 DuMont also holds another important place in American TV history . WDTV 's sign @-@ on made it possible for stations in the Midwest to receive live network programming from stations on the East Coast , and vice versa . Before then , the networks relied on separate regional networks in the two time zones for live programming , and the West Coast received network programming from kinescopes ( films shot directly from live television screens ) originating from the East Coast . On January 11 , 1949 , the coaxial cable linking East and Midwest ( known in television circles as " the Golden Spike , " in reference to the Golden spike that united the First Transcontinental Railroad ) was activated . The ceremony , hosted by DuMont and WDTV , was carried on all four networks . WGN @-@ TV ( channel 9 ) in Chicago and WABD in New York were able to share programs through a live coaxial cable feed when WDTV signed on in Pittsburgh , because the station completed the East Coast @-@ to @-@ Midwest chain , allowing stations in both regions to air the same program simultaneously , which is still the standard for US TV . It was another two years before the West Coast got live programming from the East ( and the East able to get live programming from the West ) , but this was the beginning of the modern era of network television . 
 DuMont also <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>holds</mark></a> another important place in American TV history . WDTV <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>sign @-@ on made it possible for stations in the Midwest to receive live network programming from stations on the East Coast , and vice versa . Before then , the networks relied on separate regional networks in the two time zones for live programming , and the West Coast received network programming from kinescopes ( films shot directly from live television screens ) originating from the East Coast . On January 11 , 1949 , the coaxial cable linking East and Midwest ( known in television circles as " the Golden Spike , " in reference to the Golden spike <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>united the First Transcontinental Railroad ) was activated . The ceremony , hosted by DuMont and WDTV , was carried on all four networks . WGN @-@ TV ( channel 9 ) in Chicago and WABD in New York <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> able to share programs through a live coaxial cable feed when WDTV signed on in Pittsburgh , because the station completed the East Coast @-@ to @-@ Midwest chain , allowing stations in both regions to air the same program simultaneously , which <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>still the standard for US TV . It was another two years before the West Coast<a href='been_done' title='6'><mark></mark></a> got live programming from the East ( and the East able to get live programming from the West ) , but this was the beginning of the modern era of network television . 
DuMont also hold another important place in American TV history . WDTV  sign @-@ on made it possible fa stations in da burg to receive live network programming from stations on the East Coast , and vice versa . b4 then , tdanetworks relied on separate regional networks in thdawo time zones for live programming , and the West Coast received network programming from kinescopes ( films shot directly from live television screens ) originating from the East Coast . On January 11 , 1949 , thedaaxial cable linking East and Midwest ( known in television circles as " the Golden Spike , " in reference to the daden spike united the Fdat Transcontinental Railroad ) was activated . The ceremony , hosted by DuMont and WDTV , was carried on all four networks . WGN @-@ TV ( channel 9 ) in Chicago and WABD in New York was able to share programs through a live coaxial cable feed when WDTV signed on in Pittsburgh , because the stdaon completed the Easdaoast @-@ to @-@ Midburgain , allowing stations in both regions to air the same program simultaneously , which still the standard for US TV . It was another two years before the Westdaast been got live programming from the East ( and the East able to get live programming from the West ) , but this was the beginning of the modern era of network television .