Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

2 of actual and projected TV stations in Canada, Mexico, Cuba and South America. Tabulation of the 479 applications for new TV stations pending before FCC to Jan. 12 (29 for UHF), with present and proposed VHF & UHF channel allocations. TV-radio production figures, sets-in-use estimates, and market data on TV areas of U.S. For handy use therewith, Factbook encloses a 34x22in. wall map in color, showing present TV areas and actual and projected coaxial-microwave routes. Complete directories of the 105 TV receiver manufacturers in the U.S., the 19 in Canada ; 58 picture tube manufacturers (13 also making receiving tubes), FCC, consulting engineers, attorneys specializing in TV-radio, NPA Electronics Division, unions , trade associations, technical groups, etc. Brought up-to-date is directory of 4-74 TV program firms, and listing of national sales representatives of stations. Also carried is full text of NARTB's new Code of Television Practices. Extra copies of the TV Factbook cost subscribers $2.50; it's suggested that Newsletter-only subscribers use enclosed card for speedy delivery. PUBLIC HAS SPEHT $6.5 BILLIOM 0H TVs: Since lifting of World War II freeze on civilian TV-radio production — in 1946 — American factories have turned out somewhere near 16.875.000 TV receivers at factory value of about $5,165,750,000. Discounting the estimated 1 , 500 . 000 or so sets still in trade pipelines as 1951 ended, and small amount of exports , it's fair estimate that the American public in 6 years has spent about $5 billion for its TV receivers. Add another $1.5 billion for antennas, replacement parts, warranties, etc., and the nation's over-the-counter bill for TV installations runs over $6.5 billion. Last year alone, 5,250,000 receivers were sold at factory for $946,500,000; in 1950, 7,463,000 for $1,356,000,000; 1949, 3,000,000 for $580,000,000; 1948, 975,000 for $230,000,000; 1947, 180,000 for $50,000,000; 1946, 6500 for $1,250,000 — hence total of 16,874,500 for $3,163,750,000. At retail, figuring $100 at factory brings $165 from ultimate customer, total figure goes to nearly $5,200,000,000. The figures are estimates, of course — but they're estimates by the TVradio manufacturers' own trade association, which we've recapitulated from RTMA's monthly reports for the 6 years as tabulated in our TV Factbook No. 14. They're very significant, not only as pointing up the phenomenal growth of America's youngest big industry (without even taking into account its huge defense, its radio and its other civilian electronics phases) but also because: (1) If 16,875,000 TVs have been produced, and 15,700,000 of them were in use at end of 1951 (NBC Research's advance estimate), it's a remarkable tribute to the longevity of the American product. At first, manufacturers themselves thought life of TV set would be only few years, of picture tube only about 1000 hours; now, the 3, 4 & 5-year-old TV is commonplace and so are 5000-hour-or-more tubes. (2) Average cost per set at factory levels, and accordingly at retail, has gone down for last 5 years: It was calculated at $197.51 at factory in 1946; then, in 1947, more scientifically estimated at $277.77; in 1948, $235.89; 1949, $193.53; 1950, $181.69; 1951, $180.28. Remember, the averages of latter years embrace not only table models but the increasingly popular and costlier consoles & combinations. (3) If 1,500,000 were still in all trade pipelines at end of last year, it means sets sold totaled only 15,375,000 which, especially if you take into account scrapped sets and exports, is considerably less than NBC's claimed 15,700,000. RTMA is confident its production totals are reasonably accurate, so it would appear that total sets-in-use figure needs a bit of deflating. * * * * * Radio sales were big-time, too, during the years since World War II. RTMA records show that 15,955,000 radios were sold in 1946 at factory for $434,244,000; in 1947, 20,000,000 for $650,000,000; in 1948, 16,500,000 for $525,000,000; 1949, 11.400.000 for $310,000,000; 1950, 14,589,900 for $360,978,000; 1951, 12,545,000 for $288,000,000 — total 90,990,000 radios for $2,568,222,000, or $4.25 billion retail. Foregoing include all sorts of models — home, portable and auto. During 1951, 5,850,000 home radios were sold at factory for $117,854,000 (average $30) ; 972.000 portables for $18,000,000 (av. $19); 9,000,000 auto $115,000,000 (av. $28).