DuMont Television Goes Out of Business

DuMont made the nation’s first fully electronic TV set (1938), was the first TV “network” to broadcast live in two time zones (using coaxial cable in 1949!), produced programming that avoided sponsorship (and control) by one advertiser, and made Jackie Gleason a TV star. But, unlike its competitors, DuMont was forced to expand on UHF (vs. VHF) channels which were not standard on many sets, limiting DuMont’s audience. This, in combination with a lack of radio ad revenue, forced DuMont to close in 1956, leaving the “Big 3” Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) to compete for viewers and ad dollars.