Shown here is the status of U.S. network television 50 years ago. The map shows the coaxial connections of the Bell System, which brought live network television to the nation. The solid lines show existing connections, and the dotted lines show those planned for 1950. New connections would extend to the southeast, and from Chicago to Des Moines and Minneapolis.

The caption at the bottom notes that as of 1948, there were two networks, in the east and the midwest. They were joined with a link from Philadelphia to Cleveland, which also added Pittsburgh.

The map appeared in the July 1950 issue of Radio News.