By Stone Martindale Dec 26, 2006, 16:26 GMT
Frank Stanton, a pioneer of television and head of CBS beginning in 1946, who oversaw Columbia Records, CBS Laboratories, a book publisher, a toy maker and briefly even the New York Yankees, and who also served as CBS president for 26 years creating the "Tiffany network" building CBS News into a top shop, has died. He was 98.
Stanton stated in past interviews that his job was to "keeping the company going." He had a long professional collaboration with legendary CBS founder William "Bill" S. Paley, helping to build the company from a small chain of radio affiliates into a communications empire whose centerpiece became the nation's highest rated news centric TV network.
Stanton bucked conventional wisdom, eschewing the popular radio formats for a new television project by signing then unknown Jackie Gleason, then signing a new sitcom, "I Love Lucy." Stanton also made the CBS News a priority. Reported the Boston Globe.
Stanton died in his sleep at his Boston home on Sunday, said longtime friend Elisabeth Allison.
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