Big Three (American television)

The Big Three is the conventional American media-industry term for ABC, CBS, and NBC, the three commercial broadcast television networks that dominated national television from the early network era through much of the twentieth century. It is a collective label rather than a separately incorporated company, consumer product, or unified corporate group. The three networks have different ownership histories and operate through distinct corporate structures, although each maintains a national broadcast service supported by affiliated local stations, owned-and-operated stations, advertising sales, news divisions, entertainment programming, sports rights, and digital distribution. NBC is the oldest of the three networks in continuous operation. It developed from the broadcasting interests of the Radio Corporation of America and became a major force in both radio and early television. CBS emerged from the Columbia Broadcasting System and built a powerful reputation in entertainment, news, and sports. ABC was formed later from the breakup of NBC's broadcasting interests and grew into a full-scale national network during the 1950s and 1960s. Their expansion was closely linked to the spread of television sets, the creation of local affiliate systems, and the development of national advertising-funded programming. For decades, the Big Three controlled the largest share of American broadcast television audiences and advertising revenue. Their schedules typically combined scripted series, daytime programs, game shows, talk shows, late-night programming, national news, local-news partnerships, and live sports. The networks also played an important cultural role by distributing major entertainment franchises and televising national political conventions, presidential debates, public events, and breaking news. Their affiliates gave the networks near-national reach while preserving a substantial local presence in individual television markets. The term became less exclusive as cable television expanded and as Fox entered the national broadcast market in the late 1980s. Fox's growth challenged the established network hierarchy, while cable channels, satellite television, home video, streaming services, and online video progressively reduced the Big Three's share of total viewing. Even so, ABC, CBS, and NBC remained major television institutions because of their broad distribution, valuable sports and news properties, strong local-station relationships, and ability to create programming that reaches large simultaneous audiences. In the modern market, the three networks are connected to much larger media companies and operate across broadcast, cable, streaming, mobile, and digital platforms. ABC is associated with The Walt Disney Company, CBS with Paramount Global, and NBC with Comcast through NBCUniversal. These corporate owners use the broadcast networks as parts of broader content and distribution portfolios rather than treating them as isolated television businesses. The Big Three therefore remains a useful historical and industry classification, although it no longer describes an exclusive three-network system or a single ownership structure.

The Big Three designation developed from the emergence of national commercial television networks in the United States. NBC and CBS had already established important national broadcasting operations in radio before television became a mass medium. NBC's television service grew from the RCA broadcasting system, while CBS developed its own national programming and affiliate relationships. ABC followed a different path: it was created after the Federal Communications Commission's approval of the separation of NBC's two radio networks, with the former NBC Blue network becoming the foundation of the American Broadcasting Company. Television broadcasting expanded rapidly after the Second World War. As television ownership increased, national networks connected advertisers and program producers with audiences across many local markets. The network model depended on affiliates, which carried much of the national schedule while producing local news and other local content. This structure allowed ABC, CBS, and NBC to achieve broad geographic distribution without owning every station. Their influence extended beyond entertainment into news, public affairs, sports, election coverage, and nationally shared cultural events. CBS and NBC were especially prominent during the early decades of television, while ABC generally operated from a weaker competitive position. ABC's fortunes improved as it expanded its affiliate base, strengthened its schedule, and benefited from programming strategies that helped it compete with the two older networks. By the 1960s, the three services were commonly treated as the principal national television networks. Their commercial importance was reinforced by the limited number of broadcast channels available in many local markets and by the high value of prime-time advertising. The Big Three's dominance began to erode as the television environment became more competitive. The launch and national expansion of Fox in the late 1980s introduced a fourth major broadcast network and changed the competitive structure of prime time. Cable networks then multiplied the number of specialized channels available to viewers, while satellite distribution expanded access to national services. The growth of home video, personal video recording, broadband internet, and online video further weakened the old assumption that national television audiences would gather around a small number of network schedules. Corporate ownership also changed substantially. ABC became part of Capital Cities Communications and was later acquired by Disney. CBS passed through several ownership arrangements before becoming part of Viacom and, following the 2019 merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom, Paramount Global. NBC became part of General Electric's NBCUniversal structure and was subsequently acquired by Comcast. These transactions placed the networks inside diversified entertainment, technology, cable, film, and streaming groups. Despite their reduced share of total viewing, ABC, CBS, and NBC continue to have distinctive advantages. Their broadcast signals and affiliate stations provide extensive national coverage; their news divisions retain public visibility; and live sports, breaking news, award shows, and major entertainment events can still attract large concurrent audiences. The networks have also extended their brands through owned digital services, websites, applications, and corporate streaming platforms. Consequently, the Big Three is now primarily a historical and industry classification, but it remains widely used to identify the three long-established American broadcast networks that preceded the current multi-platform television market.

• 2019

  CBS and Viacom reunite

  [9]CBS and Viacom reuniteen.wikipedia.org

  CBS Corporation and Viacom merge to form ViacomCBS, later renamed Paramount Global, changing the corporate context in which CBS operates.

• 2006

  Comcast acquires control of NBCUniversal

  [8]Comcast acquires control of NBCUniversalen.wikipedia.org

  Comcast acquires a controlling interest in NBCUniversal, bringing NBC into a large cable, media, and telecommunications group.

• 1995

  Disney acquires ABC's parent

  [7]Disney acquires ABC's parenten.wikipedia.org

  The Walt Disney Company completes its acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, placing ABC within a major diversified entertainment group.

• 1986

  Fox launches

  [5]Fox Broadcasting Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The launch of Fox begins to challenge the established three-network structure, although ABC, CBS, and NBC remain the dominant traditional broadcast services for many years.

• 1950

  The three-network model takes shape

  [1]Big Three television networksen.wikipedia.org

  ABC, CBS, and NBC build national affiliate systems and compete for prime-time programming, advertising, news, and sports audiences.

• 1948

  Regular network television expands

  [6]History of American broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Regular commercial television service and affiliate distribution expand in the United States, accelerating the development of national network television.

• 1943

  ABC is created from NBC Blue

  [2]American Broadcasting Companyen.wikipedia.org

  NBC's former Blue radio network is sold and becomes the basis of the American Broadcasting Company.

• 1927

  CBS is formed

  [3]CBSen.wikipedia.org

  The Columbia Broadcasting System is formed and develops into a major national radio network before entering television.

• 1926

  NBC is established

  [4]NBCen.wikipedia.org

  The Radio Corporation of America establishes the National Broadcasting Company, creating the corporate foundation for one of the future Big Three television networks.

The traditional top tier of US commercial broadcast television networks, distinguished by national reach, long-established affiliate systems, major news and sports operations, and historically large audiences.

• Broadcast television network · 1948

  ABC

  The American Broadcasting Company is one of the three historically dominant US commercial television networks. It distributes national entertainment, news, daytime, sports, and special-event programming through owned stations and affiliates. ABC is part of The Walt Disney Company and has been integrated with Disney's wider television, film, digital, and streaming operations.

• Broadcast television network · 1948

  CBS

  CBS is a national commercial television network known for its long-running entertainment schedule, news division, daytime programming, and sports coverage. Its distribution model combines owned-and-operated stations with affiliated local broadcasters. CBS operates within Paramount Global's broader portfolio of broadcast, cable, film, and streaming assets.

• Broadcast television network · 1926

  NBC

  The National Broadcasting Company is the oldest of the three networks in continuous operation. It carries national entertainment, news, sports, late-night, and special-event programming through a combination of owned stations and affiliates. NBC is operated by NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast, and is supported by a wider portfolio of television, film, cable, and digital businesses.

• 1995

  ABC becomes part of DisneyM&A

  Background

  Capital Cities/ABC owned a major broadcast network and a collection of television and media assets.

  Action taken

  Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC, making ABC part of a diversified entertainment company.

  Aftermath

  ABC gained a place within Disney's broader content and distribution strategy, although the Big Three remained separate networks rather than a unified business.

  Source

• 1986

  The broadcast market responds to FoxStrategy

  Background

  The three established networks faced a new national competitor when Fox began building a broadcast network and affiliate system.

  Action taken

  ABC, CBS, and NBC continued to compete through programming investment, affiliate relationships, sports rights, news, and schedule changes rather than operating as a unified organization.

  Aftermath

  The arrival of Fox ended the practical assumption that the US national broadcast market was limited to three major networks and contributed to a more competitive network environment.

  • Fox Broadcasting Company — Fox expanded its programming schedule and affiliate base to compete directly with the established broadcast networks.

  Source

1. 1Big Three television networksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Broadcasting Companyen.wikipedia.org
3. 3CBSen.wikipedia.org
4. 4NBCen.wikipedia.org
5. 5Fox Broadcasting Companyen.wikipedia.org
6. 6History of American broadcastingen.wikipedia.org
7. 7Disney acquires ABC's parenten.wikipedia.org
8. 8Comcast acquires control of NBCUniversalen.wikipedia.org
9. 9CBS and Viacom reuniteen.wikipedia.org