Theater Television Network

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Theater Television Network
Type
television network
Country
Launch date
1951 (1951)
Dissolved1953 (1953)

The Theater Television Network was an early American

television network founded in 1951. The network was not a traditional 1950s television network: unlike the other TV networks that operated at that time, Theater Network programs were not broadcast into homes; instead, they aired at participating movie theaters
.

The Theater Television Network, like many current theaters do for major events, broadcast mostly sporting events:

Theater Television required special equipment to be installed at the Theater. After this initial cost the content could be transmitted over the air or through telephone cables. There were drawbacks to both systems. Theater owners pressed the FCC for bandwidth in the UHF spectrum but this was either resisted or given in short-term periods. The alternative was to use AT&T cable which was both expensive and limited the quality of the output.

In the period 1948-52 the FCC imposed a ban on issuing licences for new TV stations. This was the window of opportunity for Theater Television. However, once the freeze was over many new TV stations were established and the public preferred "free" TV in their own living rooms. The last Theater Television operation finished in 1953.

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