Background
Pauley, Robert Reinhold was born on October 17, 1923 in New Canaan, Connecticut, United States. Son of Edward Matthew and Grace Amanda (Smith) Pauley.
executive broadcasting executive
Pauley, Robert Reinhold was born on October 17, 1923 in New Canaan, Connecticut, United States. Son of Edward Matthew and Grace Amanda (Smith) Pauley.
Student, Harvard University, 1946; Master of Business Administration, Harvard University, 1951; Doctor of Science (honorary), Curry College, 1966.
Radio He worked for a local radio station selling advertising and later worked in that capacity at both the Columbia Broadcasting System Radio and National Broadcasting Company Radio networks in New New York He was hired by American Broadcasting Company Radio in 1958 as a salesman, and was shortly appointed Eastern Sales Director. After dramatically improving American Broadcasting Company"s sales performance, and proposing a plan for revival of the network to the American Broadcasting Company/Paramount corporate leadership, he was named as Vice President of the Radio Network in 1960, and President one year later.
American Broadcasting Company was last in the ratings among the four radio networks and the industry was facing dire competition from television
Upon his appointment, Pauley undertook a national tour of American Broadcasting Company"s affiliate stations, created an affiliate advisory board (American Broadcasting Company"s first), and revamped American Broadcasting Company"s public service, sports, entertainment and news product including heavyweight championship boxing and Notre Dame football. American Broadcasting Company"s exclusive coverage of the 1964 Cassius Clay versus Sonny Liston bout drew an estimated 75 million radio listeners, a record.
Pauley hired Howard Cosell in 1959, a then-little-known sports announcer who had offered a proposal for a weekly radio program Pauley tried to rebuff Cosell by telling him that the network had no money to create a show but that he"d air the program if Cosell could get a sponsor, which Pauley assumed he would be unable to do.
Cosell found a shirt company owned by a relative as a sponsor and Pauley followed thorough on his commitment, adding a show aired variously as Speaking of Sports, which was broadcast on the network for 30 years.
Pauley believed that radio"s intimacy would always attract listeners and advertisers, and was able to increase advertising sales and add 100 stations to American Broadcasting Company"s network. By 1967, American Broadcasting Company was the number one radio network with a more than 50% market share. He was forced out of his position in 1967 for reasons never made clear to him, but probably based on a decision to restructure the radio network under a system of group vice presidents (despite the fact that the network"s income in the previous quarter had been its best ever).
After one failed attempt, Independent Broadcasting, he created News Incorporated.
Board directors Foundation Improve television. Trustee Curry College. Member of Sons of the American Revolution, Radio-television Executives Society, Tryon Hounds Club, Myopia Hunt Club, Harvard Club (Boston, New York City), St. Nicholas Society.
Married Barbara Anne Cotton, June 22, 1946. Children: Lucinda Teed, Nicholas Andrew, Robert Reinhold Junior, John Adams.