COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 515120

Television Production Broadcasting

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

24companies1861–1999founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedTribune CompanyFoundedTribune Company
1861
FoundedThe E.W. Scripps Company
1890
FoundedGeneral Electric CompanyFoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCBS Television Network
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedThe Walt Disney CompanyFoundedThe Walt Disney Company
1938
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.
FoundedWGBH Educational Foundation
1951
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedUlster Television PLCFoundedUlster Television PLC
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDallah Albaraka Group
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
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.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedABC Family Worldwide, Inc.FoundedABC Family Worldwide, Inc.
1989
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedAMERIGROUP CorporationFoundedCentral European Media Enterprises Ltd.FoundedCentral European Media Enterprises Ltd.
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.
FoundedGrupo Clarín S.A.
1999
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

Tribune Company →
Active · founded 1861
Tribune Company is one of the largest media companies in the United States.
Tribune Company →
Active · founded 1861
Tribune Company is one of the largest media companies in the United States.
The E.W. Scripps Company →
Active · founded 1890
The E.W.
The E.W. Scripps Company →
Active · founded 1890
The E.W.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
CBS Television Network →
Active · founded 1927
The world's second oldest broadcasting network, CBS Television Network (formerly CBS Corporation) was acquired by…
CBS Television Network →
Active · founded 1927
The world's second oldest broadcasting network, CBS Television Network (formerly CBS Corporation) was acquired by…
The Walt Disney Company →
Active · founded 1938
A colossal force in the entertainment industry, The Walt Disney Company (Disney) is best known for bringing decades of…
The Walt Disney Company →
Active · founded 1938
A colossal force in the entertainment industry, The Walt Disney Company (Disney) is best known for bringing decades of…
WGBH Educational Foundation →
Active · founded 1951
WGBH Educational Foundation is an umbrella organization overseeing a number of public broadcasting properties.
WGBH Educational Foundation →
Active · founded 1951
WGBH Educational Foundation is an umbrella organization overseeing a number of public broadcasting properties.
Ulster Television PLC →
Active · founded 1958 · United Kingdom
Ulster Television PLC (known as the less politically sensitive UTV) is Northern Ireland's leading television…
Ulster Television PLC →
Active · founded 1958 · United Kingdom
Ulster Television PLC (known as the less politically sensitive UTV) is Northern Ireland's leading television…
Dallah Albaraka Group →
Active · founded 1969 · Saudi Arabia
The Dallah Albaraka Group is one of the leading, privately held conglomerates in Saudi Arabia.
Dallah Albaraka Group →
Active · founded 1969 · Saudi Arabia
The Dallah Albaraka Group is one of the leading, privately held conglomerates in Saudi Arabia.
ABC Family Worldwide, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
1960s:Pat Robertson begins acquiring television properties, marking the beginning of the Christian Broadcasting Network…
ABC Family Worldwide, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
1960s:Pat Robertson begins acquiring television properties, marking the beginning of the Christian Broadcasting Network…
AMERIGROUP Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
With its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, AMERIGROUP Corporation (Amerigroup) is a managed healthcare company…
AMERIGROUP Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
With its headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, AMERIGROUP Corporation (Amerigroup) is a managed healthcare company…
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. →
Active · founded 1994 · Bermuda
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd.
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. →
Active · founded 1994 · Bermuda
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd.
Grupo Clarín S.A. →
Active · founded 1999 · Argentina
Grupo Clarín S.A., a privately owned Argentine holding company, is the leading media group in the Spanish-speaking…
Grupo Clarín S.A. →
Active · founded 1999 · Argentina
Grupo Clarín S.A., a privately owned Argentine holding company, is the leading media group in the Spanish-speaking…
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