COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 51312

Television Broadcasting

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

38companies1853–1996founding years34still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.
1853
FoundedMeredith Corporation
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedJefferson-Pilot Corporation
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRogers Communications Inc.
1920
FoundedGaylord Entertainment Company
1925
FoundedA.H. Belo CorporationFoundedNational Broadcasting Company, Inc.
1926
FoundedChris-Craft Industries, Inc.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedSPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedTaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG
1956
FoundedScottish Media Group plc
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBonneville International Corporation
1964
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedNews Corporation Limited
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedYoung Broadcasting Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedGuthy-Renker Corporation
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedRush Communications
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedSchibsted ASA
1992
FoundedTV Azteca, S.A. de C.V.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Meredith Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
Meredith Corporation is a leading media company, focused primarily on magazines and broadcasting.
Meredith Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
Meredith Corporation is a leading media company, focused primarily on magazines and broadcasting.
Jefferson-Pilot Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Jefferson-Pilot Corporation is a major U.S.
Jefferson-Pilot Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Jefferson-Pilot Corporation is a major U.S.
Rogers Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920 · Canada
The largest communications company in Canada, Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communications Inc. →
Active · founded 1920 · Canada
The largest communications company in Canada, Rogers Communications Inc.
Gaylord Entertainment Company →
Active · founded 1925
Gaylord Entertainment Company is a diversified entertainment and communications company whose holdings include the…
Gaylord Entertainment Company →
Active · founded 1925
Gaylord Entertainment Company is a diversified entertainment and communications company whose holdings include the…
A.H. Belo Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
Originating as a small-town publisher of the Dallas Morning News and the Texas Almanac, A.H.
A.H. Belo Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
Originating as a small-town publisher of the Dallas Morning News and the Texas Almanac, A.H.
National Broadcasting Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
A broadcasting giant, National Broadcasting Company, Inc., through the NBC Television Network, serves more than 200…
National Broadcasting Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
A broadcasting giant, National Broadcasting Company, Inc., through the NBC Television Network, serves more than 200…
Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1928
s: 51312 Television Broadcasting; 326199 All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing; 326113 Unsupported Plastics Film and…
Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1928
s: 51312 Television Broadcasting; 326199 All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing; 326113 Unsupported Plastics Film and…
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1947 · Germany
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co.
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1947 · Germany
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co.
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1956 · Germany
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co.
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1956 · Germany
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co.
Scottish Media Group plc →
Active · founded 1957 · United Kingdom
Scottish Media Group plc is one of the largest cross-platform media companies serving Scotland.
Scottish Media Group plc →
Active · founded 1957 · United Kingdom
Scottish Media Group plc is one of the largest cross-platform media companies serving Scotland.
Bonneville International Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Bonneville International Corporation operates Salt Lake City's KSL-TV and also KCSG-TV in St.
Bonneville International Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Bonneville International Corporation operates Salt Lake City's KSL-TV and also KCSG-TV in St.
News Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Australia
News Corporation Limited is the holding company for the large range of enterprises created or acquired since the 1950s…
News Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Australia
News Corporation Limited is the holding company for the large range of enterprises created or acquired since the 1950s…
Young Broadcasting Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Young Broadcasting Inc.
Young Broadcasting Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Young Broadcasting Inc.
Guthy-Renker Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Guthy-Renker Corporation is one of the world's largest direct-response television marketing companies, selling products…
Guthy-Renker Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Guthy-Renker Corporation is one of the world's largest direct-response television marketing companies, selling products…
Rush Communications →
Active · founded 1990
Rush Communications is the most successful African American-owned media company in the United States, operating…
Rush Communications →
Active · founded 1990
Rush Communications is the most successful African American-owned media company in the United States, operating…
Schibsted ASA →
Active · founded 1992 · Norway
After operating for more than 100 years as a family-owned newspaper business, Schibsted ASA was incorporated in 1992 as…
Schibsted ASA →
Active · founded 1992 · Norway
After operating for more than 100 years as a family-owned newspaper business, Schibsted ASA was incorporated in 1992 as…
TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1993 · Mexico
TV Azteca, S.A.
TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1993 · Mexico
TV Azteca, S.A.
Entravision Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Entravision Communications Corporation is a diversified media company utilizing a combination of television, radio,…
Entravision Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Entravision Communications Corporation is a diversified media company utilizing a combination of television, radio,…
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