Radio: Old Blue's New Blue

RCA's orphan, the Blue Network (TIME, Jan. 11), left the orphanage last week. Edward John Noble (Life Savers) took the foundling away for $8,000,000 cash. For a year and a half the No. 3 U.S. chain had been up for sale because FCC decided that no broadcasting corporation should own two networks.

For his money, Owner Noble got a going concern of 155 affiliated stations, three owned stations (Manhattan's WJZ, Chicago's WENR (half-owned), San Francisco's KGO). After the war he will have to shell out more millions for his own studios and equipment....