COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 513112

Radio Stations

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

31companies1851–1999founding years30still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe New York Times Company
1851
FoundedTribune Company
1861
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRogers Communications Inc.
1920
1925
EconomyThe Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEMAP plc
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedWGBH Educational Foundation
1951
FoundedVillage Roadshow Ltd.
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedChrysalis Group plcFoundedCox Enterprises, Inc.
1968
FoundedMorris Communications Corporation
1970
FoundedGrupo Televisa, S.A.
1972
FoundedCanWest Global Communications CorporationFoundedVirgin Group
1973
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSpanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedIXC Communications, Inc.
1985
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedSirius Satellite Radio, Inc.
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedHispanic Broadcasting CorporationFoundedXM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedCumulus Media Inc.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

TDC A/S →
Active · Denmark
TDC A/S--formerly Tele Danmark, itself created from the former state-owned telephone monopoly--is Denmark's top…
The New York Times Company →
Active · founded 1851
The New York Times Company (NYTC) is a diversified media company including newspapers, magazines, television and radio…
Tribune Company →
Active · founded 1861
Tribune Company is one of the largest media companies in the United States.
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.
The Walt Disney Company →
Active · founded 1938
A colossal force in the entertainment industry, The Walt Disney Company (Disney) is best known for bringing decades of…
EMAP plc →
Active · founded 1947 · United Kingdom
EMAP plc is a world-leading publisher of specialty and business-to-business magazines, with such titles as FHM, Smash…
WGBH Educational Foundation →
Active · founded 1951
WGBH Educational Foundation is an umbrella organization overseeing a number of public broadcasting properties.
Roularta Media Group NV →
Active · founded 1954 · Belgium
Roularta Media Group NV is a Belgian-based media conglomerate.
Village Roadshow Ltd. →
Active · founded 1954 · Australia
Village Roadshow Ltd.
Bonneville International Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Bonneville International Corporation operates Salt Lake City's KSL-TV and also KCSG-TV in St.
Chrysalis Group plc →
Active · founded 1968 · United Kingdom
Chrysalis Group plc is a U.K.-based media and entertainment company that owns radio stations, produces television…
Cox Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
Entercom Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
As Entercom prepared for the future, it remained committed to expansion through acquisition.
Morris Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Morris Communications Corporation (MCC) is a mid-sized media company with holdings in diverse media.
National Public Radio, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
National Public Radio, Inc.
Grupo Televisa, S.A. →
Active · founded 1972 · Mexico
Grupo Televisa, S.A.
CanWest Global Communications Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1973 · Canada
CanWest Global Communications Corporation is Canada's largest private sector television broadcaster.
Capital Radio plc →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
London-based Capital Radio plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading radio and media groups.
Virgin Group →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Virgin Group is a diversified grouping of more than 200 privately held companies.
Emmis Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company with interests in radio, television, and publishing.
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
The Florida-based Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
IXC Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
IXC Communications, Inc., is among five "new-age carriers" (a group including Frontier Corporation, Level 3…
MediaNews Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
MediaNews Group, Inc., is the seventh largest newspaper company in the United States.
Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.
Citadel Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1991
Citadel Communications Corporation ranks among the top six owners of U.S.
Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation →
Active · founded 1992
Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation (HBC) is the largest Spanish-language radio broadcasting company in the United States.
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc.
Modern Times Group AB →
Active · founded 1995 · Sweden
Sweden's Modern Times Group AB (MTG) is one of the Scandinavian market's leading media companies, with interests…
Cumulus Media Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Since it was established in 1997, Cumulus Media Inc.
Grupo Clarín S.A. →
Active · founded 1999 · Argentina
Grupo Clarín S.A., a privately owned Argentine holding company, is the leading media group in the Spanish-speaking…
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