Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

2-TELEVISION DIGEST MAY 6, 1963 ( There hasn't been serious split yet in technical committees. However, one may be brewing. Receiver manufacturers ore worried about FCC's recent move to allow uhf audio power reduction (VoL 3:14 p5). Zenith, | in fact, last week petitioned Commission to reconsider the action; it insisted that lower audio power will seripusly reduce fringe-area reception, that FCC is technically misinformed. FCC is expected soon to act on requests that manufacturers be permitted to continue making vhfonly sets for schools, hospitals and other organizations using master distribution systems (which need no uhf tuners on sets, because conversion can be done with one master converter). We understand Commission staff is recommending denial of most requests, on grounds that exemptions might limit uhf-set growth substantially. However, staff suggests to Commission that it grant cose-bycase waivers only for receivers shipped to educational institutions for use solely in in-school teaching — and that such sets be labeled "For In-School Use Only." » Staff believes that development of all-channel master distribution systems should be encouraged. All such systems ore vhf-only now, because of heavy coble transmission losses occurring at uhf frequencies — but Commission staff believes state-of-the-art can & should be advanced to provide vhf-uhf systems. Staff also believes policing of exempted vhi-only-set distribution would be tough — that such sets might slip into general sale eventually. Set manufacturers are very uncertain, meanwhile, about potential impact of nil-channel law on set sales. For their speculation, see p. 7. REPORT ON TALARIA COLOR PROJECTOR; We were priviliged to view one of first demonstrations of GE's Taloria light-valve theater-TV projector last week, and we can report that system appears capable of utilizing full potential of NTSC color signal on hiU-size theater screen with brightness equivalent to 35-mm film. This is the projector scheduled to be backbone of National General Corp.'s planned full-time theaterTV network, which is due to begin operation next year (Vol. 3:9 p3). We viewed demonstration at GE's Tech | nical Products Operation in Syracuse, on screen 19-ft. wide, with projector operating at one-third maximum brightness. System is designed for screens as large as giant 39-ft. wide. Picture we saw had excellent color, comparable to best we've seen on home screen, with full movie brightness extending even to corners. Viewed close-up, limitations of NTSC 525-line system for theater use were obvious; but at distance where we sat (about 2y2 screen widths from screen), picture appeared clear <S sharp. Taloria system, according to Technical Products Operation Marketing Mgr. Harry E. Smith, is capable (with altered electronics) of handling non-standard and non-encoded color signals up to 20-mc bandwidth. GE has experimentally projected 1029-line picture. (National General's operation will use standard NTSC signal, which AT&T network facilities are designed to accommodate.) Taloria is based on same principle as Eidophor — use of layer of fluid in place of cathode-ray tube. Electron gun causes ripples in fluid, controlling its light-transmission characteristics. Thus external light source (instead of cathode-ray tube) can be used. GE uses 5-kw xenon lamp for illumination, shines light directly through control layer of fluid, where Eidophor system uses light refracted from layer. Real breakthrough of Taloria is its color system, which uses only 2 electron guns — one for green and one for red & blue. Green image uses one portion of control fluid and one lens system, red & blue together using single location on fluid and single lens system. Red light emerges from control layer in horizontal plane, blue light vertical; masking system separates the 2 light beams. Combination of 2 colors into one single gun & projection group vastly simplifies registration and makes possible economies in design. Taloria projector itself is somewhat smaller than 35-mm theater film projector, weighs about 1,000 lb., is designed to fit in projection booth. Prices haven't been divulged yet — but National General's order runs into "millions of dollars" and is believed to involve about 100 projectors. NGC is U.S. distributor of Taloria for entertainment field. GE sees other uses for system — including military, commercial & educational. Smith forecasts "short-range market" for 400-500 units in U.S. We saw some of units being assembled in Electronics Park, but full production isn't scheduled to begin until late this year. National General will give press preview of system on West CJoast in few weeks.