Television in the United States Gray Television, whose 131 stations cover mostly smaller metropolitan areas reaching only 10% of the population. The five major U.S. broadcast television networks are the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), CBS (formerly known as the Columbia Broadcasting System), the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), the Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox) and the CW Television Network. The first and elder three (which are colloquially known as the "Big Three") began as radio networks: NBC and CBS respectively began operations in 1924 and 1927, while ABC was spun off from NBC to Edward J. Noble in 1943 as the Blue Network during FCC inquiries over
Edward J. Barcalo Edward J. Barcalo Edward Joel Barcalo (1870–1963) was an American businessman, noted for founding the Barcalo Manufacturing Company, perhaps best known for the Barcalounger. He was born in Mt. Morris, in the state of New York. Living in Buffalo, New York, Barcolo founded the Barcalo Manufacturing Company in 1896: it originally produced tools, but expanded into the furniture market. By the early 1950s the company had over 550 employees. In 1916, he was serving as the president of the Associated Manufacturers of New York State. Barcalo received U.S. Patent no. 719,685 for the invention of a bed spring. In addition,