Television/Radio Age
magazine was a US television
industry trade magazine
published by Television
Editorial Corporation from
1953 to 1989. Originally
titled Television Age, the
magazine began as a monthly
until 1956 and biweekly
thereafter. Television/Radio
Age was known for its dry
but detailed coverage of the
broadcasting industry and
pioneering efforts to
connect Madison Avenue (the
advertisers) with program
makers. It was published
alongside sister
publications
Television/Radio Age
International, Cable Age and
the Twelve City Guide – all
of which folded in 1989
following financial
difficulties.
Television/Radio Age was
founded in New York City by
Sol J “SJ” Paul with the
support of David Sarnoff and
John Taylor of RCA, the
latter citing concerns with
the domination of the
magazine Broadcasting (now
known as Broadcasting &
Cable). S.J. Paul was
working for Broadcasting
magazine as Advertising
Manager when he departed to
start Television Age. Larry
Taishoff, the founder and
publisher of Broadcasting
spurned Paul for leaving and
starting a competitive
magazine – which began a
bitter rivalry that lasted
until the demise of
Television/Radio Age.
However, where Broadcasting
served as a news magazine
for the industry,
Television/Radio Age served
as a business journal with a
focus on the “nuts and
bolts” of TV. The publisher,
SJ Paul, also
philosophically supported
the TV commercial makers and
the value of the “ad
spot.”[4] The parent
company, Television
Editorial Corporation, had
nineteen founding
shareholders who were
eventually bought out one by
one. |
|
The publisher argued
that few other industries had grown as rapidly or
faced as many problems as television, the magazine's
editors sought to provide in-depth analysis with
which to address
the television industry's regulatory, financial, and programming concerns. In addition
to publishing articles written by major broadcasting
executives, many Television/Radio Age
articles closely examine specific
advertising campaigns, ratings trends and
techniques, network programming strategies, and Wall
Street financing. |
