Virginia, its call letters changed to WTFF, and ownership transferred to The Fellowship Forum, a newspaper published by the Klan. WTRC and WTFF were the origins of the current Washington, D.C., station WFED. 13 August – The Proms broadcast concert season opens in London under management of the BBC. 21 August – The BBC starts high-power medium-wave transmissions to the English Midlands from station 5GB (Daventry transmitting station) on 610 kHz. 17 November – The Italian broadcasting company URI (Unione Radiofonica Italiana) is absorbed by the state-owned EIAR (Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche), forerunner of today's RAI. 25 November – In Washington, D.C., the International Radio-Telegraphy Convention is signed by the representatives of eighty nations. December – Joshua Powell of Clacton in England begins the domestic radio relay service which will become Rediffusion. 28 December – AVRO (the Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep) is established in the Netherlands. Vernon Bartlett is appointed the BBC's first foreign correspondent. Majestic Radios are first manufactured in the United States. Debuts January 1 The NBC Blue Network commences operations, on what was the former experimental RCA mini-network of stations. WJZ in New York (today WABC) serves as the Blue Network's flagship. The United Independent Broadcasters network is established by New York talent agent Arthur Judson in Chicago, Illinois. The Columbia Phonograph Company (Columbia Records' parent company) surfaces as an investor in April, and the network is named after the company. January 24: Blue Monday Jamboree debuts on KFRC in San Francisco, California. February 18: Cities Service Concerts debuts on NBC after having had "trial broadcasts in local New York market" in 1925-26. April: WFCI at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, owned by Frank Crook, Inc., begins broadcasting. WFCI would sign off but re-establish itself in 1941. September 18: The Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System is officially launched on 16 stations nationwide. Cigar manufacturer William S. Paley purchases the company a week later and shortens the name to Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). October 12: Laundryland Lyrics debuts on NBC. November 7: WHBL in Sheboygan, Wisconsin begins broadcasting as WHBM before switching to their current calls the next year. Births January 24: Stan Brooks, American radio journalist (died 2013) January 27: Nancy Dickerson, American pioneering woman broadcast news reporter (died 1997) January 29: Don Morrow, American actor and announcer February 26: Gerald Priestland, English correspondent (died 1991) June 24: Chuck Niles, American jazz disc jockey, uniquely on the Hollywood