These consist of files concerning ABC’s relations with its affiliates and its owned-and-operated stations and contain a wealth of information concerning network policy, objectives and strategy. The files concern domestic broadcasting and are all ABC-related. Correspondence occasionally refers to activities on non-ABC stations. The files consist of correspondence, memos, notes, reports, charts, clippings, and financial data. Arranged alphabetically by call letters, most stations have separate files. A few are grouped into folders of miscellaneous material. Although inclusive dates are given for the material on many stations, there are frequent gaps within these span dates. Most of the files concern rates, time options, frequency and power allocations, contract negotiations, and facility operations and locations.

The records of the Owned-and-Operated Stations include material on sales and program arrangements and other day-to-day relations between the network and its owned and affiliated stations. Correspondence contains internal exchanges between departments, affiliates, and owned and operated stations. Subjects include programming; relations with sponsors, advertising agencies, television personalities, and governmental agencies; governmental regulation; competition with CBS and NBC; and new, educational, and religious broadcasting.

Files are routine, fragmentary and lacking in consistency. Most document only a single year. Nevertheless they contain much that is of value in documenting the overall network strategy of ABC and its implementation among affiliates. The material for WSIX is noteworthy in its quantity and quality. Some files contain information on specific programming. Many files consist of interdepartmental correspondence from local stations to Herbert Hahn regarding station programming highlights and public service programming among Owned and Operated Stations. Reports, rankings and analysis of Owned and Operated performance are also found here.

Correspondence is primarily between station managers and Presidents and Oliver Treyz (VP TV Network) regarding sales of ABC shows to local stations, meetings of affiliate stations, corporate rational and research for rate increase proposals, rankings of stations and networks and promotions and cancellation of programs. Newspaper clippings are frequently included. Of particular interest is the strong network stance taken in regard to “spotting” of local stations and too frequent breaks between network programs. The immediate cancellation of popular programs “Maverick,” and “Lawrence Welk” in response to such violations is well documented in the correspondence with station WSIX-TV. Files are in poor condition. They are brittle and in many cases cannot be flattened or will disintegrate. Large amounts of ash and debris have been removed although even minimal handling produces small amounts of debris.

Station Meeting files document the regular meetings of ABC’s Primary Affiliates; ABC Television Affiliates Association Board of Governors; Owned and Operated Managers Meetings; correspondence on meeting planning and follow-up. Minutes of meetings are often marked confidential or “top secret” and refer to reports, reserach, goals and programming strategies. Minutes from meetings in 1958 stress the need for the network to move into sports programming and records the different attitudes and opinions of network executives on this subject.

Portions of the files concern ABC’s relations with the FCC, particularly during mergers. There is also some coverage of surveys of early television audiences, experiments in television programming, and the use of film in broadcasts.