(1933) NBC -KPO Network Dissolves April 1 Cost of Long Wire Hauls Held Partially Responsible
General business conditions, and more particularly the high cost of the long wire hauls, are believed to have prompted the decision of NBC to suspend the operation of its NBC KPO or “Gold” network created more than a year ago when NBC secured control of various stations of the Northwest Broadcasting System, which Adolph Linden unsuccessfully sought to make the nucleus of a new national network.
Dissolution of the “Gold” network is effective April 1, Don Gilman, Pacific division vice president, has announced. The NBC KPO or “Orange” network will operate as heretofore, but will also take “Blue” network programs formerly routed on the other chain. Two of the NBC KPO network features to be moved immediately are the Westinghouse “Townsend Murder Mystery” series and Pepsodent’s “The Goldbergs.” KPO, San Francisco, leased last year from Hale Brothers department store and the San Francisco Chronicle, joint owners, will continue to be served with some network programs but will stress transcriptions.
On April 1 it is scheduled to boost its power to 50 kw. under the recent grant of the Radio Commission.
The NBC KPO network has included KECA, Los Angeles, which will be operated independently by Earle C. Anthony, owner; KJR, Seattle; KEX, Portland, and KGA, Spokane. The latter three are Northwest Broadcasting System stations. Their ownership continues with NBC but they will be operated independently of network connections. KJR has been leased to the operators of KOMO.
The NBC KGO network remains undisturbed, linking from KGO as key the following stations: KBFI, Los Angeles; KGW, Portland; KOMO, Seattle, and KHQ, Spokane.
KOMO Leases KJR
Management of KOMO and KJR, both Seattle, have been merged under Birt F. Fisher, manager of KOMO, with the leasing of KJR to O. D. Fisher, operator of KOMO. The NBC, which acquired KJR when it took over stations of the Northwest Broadcasting System, has leased the station to the Fishers. Plans call for new studios in new locations for each station and a new transmitter for KJR. Offices after April 15 will be in the Skinner Bldg. (BROADCASTING MAGAZINE)
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NBC Gold Network.
Steve • May 30, 2026
An interesting article. I was not aware that NBC once had a “Gold” network. I was only aware of the Red and Blue networks. The FCC ordered NBC to sell its Blue network in the mid-forties because of concerns about a monopoly. Under new ownership, the Blue network became ABC. The Red network remained the sole NBC radio network after this. For years ABC was considered a minor network in comparison with CBS and NBC. How ironic that today it is the only legacy radio network remaining.
Color-coded networks
Jason Remington • May 30, 2026
NBC Radio’s color-coded networks were part of the early days of U.S. commercial radio broadcasting in the late 1920s and 1930s. NBC (National Broadcasting Company), formed in 1926 by RCA, initially operated multiple networks to distribute programming nationwide via telephone lines to affiliated stations. The color names helped distinguish them on engineering maps and planning documents.
These were the two primary national networks:
NBC Red Network (launched 1926, flagship station WEAF in New York):
The larger, more commercial “flagship” network. It focused on sponsored entertainment, music, and popular programs. Many high-powered clear-channel stations affiliated with it, giving it broad reach. After 1942, it was simply called “NBC.”
NBC Blue Network (launched January 1927, flagship station WJZ in New York):
The secondary network, often carrying “sustaining” (unsponsored) programs, news, cultural, and public-service content. It had lower affiliate rates, making it attractive for smaller markets.
Origin of the names: The colors likely came from colored pencils, push-pins, or telephone circuit maps used by engineers to plot station connections (red for WEAF/Red chain, blue for WJZ/Blue chain).
In 1942–1943, due to antitrust concerns and FCC rules against one company dominating with two national networks, NBC was forced to sell the Blue Network. It became the independent Blue Network and later the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1945.
Regional West Coast Networks: Orange, Gold… and White
NBC also created shorter-lived regional networks for the Pacific Coast to handle time zone differences and local programming:
NBC Orange Network (also called Pacific Coast Network, launched ~1927, headquartered in San Francisco/Los Angeles):
Primarily carried Red Network programming to West Coast stations (e.g., KFI, KPO, KGO, KGW, KOMO, KHQ). It started with local West Coast feeds and expanded.
NBC Gold Network (launched 1931):
A smaller network (stations like KPO, KECA, KEX, KJR, KGA) that mainly relayed Blue Network programming to the West. It was short-lived and largely absorbed into the Orange Network by 1933.
These regional networks were eventually integrated into the main Red and Blue systems as national distribution improved.
NBC briefly operated a White Network (around 1928–1936) for religious programming (sometimes called the Watchtower Network), but it was minor compared to the others.