Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

2 Kennett, Mo., where they'd be relayed to Poplar Bluff, thence eventually to many other towns. Second would send signals to Mt. Vernon, 111, for further relay. Initial service would be provided Poplar Bluff and Kennett. Company would operate its own local distribution system in former. Total population to be served eventually would be 265,000 in these additional towns; Malden, Dexter, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston, Caruthersville , all Missouri; Paducah, Ky. ; Cairo, Carbondale, Marion, Johnston City, W. Frankfort, DuQuoin, Benton, all Illinois. Frequencies requested are 890-940 me & 5925-6425 me. using RCA TTR-IA and BTL-IA equipment, with estimated cost of §25,005 per link. Classification of station asked is Class II experimental. Cost of service to local entrepreneurs is proposed as follows: §25 per home installation up to 500, $10 each for next 500, nothing additional over 1000. Monthly rate would be $1.75 per installation up to 500, $1 each for next 500, 750 each for all over 1000. Finally, $5000 is to be paid when 100 sets are in operation. Company comprises 29-year-old Belknap, who owns drug store; C.B. Bidewell, hardware store; Wm. L. Cohen, general store; Ernest C. Dunn, hotel; John S. Davis, insurance. Mr. Dunn has principal resources — worth $100,000 or more. Group appears confident of system's future, regardless of advent of TV stations. They believe towns too small to support more than one or 2 stations, whereas system can provide multiple services. They've retained McIntosh & Inglis as Washington consultants, conferred with FCC staff which welcomes test case. Construction would start 90 days after CP, be completed in 90 more, according to application. Materials may prove tough nut to crack, if FCC does give approval. Just this week, for example, NPA announced turndown of request for 12 tons of steel, 1800 lbs. of copper, by Pennwire TV Co. (C.F. Gardner), which proposed to set up community systems in Lewistown, Burnham and Derry township. Pa., at cost of $85,000. BROADCASTERS HAVE NEW CAUSE CELEBRE: If NBC can. make its formulas stick, there will be brand new alignments of radio networks — to say nothing of an entirely new economic modus operandi — forced by impact of TV on radio as an advertising medium. If plan sticks, it could even be pattern for future TV station-network relationships and sales operations, though that isn't suggested in project announced by executive v.p. Charles R. Denny Oct. 5 in 13-page statement. Basic proposals; (1) Addition of 100 or more station affiliates for "more massive coverage" — these to be "premium" outlets paying and receiving no pay for carrying sponsored network programs as audience and prestige builders. (2) More programs to be piped to affiliates for local sponsorships on "pay as you sell" basis — some 10 hours (40 quarter hours) per week of non-option time. (3) Network advertisers to select any stations they wish, instead of contracting for minimum groups, as now required — buying such tailor-made networks on one-time, alternate-week or non-consecutive basis as desired. (4) Downward revision of sponsor rates charged for and paid to about half the present 171 NBC affiliates, upward revision of others — not necessarily depending on TV competition (though that seems implicit in idea). This is subject to negotiation with individual stations. Over-all network rates would remain about same. (5) Changes in network option time to free more evening hours to stations for local sponsorships, but to give network more morning-afternoon time to sell — also a tacit admission of TV inroads on night audience. Overtones of TV's impact are manifest throughout whole plan, which NBC stated was endorsed by SPAC, its stations planning & advisory committee at meetings this week under chairman Jack Harris (KPRC & KPRC-TV, Houston). SPAC's "basic economic study committee" is also headed by Mr. Harris and includes; Harold Essex. WSJS, Winston-Salem; Harry Bannister. WWJ & WWJ-TV, Detroit; C. Robert Thompson. WBEN & WBEN-TV, Buffalo. While NBC indicates it's proceeding with some facets of plan at once, whole project is bound to take time, inevitably will react on other networks and particularly on present system of station sales representation — and probably will highlight NBC's affiliates convention at Boca Raton, Fla. . Nov. 28-Dec. 1.