Biography
William Paley — ceo with roots in the Russian Empire
William S. Paley was an American broadcasting executive whose family secured majority ownership of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in 1928. He led the network as president and later chairman until 1983, and again from 1986 until his death in 1990; in 1951 CBS began the first regular colour television broadcasts, a system dropped within months in favour of RCA's.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Russian Empire (town not documented)
Born in Chicago in 1901 to Samuel Paley and Goldie (née Drell). His father was an immigrant from Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire; his town and year of emigration, and his mother's origin, are not recorded.
Family Tree
Subject
William Paley🇺🇸 USA
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Father
Samuel Paley
Goldie Paley (née Drell)
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Origin
Russian Empire (town not documented)🇷🇺
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
President of CBS from 1928; chairman until 1983 and again from 1986 to 1990
02
CBS began the first regular colour television broadcasts (1951)
03
Came to know and befriended Edward R. Murrow, CBS's head of European news
Sources