Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

5 The wide divergence of views at Feb. 8 meeting was in marked contrast to the apparent harmony of Oct. 25 conference with Mr. Wilson. All 20 manufacturers at session were given opportunity to comment. Most of the manufacturers seconded GE's Dr. W.R.G. Baker, who said that if any manufacturer makes or promises color sets, all others would be obligated, for competitive reasons, to transfer enough materials and technical personnel to design and tool up for color production. Dr. Allen B. DuMont said Order M-90 had permitted him to "cut out quite a few projects" such as tooling up for adapters, converters, discs, etc. If order is rescinded, he said, and if anybody undertakes to make color sets, there's no doubt manufacturers would need manpower which should be occupied on defense-related work. One manufacturer, who told Oct. 25 meeting that 4-5% of his engineers were engaged in color development work, said if commercial color production were permitted now, he'd have to put 3-4 times that many on color production engineering to handle tooling up processes. Another reported that since M-90 was issued he had taken 40-50 engineers off color & reassigned them to other work, including defense. IUE-CIO president James Carey spoke up to urge retention of M-90 so as to avoid another color-induced trade slump. But he urged that manufacturers be permitted to include built-in adapters in present sets "to protect the public." * * * * This was the general lineup of opinion, as expressed by company spokesmen when they were given their innings before NPA: For rescinding order or amending it to permit color production: Chromatic, CBS, RCA, Wells-Gardner. For letting order stand as is: Admiral, Crosley, Color TV Inc., DuMont, GE, Hallicraf ters , Hazeltine, Magnavox, Motorola, Philco. For amending order to permit color theatre TV: General Precision Labs, with some of the other manufacturers, notably Motorola. No recommendation: Emerson, Trav-Ler, Webster-Chicago , Westinghouse , Zenith. Said NPA officially, summing up: "The prime consideration will be whether M-90 is conserving materials and manpower for the defense effort." FCC NOT OUT TO GET' TV STATIONS: No need for the telecasters to have kittens, or to fear program crackdown or "blue book" implications, in FCC's action last week granting 26 stations only temporary license renewals while issuing regular renewals to 52 (Vol. 8:5). Though the stations may have been caught off-balance, careful inquiry indicates they're no victims of any long-planned "plot". Most aren't in any real trouble, though a few may be kept dangling awhile. This week saw rush of licensees and their attorneys to Commission, explanations in hand showing why their program schedules appeared to lack educational and religious offerings. Most are prepared to show that apparent imbalances are coincidences, that Commission's "composite" week for year gives false impression. Actually, it's another case of "moral suasion" rather than big-stick threat — scare headlines to contrary notwithstanding. At least, that's how it's taken at Commission, where members and staff are far too busy with end-of-f reeze problems to take time out for more than a bit of nudging the industry not to overlook its public service obligations just because TV time is in such great commercial demand. Manner in which matter came up indicates there was nothing calculated or devious in FCC action. Commission met, studied stations' reports of programming types. After noting that number showed no programs under religious or educational classifications. Chairman Coy made motion that such stations be given only temporary renewals. Majority agreed. Only Comr. Jones dissented, feeling that all ought to be put on temporary basis until reasons behind each discrepancy were fully explored. Commission wasn't acting for fun of it, of course, but it isn't disposed to inflict "capital punishment" on stations — not yet, and not until industry has had chance to try its new code which goes into effect March 1 and which Commission has repeatedly commended.