On October 1, 1929, just 27 days before the beginning of the Depression, Ralph A. Horr took control of the newly named Northwest Broadcasting Co., owners of KJR Seattle, KEX Portland & KGA Spokane. This was formally the Western Broadcasting Co.

On December 22, 1929 the Company launched a new regional network to serve it's stations from KJR. Dubbed the Northwest Broadcasting System or NBS. This was the remnants of the American Broadcasting Co.(ABC). See Part 2.

In mid 1930 KPQ Wenatchee joined the NBS chain. For a related NBS story, see Part 4.

On October 16, 1931 NBC announced that several weeks ago it had acquired the Northwest Broadcasting Co. with it's Network NBS. KEX was now a subsidiary of NBC. This was done to keep the Northwest Broadcasting Co. from folding. NBC picked up the stations for a minimal price, needing additional high power outlets for it's new network.

On October 18, 1931 the inaugural program of the NBC Pacific "Gold" Network was broadcast at 8AM P.S.T. from New York. Joined in the broadcast dedication were the Pacific "Orange" Chain stations including KGW. For more on the Orange Chain, see Part 1. The Gold Network was NBC's Western link, programming many Eastern Blue Network shows. The Pacific Gold Chain stations were:
KPO San Francisco (switched to NBC-Red chain 1936, now KNBR)
KECA Los Angeles (now KABC)
KJR Seattle
KEX Portland
KGA Spokane
Available to be connected to either chain were:
KFSD San Diego (aka KOGO)
KTAR Phoenix

On August 25, 1933 NBC sold KEX to The Oregonian Publishing Co., owners of KGW. In this same time period, KJR Seattle was sold to Fisher Blend Station, Inc.(B.F. Fisher), owner of KOMO. KGA Spokane was sold to Louis Wasmer, Inc., owner of KHQ.

On March 12, 1936 the Gold Network was merged into the NBC-Blue Netork, with a few lineup changes:
KGO San Francisco
KECA Los Angeles (now KABC)
KFSD San Diego (remained with NBC 1945, aka KOGO)
KJR Seattle (now KOMO)
KEX Portland
KGA Spokane
Available to be connected to either chain were:
KTAR Phoenix (remained with NBC 1945)
KMED Medford (starting 1937, remained with NBC 1945)

On October 18, 1943 RCA President & NBC Chairman David Sarnoff sold the NBC-Blue Network to Edward J. Noble for $8 Million in cash. Mr. Noble was owner of Lifesavers Candy Co. In 1945 he purchased the name "American Broadcasting System" from George B. Storer. ABS had been another illfated regional network in 1934-35. The name was changed slightly to the American Broadcasting Company. ABC debuted on June 15, 1945.