The First Washington, D.C.-to-New York City telecast through AT&T Corporation's coaxial cable is termed as a success by engineers. This broadcast was images of General Dwight Eisenhower placing a wreath at the base of the statue in the Lincoln Memorial, with others making brief speeches. Time magazine, however, called it 'as blurred as an early Chaplin movie.'
February 25
The 18-channel VHF allocation, introduced before World War II, is officially ended in favor of a new 13-channel VHF allocation due to the appropriation of some frequencies by the United States Armed Forces, and the relocation of FM radio on the broadcast spectrum. Only five of the old channels are the same as the new channels in terms of frequency and none have the same number as before.
The first televised heavyweight boxing title fight between Joe Louis and Billy Conn is broadcast from Yankee Stadium. The fight was seen by 141,000 people, the largest television audience to see a boxing match to that date.
August 15
The DuMont Television Network officially begins operations as a second television network to compete with NBC. New York City's WABD serves as the network's flagship. DuMont's broadcast schedule consisted of a Western film on Sunday night for an hour, other programming for an hour on Tuesday, and half hours on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
October 2
The DuMont network telecasts the first-ever television network soap opera, Faraway Hill.
December 24
WABD broadcasts the first-ever televised church service from Grace Episcopal Church in New York City.