36still active6no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe New York Times Company
1851
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCristalerias de Chile S.A.
1904
FoundedLandmark Communications, Inc.
1905
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
1909
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGannett Company, Inc.
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedFreedom Communications, Inc.
1950
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedEducational Broadcasting Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedQuebecor Inc.
1965
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedGrupo Televisa, S.A.
1972
FoundedCanWest Global Communications Corporation
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedEmmis Communications Corporation
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedMediaNews Group, Inc.
1985
FoundedQVC Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plc
1988
FoundedPaxson Communications Corporation
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedMediaset SpA
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedPublishing and Broadcasting Limited
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedProSiebenSat.1 Media AG
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The New York Times Company →
Active · founded 1851
The New York Times Company (NYTC) is a diversified media company including newspapers, magazines, television and radio…
The New York Times Company →
Active · founded 1851
The New York Times Company (NYTC) is a diversified media company including newspapers, magazines, television and radio…
Cristalerias de Chile S.A. →
Active · founded 1904 · Chile
Cristalerias de Chile S.A., or Cristalchile, is that country's leading producer of glass and plastic containers and…
Cristalerias de Chile S.A. →
Active · founded 1904 · Chile
Cristalerias de Chile S.A., or Cristalchile, is that country's leading producer of glass and plastic containers and…
Landmark Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
1900s-20s:Samuel Slover becomes publisher and half-owner of the Newport News Times-Herald; Slover takes over a string…
Landmark Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
1900s-20s:Samuel Slover becomes publisher and half-owner of the Newport News Times-Herald; Slover takes over a string…
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
Gannett Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Referring to itself as a diversified news and information company, Gannett Company, Inc.
Gannett Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Referring to itself as a diversified news and information company, Gannett Company, Inc.
Freedom Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
1970s:The Santa Ana Register changes its name to the Orange Country Register.
Freedom Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
1970s:The Santa Ana Register changes its name to the Orange Country Register.
Roularta Media Group NV →
Active · founded 1954 · Belgium
Roularta Media Group NV is a Belgian-based media conglomerate.
Roularta Media Group NV →
Active · founded 1954 · Belgium
Roularta Media Group NV is a Belgian-based media conglomerate.
Educational Broadcasting Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Based in midtown Manhattan, Edcuational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) is the corporate parent of Channel…
Educational Broadcasting Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Based in midtown Manhattan, Edcuational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) is the corporate parent of Channel…
Quebecor Inc. →
Active · founded 1965 · Canada
Quebecor Inc.
Quebecor Inc. →
Active · founded 1965 · Canada
Quebecor Inc.
Grupo Televisa, S.A. →
Active · founded 1972 · Mexico
1920s:Emilio Azcarraga Vidauretta opens one of Mexico's first radio stations.
Grupo Televisa, S.A. →
Active · founded 1972 · Mexico
1920s:Emilio Azcarraga Vidauretta opens one of Mexico's first radio stations.
CanWest Global Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1973 · Canada
CanWest Global Communications Corporation is Canada's largest private sector television broadcaster.
CanWest Global Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1973 · Canada
CanWest Global Communications Corporation is Canada's largest private sector television broadcaster.
Emmis Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company with interests in radio, television, and publishing.
Emmis Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company with interests in radio, television, and publishing.
MediaNews Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
MediaNews Group, Inc., is the seventh largest newspaper company in the United States.
MediaNews Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
MediaNews Group, Inc., is the seventh largest newspaper company in the United States.
Métropole Télévision →
Active · founded 1986 · France
Métropole Télévision is one of France's leading television broadcasters and programming producers.
Métropole Télévision →
Active · founded 1986 · France
Métropole Télévision is one of France's leading television broadcasters and programming producers.
QVC Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
QVC Inc.
QVC Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
QVC Inc.
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
With nearly 17 million viewers, digital satellite television operator British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, better known…
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
With nearly 17 million viewers, digital satellite television operator British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, better known…
Paxson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
Paxson Communications Corporation was founded in 1991 by Lowell 'Bud' Paxson, the man who cofounded the Home Shopping…
Paxson Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
Paxson Communications Corporation was founded in 1991 by Lowell 'Bud' Paxson, the man who cofounded the Home Shopping…
Mediaset SpA →
Active · founded 1993 · Italy
Mediaset SpA is Italy's most important privately owned communications and broadcasting group and one of the largest in…
Mediaset SpA →
Active · founded 1993 · Italy
Mediaset SpA is Italy's most important privately owned communications and broadcasting group and one of the largest in…
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited →
Defunct · founded 1994 · Australia
One of the largest corporations in Australia, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) has built its empire through…
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited →
Defunct · founded 1994 · Australia
One of the largest corporations in Australia, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) has built its empire through…
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG is the largest television company in Germany.
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG is the largest television company in Germany.
AOL Time Warner Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2001
Global media powerhouse AOL Time Warner Inc.
AOL Time Warner Inc. →
Defunct · founded 2001
Global media powerhouse AOL Time Warner Inc.
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