Radio network

Radio networks rose rapidly with the growth of regular broadcasting of radio to home listeners in the 1920s.

The growth took various paths in different places. In Great Britain the BBC was developed with government funding and a broadcasting monopoly in its early decades. In contrast in the United States of America various competing commercial networks arose funded by advertising revenue.

Early on programs were sent to affiliate stations by various methods, including over telephone lines, on pre-recorded analogue disc records, and somewhat later via relay stations. Later on coaxial cable linking stations became the norm.

Many early radio networks evolved into Television networks.

Radio Networks in various nations

Canada

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

United Kingdom

• British Broadcasting Corporation
• Independent Radio[?]

United States of America

• Amalgamated Broadcast System[?] (defunct)
• American Armed Forces Radio Network[?]
• American Broadcasting Company
• Columbia Broadcasting System
• Mutual Broadcasting System (defunct)
• National Broadcasting Company
• National Public Radio
• Pacifica Radio