Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

8— TELEVISION DIGEST JANUARY 7, 1963 Implications for color are large. Settlement seems to establish a patent position in color TV for Philco. Philco has always claimed it had some basic color patents. Also among its patents ore those on "Apple" receiver & tube which now become available to RCA. Agreement clears air in color patent dispute, may foster new technical developments. Philco is certain to step up color activity now. Possibly because of pendency of suit, it had not been making own color receivers — but, paradoxically, was buying complete color sets from RCA. Now, with RCA color patents available to it, and with its own patent position recognized, Philco is free to go into wholehearted manufacture and sale of color sets — and it's a good guess it will do so with minimum of delay. Entire medium of color should benefit — and what helps color helps RCA (including RCA tube div. & NBC). Philco's original suit also named GE and AT&T as defendants and is still pending against them. It's logical to assume that this dispute will also be settled. TM SALES CLIMB CONTINUES STEADILY: More than 3 million FM radios — of all types — were sold in U.S. last year. This year should set another new record, adding 4 million more to FM sets-in-use. Slow & steady momentum which began in 1958 is continuing, aided by FM stereo and other such relatively new developments as clock & auto FM radios. FM stereo, as expected, is making its biggest impact in phono field, where 50% of consoles with FM are now being sold stereo FM-equipped. Few definitive figures on FM receiving device sales are available, and many estimates merely verge on guesses. Nevertheless, we've prepared table tracing growth of retail FM radio sales by type of end-equipment. We believe these figures to be conservative: Type 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 (est.) Table radios 540,500 904,800 915,300 1,250,000 1,400,000 Clock FM radios 90,000 100,000 130,000 Phonos with FM 623,000 700,000 850,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 TV-FM (phono) combos 100,000 120,000 160,000 180,000 220,000 Component timers Auto FM sets 180,000 200,000 240,000 300,000 55,000 350.000 100.000 Imports (all FM types) _ _ . 100,000 120,000 140,000 230,000 300,000 Total . 1,543,500 2,044,800 2,395,300 3,315,000 3,900,000 FM stereo sales have been mounting slowly, accounting for about 25% of all FM device soles in 1962, and expected to mount to nearly one-third in 1963. Only areas where FM stereo has made major impact so for are phono, TV combination & component tuner field. MORE WINTER DROP-INS: Additional new sets — some notable, some promotable — were being shown this week at distributor open-houses and at Chicago’s International Home Furnishings Market. Among new announcements : Magnavox indicated it would unveil a score of new TVs & stereos in Chicago this week, but at week’s end few details were available. It was known that 11 stereo models would be premiered in Early American & Colonial styling with cherry & maple finishes, starting at $159 and topped by 24-in. combo at $650. Group will include 2 transistorized Astro-Sonic consoles, at $495 (30 watts MPO) & $595 (100 watts). Emerson is introducing what is believed to be first portable stereo phono with FM stereo ($149.95 & $169.95). It also is .showing its first 16-in. set ($129.95), 19-in. table model at $139.95, all-channel 19-in. at $159.95, lowboy console at $199.95, drop-down portable stereo phono at $99.95. GE is stressing bright-colored cabinets (such as green, turquoise, platinum) in new 10-in. sets designed to retail in $139-&-up range. Promotional 19-in. portable is offered with roll-around stand at about $139.95. New 23-in. upright console is designed for pricing in $199 range. Philco is dropping in new lower priced 16-in. Courier portable, eight 23-in. consoles & two 23-in. table models, as well as several radios. Prices were not available. Symphonic is inaugurating 5 new stereo consoles, all with diamond needle, starting at $119.95 and including 10speaker model at $159.95, with AM-FM-equipped units at $179.95 & $199.95, stereo-FM phono console at $249.95. Each has $10 step-up cabinet wood option. Packard Bell will show new sets to distributors Jan. 11-12 in Santa Monica, with distributor showings scheduled for the next 3 weeks.