technoguy

The network was founded in 1952 by a grant from the Ford Foundation. It was originally a limited service for exchanging and distributing educational programs produced by local television stations to other stations. In 1954 it expanded its goals, becoming a network and airing 5 hours of programming a day. Initially, many of the stations were not linked by coaxial cable and much of the programming was shipped on film. The programming was noted for treating subjects in depth including hour long interviews with people of literary and historical importance. The programming was also noted for being dry and academic, with little consideration given to entertainment value in marked contrast to commercial television. Many of the shows were designed as adult education, and NET was nicknamed "The University of the Air."