William S. Paley Former head of the American television and radio network CBS Broadcasting Inc (CBS) Date of Birth: 28.01.1901 Country: USA

1. William S. Paley: Building the CBS Empire
2. Early Life and Career
3. World War II and CBS News
4. Later Years and Legacy
5. Personal Life

William S. Paley: Building the CBS Empire

William S. Paley was the former head of the American television and radio network CBS Broadcasting Inc (CBS). He built CBS, originally known as Columbia Broadcasting System, in 1928 by acquiring 16 small radio networks. Under Paley's leadership, CBS became the leading television and radio network in the United States.

Early Life and Career

William S. Paley was born on September 28, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant Samuel Paley, who owned a cigar business. After becoming a millionaire, Samuel moved his family to Philadelphia in the early 1920s. William attended the Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, and then received a higher education at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with hopes of succeeding in his father's business.

However, William made a fateful career turn in 1927 when his father and some business partners purchased the struggling radio network Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System in Philadelphia, consisting of 16 stations, with the sole intention of promoting their cigar business, including the La Palina brand. Under William's leadership, cigar sales doubled in a year, and over the next ten years, the network expanded to 114 stations.

World War II and CBS News

During World War II, William served in the psychological warfare division of the Office of War Information under the command of Dwight Eisenhower. He was awarded the rank of colonel. During this time, he befriended Edward R. Murrow, a renowned American journalist and broadcasting pioneer.

Paley revolutionized the broadcasting business model by working closely with advertisers and sponsors, who became crucial elements in the company's success. Advertisers became the network's main clients, ensuring its continuous growth. Ultimately, CBS became one of the largest radio networks in the United States.

In the late 1930s, as dark clouds loomed over Europe, Paley took into account Americans' desire to stay informed about the impending war and built CBS News, as he had previously created the network's entertainment division. In his autobiography, "Tell Me a Story," Don Hewitt, the creator of "60 Minutes," shared his impressions of Paley: "Bill Paley erected two towers of power: one for entertainment and one for news… And he decreed that there should be no bridge between them… In short, Paley was the guy who brought Frank Sinatra and Edward R. Murrow to both radio and television on '60 Minutes.'"

Later Years and Legacy

In 1949, James T. Aubrey Jr. became the president of CBS. Under his leadership, the network became the most popular on television for a period of time, with shows like "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Gilligan's Island." However, Paley was a huge fan of the series "Gunsmoke" and demanded its continuation when it was threatened with cancellation in 1967. This led to the abrupt end of "Gilligan's Island," which had already been renewed for a fourth season.

During the 1963-1964 television season, 14 out of the top 15 prime-time shows and 12 out of the top daytime shows belonged to CBS. However, due to constant conflicts between Aubrey and Fred W. Friendly from CBS News, and Aubrey's preference for airing programs that did not aspire to a high intellectual level, Paley dismissed the CBS president in 1965.

At the time of his death, William owned less than 29% of the publicly traded shares. In 1995, five years after his death, Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired CBS, and in 1999, it passed into the hands of media company Viacom, which had once been a subsidiary of CBS. Today, CBS is owned by CBS Corporation, which separated from Viacom in 2006.

Personal Life

Paley first met Dorothy Hart Hearst when she married John Randolph Hearst, the third son of William Randolph Hearst. He fell in love with her, and when Dorothy divorced John in Las Vegas, William married her on May 12, 1932, in Kingman, Arizona.

Due to Paley's constant infidelity, his wife began to distance herself from him in the early 1940s. They divorced on July 24, 1947, in Reno, Nevada, and Dorothy retained custody of their two adopted children, Jeffrey Paley and Hilary Paley. In 1953, she married stockbroker Walter Hirshon, and they divorced in 1961.

Paley then married socialite and fashion icon Barbara Cushing Mortimer on July 28, 1947. She was the daughter of renowned neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. Despite their success and social standing, William and Barbara were unable to become members of country clubs on Long Island due to his Jewish heritage. As an alternative, they built a summer house on Squam Lake in New Hampshire, where they spent summers with friends, including Lucille Ball, Grace Kelly, and David O. Selznick. The couple had two children, William and Kate.

William S. Paley passed away on October 26, 1990, in New York City, from kidney failure.