[re_nortex]

Huh?

Here's some essential radio history to put my query into context.

When NBC (National Broadcasting Company) came into being in 1926, it had a defacto monopoly in the realm of network radio until CBS and Mutual came along.

Due to NBC's power (a consortium formed by RCA, GE and Westinghouse), it had a powerhouse lineup of affiliates across the country and more programming than could fit on just one network. Thus, it divided itself into the NBC Red and NBC Blue network. The names had nothing to do with politics but were the colors of the thumbtacks used on the national map to denote the location of each affiliate.

Typically the big budget entertainment programs aired on NBC Red with the news, commentaries and dance band programs on NBC Blue (one of which was Walter Winchell, who morphed from a dance band announcer to a commentator).

The duopoly with NBC Red and Blue remained until 1943 when NBC spun off Blue, which eventually became ABC.

[re_nortex]

One more not of possible interest concerning the two networks (Red and Blue) run by NBC during the "Golden Age of Radio".

The Blue Network, being the smaller of the pair, positioned itself as somewhat more hi-brow than its big sister. For example Milton Cross' iconic broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera were staples on the Blue Network whereas the Grand Ole Opry was carried from the late 1930's into the mid-1950's on the Red Network.

The situation then is somewhat analogous to the current ESPN and its various subnets, each of which tries to achieve some distinct branding while under the aegis of the mothership.