In the golden age of U. From the s until the network's dissolution in , Mutual ran a respected news service along with a variety of lauded news and commentary programs. In the s, Mutual pioneered the nationwide late night call-in talk radio program, introducing the country to Larry King and later, Jim Bohannon. Of the four national networks of American radio's classic era, Mutual had for decades the largest number of affiliates but the least certain financial position [ 2 ] though it didn't prevent Mutual from expanding into television broadcasting after World War II, as NBC , CBS and ABC did, but it meant Mutual's attempt was short-lived at 11 months.
For the first 18 years of its existence, Mutual was owned and operated as a cooperative a system similar to that of today's National Public Radio , setting the network apart from its corporate-owned competitors.
Mutual's member stations shared their own original programming, transmission and promotion expenses, and advertising revenues.
From December 30, , when it debuted in the West, the Mutual Broadcasting System had affiliates from coast to coast. Its business structure would change after General Tire assumed majority ownership in through a series of regional and individual station acquisitions.
Once General Tire sold the network in to a syndicate led by Dr. Armand Hammer , Mutual's ownership was largely disconnected from the stations it served, leading to a more conventional, top-down model of program production and distribution.
