1950 in radio

List of years in radio (table)
… 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 …
In television 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 In music 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 In film 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Philosophy Science +...

The year 1950 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events

• 15 March – The Copenhagen Frequency Plan is implemented by broadcasters throughout Europe.
• 1 May – Springbok Radio, South Africa's first commercial radio station, takes to the airwaves. It will broadcast for 35 years, until 31 December 1985.
• 5 June – In the Federal Republic of Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, Süddeutscher Rundfunk, and Südwestfunk jointly establish the ARD consortium of public broadcasting authorities.

Debuts

Programs

• 1 January – Hopalong Cassidy debuts on Mutual.
• 6 January – The Halls of Ivy debuts on NBC.
• 9 January – Hannibal Cobb debuts on ABC.
• 16 January – Listen with Mother debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 22 January – The Adventures of Christopher London debuts on NBC.
• 30 January – Mark Trail debuts on Mutual.
• 1 February – Big Jon and Sparkie debuts on ABC.
• 6 February – Dangerous Assignment debuts on NBC.
• 7 May
  • The Big Guy debuts on NBC.
  • Cloak and Dagger debuts on NBC.
• 6 June – Educating Archie debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 7 June – The Archers pilot episodes debut on BBC radio; it will still be running 65 years later.
• 2 July – Hashknife Hartley debuts on Mutual.
• 3 July – Granby's Green Acres debuts on CBS.
• 24 September – Charlie Wild, Private Detective debuts on NBC.
• 29 October – Meet Frank Sinatra debuts on CBS.
• 5 November
  • The Big Show introduced by Tallulah Bankhead debuts on NBC.
  • Life with the Lyons starring Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 29 November – I Fly Anything debuts on ABC.
• 6 December – American Agent debuts on ABC.

Stations

• 12 February – WPAW Pawtucket, Rhode Island signs on for the first time.
• 1 March –WBUR-FM on the air with studios and a 400 watt transmitter located at 84 Exeter Street in Boston.
• 1 March – DZBB, a radio station owned by Republic Broadcasting Systems (later GMA Network) in the Philippines begins broadcasting from its first studios in Calvo Bldg, Bindondo, Manila.
• 19 April – WTSA Brattleboro, Vermont signs on for the first time.
• 8 October – WARA Attleboro, Massachusetts signs on for the first time.

Closings

• 6 January – Lora Lawson ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 19 January – The Better Half ends its run on network radio (Mutual).
• 26 February - Family Hour of Stars ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 29 March – Curtain Time ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 30 April – The Adventures of Christopher London ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 13 May - Young Love ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 1 June – The Chesterfield Supper Club ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 6 July – Blondie ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 21 July – Ladies Be Seated ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 15 August – Destination Freedom – episodes written by Richard Durham ended – episodes under the same series name continued in 1950
• 21 August – Granby's Green Acres ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 29 August – The Candid Microphone ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 1 September – The Adventures of the Thin Man ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 6 September – Chandu the Magician ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 15 September – Bride and Groom (radio program) ends its run on network radio (ABC).
• 22 October – Cloak and Dagger ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 29 October – The Big Guy ends its run on network radio (NBC).

Births

• 2 February – Libby Purves, English radio presenter.
• 14 March – Rick Dees, American radio and television personality.
• 12 May – Jenni Murray, English journalist, presenter of Woman's Hour.
• 21 May – Marian Finucane, Irish radio presenter (died 2020).
• 24 September – Alan Colmes, American radio and television talk show host (died 2017).

Deaths

• 13 January – Thomas S. "Tommy" Lee, son of pioneering broadcaster Don Lee, of a suicide. His death triggers the sale of the Don Lee Network (a station group including KFRC AM/FM in San Francisco and KHJ AM/FM in Los Angeles) to General Tire, forerunner of RKO General.
• 26 July – Austin E. Lathrop, owner of Midnight Sun Broadcasting (KFAR, KENI), rail car collision.
• 2 September – Frank Graham, American announcer for many programs and the star (following Jack Webb) of Jeff Regan, Investigator.