| Type | Public corporation |
| Owner | General Electric (1929–1930), Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1930–1986) |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Founded | October 17, 1919 |
| Founders | David Sarnoff |
| Industry | Electronics, telephony, satellite communications, entertainment |
| Key people | David Sarnoff • Edgar H. Griffiths, (President 1981-1986) |
| Successors | Sony • General Instrument • Technicolor • Thomson Consumer Electronics |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | |
| Key products | Radio • Television • Video cameras • Telephony • Satellite communications |
| Predecessors | Columbia-Gibson Phonograph Company • Radiola Corporation of America |
| Subsidiaries | NBC (1926-1930, 1936-1986) • Globalstar (joint venture) |
RCA Corporation (originally Columbia-Gibson Phonograph Company) was an American electronics corporation renowned for its pioneering contributions to radio, television, and telecommunications. Initially founded in the early 20th century as Columbia-Gibson Phonograph Company, the company became a major player in the radio industry during the 1910s and 1920s. Under the leadership of David Sarnoff, it underwent a series of name changes, eventually being rebranded as Radiola Corporation of America in the 1920s, and finally, RCA Corporation, after Sarnoff's retirement in the 1940s.
The Columbia-Gibson Phonograph Company was founded in the early 1900s by Edward D. Easton with the goal of manufacturing phonographs for the masses. The company was renamed to Radiola Corporation of America after David Sarnoff joined the company and steered its focus towards the development and manufacturing of radio equipment. Radiola's pioneering efforts in radio technology helped establish it as a leading electronics company.
RCA Corporation was instrumental in developing early television technology, including the creation of the all-electronic camera system in the late 1930s. In this alternate timeline, however, the company initially focused on applying this technology to video phone communications rather than broadcasting. Consequently, RCA Corporation became a major player in the telecommunications industry, contributing to the development and widespread adoption of video phone systems in the latter half of the 20th century.
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, RCA Corporation expanded its focus into various areas of technology, including the development and implementation of satellite communications systems. In the 1980s, the company partnered with other leading telecommunications companies to form the joint venture Globalstar – a global satellite communications company that provided mobile voice and data services to users around the world.
Despite the changing technological landscape, RCA Corporation remained a force in the electronics industry, continually striving to push the boundaries of innovation. The company's legacy lies in its extensive array of groundbreaking inventions and its indelible impact on modern communication, television, and radio.
