1950 In Radio

The year 1950 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events

* 15 March – The Copenhagen Frequency Plan is implemented by broadcasters throughout Europe.
* 1 May – Springbok Radio, South Africa's first commercial radio station, takes to the airwaves. It will broadcast for 35 years, until 31 December 1985.
* 5 June – In the Federal Republic of Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, Süddeutscher Rundfunk, and Südwestfunk jointly establish the ARD consortium of public broadcasting authorities.

Debuts

Programs

* 1 January – ''Hopalong Cassidy'' debuts on Mutual.Cox, Jim (2008). ''This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 6.
* 6 January – ''The Halls of Ivy'' debuts on NBC.
* 9 January – '' Hannibal Cobb'' debuts on ABC.
* 16 January – ''Listen with Mother'' debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
* 22 January – ''The Adventures of Christopher London'' debuts on NBC.Dunning, John. (1998). ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio''. Oxford University Press. .
* 30 January – ''Mark Trail'' debuts on Mutual.
* 1 February – ''Big Jon and Sparkie'' debuts on ABC.
* 6 February – ''Dangerous Assignment'' debuts on NBC.
* 7 May
** ''The Big Guy'' debuts on NBC.
** ''Cloak and Dagger'' debuts on NBC.
* 6 June – ''Educating Archie'' debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
* 7 June – ''The Archers'' pilot episodes debut on BBC radio; it will still be running 65 years later.
* 2 July – ''Hashknife Hartley'' debuts on Mutual.
* 3 July – ''Granby's Green Acres'' debuts on CBS.
* 24 September – '' Charlie Wild, Private Detective'' debuts on NBC.
* 29 October – '' Meet Frank Sinatra'' debuts on CBS.
* 5 November
** '' The Big Show'' introduced by Tallulah Bankhead debuts on NBC.
** ''Life with the Lyons'' starring Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
* 29 November – '' I Fly Anything'' debuts on ABC.
* 6 December – ''American Agent'' debuts on ABC.

Stations

* 12 February – WPAW Pawtucket, Rhode Island signs on for the first time.
* 1 March –WBUR-FM on the air with studios and a 400 watt transmitter located at 84 Exeter Street in Boston.
* 1 March – DZBB, a radio station owned by Republic Broadcasting Systems (later GMA Network) in the Philippines begins broadcasting from its first studios in Calvo Bldg, Bindondo, Manila.
* 19 April – WTSA Brattleboro, Vermont signs on for the first time.
* 8 October – WARA Attleboro, Massachusetts signs on for the first time.

Closings

* 6 January – ''Lora Lawson'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).
* 19 January – ''The Better Half'' ends its run on network radio ( Mutual).
* 29 March – '' Curtain Time'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).
* 30 April – ''The Adventures of Christopher London'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).
* 1 June – ''The Chesterfield Supper Club'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).
* 6 July – '' Blondie'' ends its run on network radio (ABC).
* 21 July – '' Ladies Be Seated'' ends its run on network radio (ABC).
* 15 August – ''Destination Freedom'' – episodes written by Richard Durham ended – episodes under the same series name continued in 1950
* 21 August – ''Granby's Green Acres'' ends its run on network radio (CBS).
* 29 August – ''The Candid Microphone'' ends its run on network radio (CBS).
* 1 September – ''The Adventures of the Thin Man'' ends its run on network radio (ABC).
* 6 September – '' Chandu the Magician'' ends its run on network radio (ABC).Cox, Jim (2008). ''This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Deaths, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History''. McFarland & Company, Inc. .
* 15 September – ''Bride and Groom (radio program)'' ends its run on network radio (ABC).
* 22 October – ''Cloak and Dagger'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).
* 29 October – ''The Big Guy'' ends its run on network radio (NBC).

Births

* 2 February – Libby Purves, English radio presenter.
* 14 March – Rick Dees, American radio and television personality.
* 12 May – Jenni Murray, English journalist, presenter of ''Woman's Hour''.
* 21 May – Marian Finucane, Irish radio presenter (died 2020).
* 24 September – Alan Colmes, American radio and television talk show host.

Deaths

* 13 January – Thomas S. "Tommy" Lee, son of pioneering broadcaster Don Lee, of a suicide. His death triggers the sale of the Don Lee Network (a station group including KFRC AM/FM in San Francisco and KHJ AM/ FM in Los Angeles) to General Tire, forerunner of RKO General.
* 26 July – Austin E. Lathrop, owner of Midnight Sun Broadcasting (KFAR, KENI), rail car collision.
* 2 September – Frank Graham, American announcer for many programs and the star (following Jack Webb) of ''Jeff Regan, Investigator''.

References

{{reflist

Radio by year