DuMont Television Network

The DuMont Television Network was a pioneer American television network, beginning operation in 1946; when DuMont began operations, rivals CBS and NBC had not revived their pre-war experimental efforts, and ABC had no television plans. DuMont was controlled by DuMont Labratories, Inc., a broadcasting-equipment and set manufacturer started by inventor Dr. Allen B. DuMont. A minority shareholder in DuMont was Paramount Pictures, an early investor in television broadcasting with station interests of its own. DuMont owned and operated three television stations, WABD (named for Allen B. DuMont) in New York City (now WNYW), WDTV in Pittsburgh (now KDKA-TV), and WTTG (named for Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith, DuMont's Vice-President of Research, and his best friend) in Washington, D.C.

What happened to the DuMont-owned stations?

All three DuMont-owned stations are still operating and are now owned and operated stations of other networks. Of the three, only Washington's WTTG still has its original call signs. New York's WABD (which became WNEW-TV and is now WNYW) and D.C.'s WTTG (both on Channel 5) survived as independents in the Metromedia Group before being purchased by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for his Fox Broadcasting Company, in 1985. Some have suggested that Fox is a revival of DuMont.

Related Topics:
Rupert Murdoch - News Corp - Fox Broadcasting Company

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Westinghouse changed WDTV's calls to KDKA-TV, and switched its primary affiliation to CBS immediately after the sale. Westinghouse's acquisition of CBS in 1995 made KDKA-TV a CBS owned and operated station.

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