The RCA TK76 and PM Magazine
It is no small coincidence that both launched in 1976. PM originally started in San Francisco on KPIX as Evening Magazine and was created to run as a local program in the half hour preceding prime time. A new FCC ‘Prime Time Access’ rule, prohibited stations in the top 50 markets from accepting network programming, other than network news before prime time in order to ‘serve the local market’.
By ’78, The PM format became syndicated by Group W (Westinghouse), and was built to feature local stories shot on location on videotape. Before the TK76 ENG (Electronic News Gathering) camera came along, this would have not been a viable show because it would involve either bringing studio cameras to the field or using film. When the TK76 came along, so did news vans equipped with video tape like the RCA TPR 10. By ’77 RCA had the first helical scan machines ready…the HR 400 and TH 100 in ’78.
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