Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

3 this year appears to be considerably below that of transmitter makers, the chances are they'll be able to meet demand. C.R. Cox, Andrew Corp. v.p., estimates industry should be able to equip 30 stations in 1952 - assuming most demand is for 1%-in. and 3%-in. lines, as has been case in past. * * * * What each manufacturer offers now and plans to produce later is listed below. It should be emphasized that prices and delivery dates for future production are estimates subject to change. It should be remembered, also, that prices of different manufacturers aren't necessarily comparable, since each includes different components in "package". DuMONT : .5 & 5-kw vhf transmitters now in production, with . 5-kw running $35,750 for Channels 2-6, $38,450 Channels 7-13; and 5-kw at $65,450 for Channels 2-6, $69,250 Channels 7-13. Due in fall are 20-kw & 40-kw or 50-kw amplifiers, the 20-kw running $67,235 for Channels 2-6, $68,885 Channels 7-13; and 40-50-kw at $77,670 for Channels 2-6, $79,470 Channels 7-13. In uhf, 1-kw unit at $40,000 is scheduled for mid-1952, 12-kw (employing klystron tube) at $140,000 is due at year's end. FEDERAL ; Producing 1-kw vhf for $36,000, 5-kw for $65,000 on Channels 2-6, $72,000 Channels 7-13. A 25-kw amplifier is scheduled for end of year, price not set. Uhf transmitters of 1.5-kw & 10-kw are planned, former by mid-year, latter by year's end or later — both still unpriced. GE : 5-kw vhf in production, at $65,000 for Channels 2-6, $69,000 Channels 7-13. Due fourth quarter are 55-kw amplifiers for Channels 2-6 at $80,000, 20-kw for Channels 7-13 at $75,000. Uhf scheduled; third quarter, 100-watts at $35,000; first quarter 1953, 12-kw at $138,000 including one set of klystron tubes; second quarter 1953, 1-kw at $67,500. RCA : .5-kw & 2-kw vhf available, with .5-kw running $30,000 for Channels 2-6, $34,850 Channels 7-13; and 2-kw at $44,200 for Channels 2-6, $49,200 Channels 7-13. Scheduled March-April are 25-kw transmitter for Channels 2-6 at $145,500, 20-kw for Channels 7-13 at $150,500. A 25-kw amplifier for existing 5-kw transmitter is $75,000, 20-kw $80,000. Due third quarter is 10-kw transmitter at $79,000 for Channels 2-6, $84,000 Channels 7-13. The 50-kw transmitter, due sometime in 1953, is expected to cost $208,000 for Channels 2-6, $212,000 Channels 7-13. First uhf unit, due fourth quarter, is 1-kw at $64,700. The 10-kw uhf is set for 1953, probably late, at $135,000. PROGRESS OF END-OF-FREEZE HUDDLES: FCC got stopped at Mississippi River this week in its enormous job of deciding what channels should go to what cities — jumped to West Coast and Mexican border, will return to Midwest later. Though no substantial holdup is in sight. Commission still has so much to do in its daily sessions that final decision date around March 1 is still best bet. What stymied Commission was this question: Which comes first — specific city assignments or general rules stipulating minimum mileage separations? When it got to rural Midwest, it seemed that more people would be served by greater separations than in East. Right now, commissioners are mulling whether country should be divided into regions with different separation criteria. But blanket minimum for whole country seems to have upper hand at the moment. Priority system advanced last March in Commission's proposed end-the-f reeze plan (Vol. 7:12) is headed for discard or drastic change. Commission having found out that it just doesn't work — as some in the industry had predicted. # * * * To Mexico City next week go Comr. Hyde and Broadcast Bureau Chief Plummer. Purpose : To get Mexicans to agree to U.S. channel changes within 250 miles of the border, none affecting Mexican assignments. Comments filed after announcement of U.S. -Mexican agreement (Vol. 7:43-49) changed FCC's thinking. Lifting of power ceilings appears crystallized, intention being to equalize coverage of all stations — if possible through power hikes. It's expected that Channels 2-6 will retain 100-kw limit (20 db above 1 kw) , Channels 7-15 be boosted