Electronic distribution originated, to a limited extent, with the invention of the telegraph. The most common example, "tickers", were primarily used to distribute stock price information. An additional subscription service was time signals. The concept of audio broadcasting was first developed after the invention of telephone. In a few locations, most commonly in Europe, telephone newspapers were established, to provide news and entertainment to subscribers. These systems had the advantage of being able to charge individual customers. However, a lack of a way to amplify signals meant that their ranges were generally limited to a single municipality.

Some early inventors foresaw wireless transmission's potential. In 1902, Nathan Stubblefield, who had developed wireless transmissions using ground conduction, envisioned that: "...any one having a receiving instrument, which would consist merely of a telephone receiver and a few feet of wire, and a signaling gong, could, upon being signaled by a transmitting station in Washington, or nearer, if advisable, be informed of weather news. Eventually it will be used for the general transmission of news of every description."^[1]