KDKA Begins Regular Radio Broadcasting
November 2, 1920 · 20th Century
Westinghouse station KDKA transmitted the Harding-Cox presidential election returns from a wooden shack atop the Westinghouse Electric plant in East Pittsburgh. Operating on a 100-watt transmitter at 360 meters wavelength, announcer Leo Rosenberg read vote tallies to an estimated audience of several hundred listeners with amateur radio receivers. The station continued scheduled programming afterward, broadcasting music and news daily, prompting eight additional stations to launch across the United States by the end of 1921.
Key Figures
Frank ConradHarry P. Davis
Locations
Westinghouse Electric Plant, East Pittsburgh
Topics
radio broadcastingmass communicationpresidential electionsWestinghouse Electricwireless technology
Connected Events — 7 Connections
Radio established the model of mass electronic broadcasting that later evolved into internet media The Birth of the World Wide Web
Television broadcasting extended the mass electronic media model established by radio BBC Television Service Launches from Alexandra Palace
Radio established mass music distribution that streaming services later transformed Spotify Launches in Sweden
Television extended broadcast media beyond the radio era KDKA had established Philo Farnsworth Transmits Electronic Television Image
Marconi's wireless telegraphy technology enabled the radio broadcasting that KDKA pioneered Marconi's First Wireless Telegraphy Transmission
Proved feasibility of long-range radio, enabling commercial broadcasting two decades later Marconi Receives Transatlantic Radio Signal
Tesla's AC power systems enabled the electrical infrastructure that powered radio broadcasting stations like KDKA Nikola Tesla Demonstrates AC Induction Motor
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