Archive for August 28th, 2011

FIRST RADIO COMMERCIAL AIRED ON THIS DAY IN 1922

oldradio 

It is generally agreed that the first paid radio commercial was developed by 
WEAF in New York by AT&T in August of 1922. The book titled "The WEAF
Experiment" by an AT&T employee describes the concept of "toll broadcasting"
to advertisers, in which businesses would underwrite or finance a broadcast, in
exchange for being mentioned on the radio. The first sponsor, or commercial –
according to AT&T – came from the Queensboro Reality Corporation of New
York, advertising an apartment complex. The set of five programs over five
days starting 8/28/22 cost $50, plus the long distance access fee.

WEAF-Red-New-York

posted by Bob Karm in ANNIVERSARY,CLASSIC ADS,DEBUT,HISTORY,RADIO and have No Comments