Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

Record Details:

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frequently be avoided. But with uhf growing more attractive daily, there's strong possibility that very few sizable cities would get by without uhf hearings in addition to vhf. Contributing markedly to uhf's enhancement is NBC's petition asking FCC to permit it and other multiple-station operators to build several uhf stations in addition to present limit of 5 vhf (Vol. 8:1). Chairman Coy and Comr. Sterling are outspoken in their endorsement of petition, and it's considered almost certain that proposal will muster FCC majority. Said Coy: "I can see results of the petition already. A group of men was just in to see me and they said that if uhf is good enough for NBC, it's good enough for them. I'm in favor of the idea. Personally, I'd like to see the same limits in TV and FM as in AM — 7 stations." Decision is expected by time freeze is lifted. * * * * Another possibility for quicker grants has been advocated — that of permitting applicants to specify channel, then holding hearings on only those channels with 2 or more applicants. Proponents consider this procedure the only legal one, as well as most practical. But opponents say it would encourage "shell game," with applicants winning grants simply because they amended to "right" channel at the last minute. Chances for adoption of this procedure seem slim. Other ideas for making time have been mentioned — applicants agreeing to waive hearings, "paper" hearings, waiving of oral arguments — but it's dubious whether applicants will waive anything when chips are really finally down. * * * * Thus, simple facts of TV's economic and regulatory life continually lead to this conclusion: Even if FCC ends freeze by March 1 - meaning that it adopts final allocation plan, rules & standards — this year's new stations may well number 5-10, next year's 30-50. March 1 for decision is considered reasonable date since at Commission they say "between Feb. 1 and March 1." Even if Congress gives FCC more money for more hearing examiners and more staff, it can't help much this year. But it would mean substantial increase in grants next year, tremendous difference in 1954. Curiously, Sen. Johnson says that no one from FCC has requested his help in getting bigger appropriation. "I'm ready to take off my coat and go to work," he says, "but no one has asked me to. I don't know whether they want or can use help, but I do know they need more examiners." WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THEATRE-TV HEARINGS: Though financial success of theatre TV is by no means guaranteed — even warmest proponents admit that — movie industry is asking FCC for opportunity to test economics of new medium under the best possible conditions. That's whole reason behind recent hustle-bustle in preparation for FCC hearings scheduled to begin Feb. 25, if it doesn't conflict with FCC's freeze work. Showmen who built film industry think they see in theatre TV the answer to stay-at-home audiences - and key to a new and greater entertainment business. But when they put it to the real test of public response, they want to be sure they have room to grow — into a high-definition, color — perhaps even tri-dimens ional — nationwide TV system, with programming and facilities under their own control. Fabulous popular (if not financial) success of last year's makeshift theatre "network" has whetted appetites of theatremen. These experiments were concerned almost exclusively with sports. But exhibitors and producers envision TV giving birth to entirely new entertainment medium — combining timeliness of TV with what they like to call the glamour of the film palace. Theatremen are looking hopefully to the day when vaudeville returns — via TV; when the 400-seat Bijou in Rock Ridge, S.D. can present Radio City Music Hall Revue twice daily; when theatre newsreels will be news — not history, but visual reports of the last 24 hours of national, regional and local events, including onthe-spot news as it happens ; when TV supplements regular film fare and replaces "B" features and the double-bill. Months of meetings have welded a solid front and unified command for FCC hearings among the theatre-TV backers. Principal groups which will appear will be