Camel News Caravan(1948)

Camel News Caravan is an American television news series that aired on NBC from 1949 to 1956. Anchored by John Cameron Swayze, it was the first NBC news program to broadcast its own filmed stories instead of relying on movie newsreels. The 15-minute broadcast made history on February 16, 1954, when it became the first news program to air in color using 16mm film. Initially sponsored by Camel cigarettes, the show expanded its backing in 1955 to include Plymouth automobiles, which sponsored alternate broadcast days. The program featured a young correspondent named David Brinkley and competed directly against CBS's Douglas Edwards with the News. Camel News Caravan dominated ratings through the mid-1950s, drawing larger audiences than its network rival until sponsorship changes shifted the competitive landscape.