The first political advertisements appear on U.S. television. Democrats buy a 30 minute slot for their candidate, Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson is bombarded with hate mail for interfering with a broadcast of I Love Lucy. Dwight Eisenhower buys 20 second commercial spots and wins the election.
The first telecast of an atomic bomb detonation (KTLA)
The FCC sets aside channels for non-commercial, public broadcasting.