The first commercial network television broadcast in color in the United States occurred over the CBS field-sequential colorOffsite Link television system on June 25, 1951, when a musical variety special titled PremiereOffsite Link was shown over a network of five East Coast CBS affiliates. Viewing was highly restricted as the program could not be seen on black-and-white sets, and VarietyOffsite Link estimated that only thirty prototype color receivers were available in the New York area.
“I know what what will really sell this new fangled colour television malarkey - multiple shades of brown!” /s