National Educational Television (NET) played a pivotal role in the landscape of American educational broadcasting. Founded in 1952, it served as a cornerstone for educational programming until its transition to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1970. This article explores the historical journey of NET, highlighting its origins, development, and eventual transformation into PBS.
The Birth of NET
National Educational Television began as the Educational Television and
Radio Center (ETRC) in November 1952. It was established with a grant from the Ford Foundation's Fund for Adult Education. Initially, ETRC was a limited service focused on exchanging and distributing educational television programs produced by local stations. It did not produce any material itself, serving instead as a conduit for educational content across the United States.
In 1954, ETRC moved its operations to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and began functioning as a network. It distributed a weekly five-hour package of television programs, primarily on kinescope film, to affiliated stations by mail. By 1956, ETRC had 22 affiliated stations, with plans to expand to 26 by the following year. The programming was known for its in-depth treatment of subjects, often featuring hour-long interviews with figures of literary and historical significance.
Transition and Expansion
In 1958, the center relocated its headquarters to New York City and was renamed the National Educational Television and Radio Center (NETRC). This period marked a shift towards a more aggressive approach, with NETRC aiming to become the fourth major television network in the U.S. The network began importing programs from the BBC, starting with "An Age of Kings" in 1961, and increased its programming output to ten hours a week.
Most of NETRC's programs were produced by affiliate stations, as the center lacked its own production facilities. It also contracted programs from independent producers and acquired foreign material from countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In 1963, NETRC changed its name to National Educational Television, focusing on airing controversial documentaries that explored social issues such as poverty and racism.
The Emergence of PBS
The future of educational television came into question in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson commissioned a study on its direction. The Carnegie Commission's report in 1967 recommended transforming educational television into "public television," leading to the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This new organization would oversee funding and distribution, reducing NET to a production center.
In 1970, NET merged with New York City-area affiliate WNDT, and PBS began network broadcasting. NET ceased to operate as a network, although some of its branded programming continued under PBS. This transition marked the end of an era for NET and the beginning of a new chapter in public broadcasting with PBS continuing its mission.
