The Federal Communications Commission [link] is the national authority for radio and television broadcasting in the United States.
The operators of radio and television stations are required to broadcast brief station identification messages every hour, and full messages daily – when signing on and off the air. This aids in the diagnosis and repair of any technical issues pertaining to the broadcast equipment and tells the listener or viewer what channel they are tuned to. When a station broadcasts over multiple channels/stations — a simulcast — each station self-identifies according to applicable regulations of that jurisdiction.
Historical Context
We present the very first network sign-off broadcast message by Signal High, followed by the first roll opener broadcast as BADCOP.ONLINE, operated (at the time) by Signal High Networks Inc. (Canada). This company later became Signal High News Corporation.
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