Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

4 FCC, INDUSTRY PREPARE FOR STEREOCASTING: First new broadcast service since color TV is due for preliminary FCC attention within next few weeks — and an all-industry committee this week was completing organization for a research & testing program. Commission is due to take official cognizance of demands for a stereo broadcast service within next month when it will decide whether to; (1) start rule-making on standards for stereo radio service, or (2) v;ait for recommendations of industrywide National Stereo Radio Committee (NSRC) before going ahead. It's not a foregone conclusion that FCC will wait for NSRC — but now that the committee has shown some signs of life, it's a good bet Commission will give it reasonable amount of time. There's plenty of stereo radio service now, of course — but it's the makeshift AM-FM or AM-TV variety. What will be under consideration is full stereo on a single FM (or AM) channel — which, of course, requires new standards. How long before stereo standards are approved? Under optimum conditions, it could be as little as 6 months — but past experience and common sense indicate a more realistic estimate is a year or considerably more. While FCC's stereo discussions probably won't be repetition of vitriolic and time-consuming color standards battle, there is definite conflict shaping up — with overtones more economic than technical. It's conceivable that NSRC could recommend more than one set of stereo FM standards as acceptable, leaving it to FCC to weigh economic factors involved. Conflict is between wide-band and narrow-band stereo FM systems. In economic terms, this means potential battle between functional music broadcasters and those who aim to broadcast exclusively to the public. Narrow-band system would allow broadcasters to transmit stereo program (main carrier and one subcarrier) and functional music or other auxiliary service (second subcarrier) on one FM channel. Wide-band system permits only 2 carriers (both ends of stereo), leaving no room for functional music. Wide-band exponents are already claiming the narrow-band system isn't hi fi and isn't true stereo. Narrow-banders say 'taint so, their method is good enough for all human ears. Compatibility won't be a major problem — both systems can be produced in compatible versions. That is, today's standard monophonic radios will be able to pick up stereo programs monophonically without degradation, and stereo radios will be able to reproduce regular monophonic radio programs accurately. NSRC plans to consider compatible systems only. Several stereo radio systems are already being tested on air under FCC developmental authorizations to 6 FM stations. While a number of systems have been proposed, they all fall within 2 basic categories — Crosby (wide-band) and Halstead (narrow-band) systems — with various combinations and permutations. Two stereo systems have officially been proposed to FCC — Crosby wide-band FM and Philco's AM stereo system. FCC is expected to take up FM systems first, since more is known about this art. NSRC will look into any and all proposed compatible stereophonic sound systems — for FM, AM and TV. For more on stereophonic broadcasting and NSRC, see pp. 8 & 15. Answer to propaganda campaign against TV as an ad medium is presented with humor and logic in full-page editorial ad by station rep Edward Retry and Co. in New York Times and Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune as well as broadcast industry trade magazines, Captioned “Shrimps to Telepathy,” ad uses Aesopian approach in explaining how “a billion-odd years ago” the sea anemones and “all that frond-waving crowd” attacked “some forward-looking shrimps” who learned a new way to communicate (they cracked their knuckles). Parallel is brought up to present time, citing “useless battles” by newspapers against radio, radio against TV, magazines against TV, etc. — and concludes with this message: “All advertising media might well follow the proven path of ‘peaceful co-existence,’ and make sure they are geared to the wants and needs of present-day America to the nth degree. Along this path alone lie prosperity and success for all. Anyway we have to spend a lot of time thinking up all the things we’re going to have to say about the next advertising competitor — telepathy. That’s going to be a pretty cheap medium for the advertiser, because anybody (with brains, that is) will be able to get the message.” The much-talked-about ad was written by John Ashenhurst, Petry’s Chicago office manager. Annual FCC panel session Feb. 4 at luncheon of Radio & TV Executives Society, N.Y., Hotel Roosevelt, will feature all commissioners.