The First Commercial Radio Station

The first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, began broadcasting on November 2, 1920. It was created by Westinghouse and is considered the world’s first station to offer regular advertising-supported broadcasts. This station marked the start of radio as a mainstream medium for entertainment, news, and advertising, paving the way for the modern radio industry. KDKA's launch demonstrated radio’s potential to reach broad audiences and generate revenue through sponsorships, fundamentally transforming communication and media consumption in the 20th century.