 "History Today: Why July 23 is celebrated as National Broadcasting Day")
India has a long history of radio and one of the most important days in the history of radio broadcasting is July 23, 1927, when the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was launched in India.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
The first African American woman to be crowned Miss America, Vanessa Williams, resigned from her title on this day in 1984. This came after unauthorised nude photographs of her were published by Penthouse magazine.
Here is all that took place on this day across the world.
Indian Broadcasting Company was officially established
Did you know that the National Broadcasting Day is celebrated on July 23 every year? This is because it was on this day in 1927 that the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was officially established in Bombay.
The IBC was a private company, set up under a licence from the British colonial government. Its Bombay (now Mumbai) station began operations on July 23, while a second station in Calcutta (now Kolkata) followed soon after on August 26, 1927. The broadcasts included music, news, talks, and cultural programs aimed at engaging urban audiences who had access to radio sets which was a rare and expensive commodity back then.
Though the initial response was positive, the IBC struggled financially. Low advertising revenue, limited reach, and operational costs made it difficult to sustain. In 1930, the company went into liquidation, and the government took over broadcasting operations.
This transition led to the formation of the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on April 1, 1930. Eventually, in 1936, the ISBS was renamed All India Radio (AIR), which remains India’s national public radio broadcaster today.
The IBC’s launch was a pivotal moment in Indian media history. It marked the transition from experimental and club-based amateur transmissions, like those by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923, to a structured broadcast service aimed at informing and entertaining the public.
Miss America resigned over nude photos
One of the first instances of a Miss America resigning was Vanessa Williams, who let go of her title after unauthorised nude photographs of her were published by Penthouse magazine. Williams was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America.
The photos, taken before she won the crown in September 1983, were shot by photographer Tom Chiapel during a private modelling session. Williams had been told the images were artistic and would never be published. However, when Penthouse acquired and prepared to publish them without her consent, the resulting controversy shocked the nation.
Under immense pressure from the Miss America Organisation, sponsors, and the public, Williams reluctantly stepped down just weeks before completing her reign. She was the first Miss America in history to resign. In a tearful press conference, she said, “I never thought I would have to relinquish my title, but I can’t give up who I am.”
Her resignation was a devastating blow, not just to her personally, but also to many who saw her as a symbol of progress and a role model. Miss New Jersey, Suzette Charles, who was the first runner-up and also African American, assumed the Miss America crown for the remaining two months of the reign.
Despite the highly public and humiliating scandal, Vanessa Williams remarkably rebuilt her career. She went on to achieve significant success as a Grammy-nominated singer and a critically acclaimed actress in television, film, and Broadway, proving her resilience and talent far beyond the beauty pageant stage.
This Day, That Year
On this day in 1997, Slobodan Milosevic became president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In 1970, Sultan Said ibn Taymur of Oman was overthrown by his son, Qaboos bin Said, in a palace coup.
Ford Motor Company sold its first automobile, a Ford Model A, on this day in 1903.
With inputs from agencies
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