1950 in radio

Events

• 15 March – The Copenhagen Frequency Plan is implemented by broadcasters throughout Europe.
• 1 May – Springbok Radio, South Africa's first commercial radio station, takes to the airwaves. It will broadcast for 35 years, until 31 December 1985.
• 5 June – In the Federal Republic of Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, Süddeutscher Rundfunk, and Südwestfunk jointly establish the ARD consortium of public broadcasting authorities.

  Debuts

Programs

• 1 January - Hopalong Cassidy debuts on Mutual.
• 6 January - The Halls of Ivy debuts on NBC.
• 9 January - Hannibal Cobb debuts on ABC.
• 16 January - Listen with Mother debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 22 January - The Adventures of Christopher London debuts on NBC.
• 30 January - Mark Trail debuts on Mutual.
• 1 February - Big Jon and Sparkie debuts on ABC.
• 6 February - Dangerous Assignment debuts on NBC.
• 7 May
• *The Big Guy debuts on NBC.
• *Cloak and Dagger debuts on NBC.
• 6 June - Educating Archie debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 7 June - The Archers pilot episodes debut on BBC radio; it will still be running 65 years later.
• 2 July - Hashknife Hartley debuts on Mutual.
• 3 July - Granby's Green Acres debuts on CBS.
• 24 September - Charlie Wild, Private Detective debuts on NBC.
• 29 October - Meet Frank Sinatra debuts on CBS.
• 5 November
• *The Big Show debuts on NBC.
• *Life with the Lyons debuts on the BBC Light Programme.
• 29 November - I Fly Anything debuts on ABC.
• 6 December - American Agent debuts on ABC.

  Stations

• 12 February – WPAW Pawtucket, Rhode Island signs on for the first time.
• 1 March – DZBB, a radio station owned by Republic Broadcasting Systems in the Philippines begins broadcasting from its first studios in Calvo Bldg, Bindondo, Manila.
• 19 April – WTSA Brattleboro, Vermont signs on for the first time.
• 8 October – WARA Attleboro, Massachusetts signs on for the first time.

  Closings

• 6 January - Lora Lawson ends its run on network radio.
• 19 January - The Better Half ends its run on network radio.
• 29 March - Curtain Time ends its run on network radio.
• 30 April - The Adventures of Christopher London ends its run on network radio.
• 1 June - The Chesterfield Supper Club ends its run on network radio.
• 6 July - Blondie ends its run on network radio.
• 21 July - Ladies Be Seated ends its run on network radio.
• 29 August - The Candid Microphone ends its run on network radio.
• 21 August - Granby's Green Acres ends its run on network radio.
• 1 September - The Adventures of the Thin Man ends its run on network radio.
• 6 September - Chandu the Magician ends its run on network radio.
• 15 September - Bride and Groom ends its run on network radio.
• 22 October - Cloak and Dagger ends its run on network radio.
• 29 October - The Big Guy ends its run on network radio.

  Births

• 2 February– Libby Purves, English radio presenter.
• 14 March – Rick Dees, American radio and television personality.
• 12 May – Jenni Murray, English journalist, presenter of Woman's Hour.
• 21 May – Marian Finucane, Irish radio presenter.
• 24 September – Alan Colmes, American radio and television talk show host.

  Deaths

• 13 January – Thomas S. "Tommy" Lee, son of pioneering broadcaster Don Lee, of a suicide. His death triggers the sale of the Don Lee Network to General Tire, forerunner of RKO General.
• 26 July – Austin E. Lathrop, owner of Midnight Sun Broadcasting, rail car collision.
• 2 September – Frank Graham, American announcer for many programs and the star of Jeff Regan, Investigator.