NBC: America's Network

I did not do any of homework on this book. I was expecting a work crammed with publicity photos along the lines of NBC's 75th birthday book: Bob Hope Specials, Daytime Soaps, life on the Ponderosa, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice in living color.This is not that.Michelle Hilmes edited a serious study of the National Broadcasting Company. I learned how MCA (Lew Wasserman) saved NBC in the late 1950's and 60's. This in turn broadened my insight into Sonny Werblin's ownership of the AFL New York Jets (and Casey Wasserman's possible involvement with a future NFL team here in Los Angeles). I now understand why General Sarnoff and his son were destructive forces in the long run. And I rethought my estimation of Pat Weaver. He's still a giant, but a doomed one under Sarnoff. General Electric is (happily) leaving the scene at NBC. Comcast presents another chapter in the life of the company.I am disappointed about the lack of insight into why NBC Radio was destroyed by GE or by Grant Tinker. Howard Stern's movie {Private Parts} draws a better picture of "creative destruction" at 30 Rock. A picture repeating itself on NBC Television now.In sum, NBC America's Network is a very worthwhile work. CBS has dozens of books and films about it. ABC has many personal books about it by people who work there or at ESPN. Rupert Murdoch spun a small cottage industry about his media empire --and it is his-- of newspapers and Fox cable. NBC escaped until now.

While we, in the U.S., have been distracted by monkey-trial after monkey-trial, we have have missed seeing and preserving key elements of modern society and community. Broadcast media (radio) was a key element in moving democracy and connections across the North American continent. It worked. Then, we lost it.NBC was both a prime player in the 20th century reinforcement of an American community. This study shows how it worked and then how it was lost. For anyone concerned about where we are (in politics, civics and, even, family and more) this is an informed guide.Oh, yes. Well written and well researched.

This is a well-edited book that clearly details the history of the NBC network. The chapters are written by several authors who are experts of NBC's different eras and this makes for interesting reading. This book is a must-read for anyone who is studying Communications, Radio and TV, PR, Journalism, or just plain interested in television history in America.

Loaded with facts, and opinionated. This is a group of essays, and comes across dry. Had I realized that it was just a bunch of essays, I probably would not have purchased it.

I was disappointed in this book.