Broadcasting (July - Dec 1936)

sharing time on clear channels. On this score, he described the situation obtaining as between WAPI and KVOO in their time sharing operations and the necessity on many occasions of listeners being cut off in the middle of a program because of the time sharing requirement. They are placed in the position of groping about the band to pick up reception from some other point, he said. Moreover, he said, the cost of operating a half-time clear channel station is as great as that of a full-time station under similar circumstances. The same number of operators, engineers and artists must be maintained on the payroll and, except for the power bill alone, the technical overhead is the same. As for KVOO, he said that records of the Commission will show that since 1930 it has operated at a loss but has endeavored to render high grade service. He said the investment of KVOO, which has a 50 kw. transmitter, is in excess of $300,000. Under cross-examination, Mr. Way said that KVOO made a little money last year and some in 1930. Listener Preference for STRONG SIGNALS THAT existing clear channel stations using 50,000 watts have practically all of their audience located within 800 miles of the transmitter was contended by Prof. J. F. Byrne, of Ohio State University, in a presentation Oct. 20. The concluding technical witness, Prof. Byrne analyzed technically the results of the FCC Alio Here is the COMBINATION to reach CAROLINA RADIOS Total Carolina Radios 516,400 North Carolina Radios 1936 341,800 South Carolina Radios 1936 174,600 North Carolina Radios 1930 72,059 South Carolina Radios 1930 27,889 Ti HIS phenomenal increase in radio ownership over a period of 5 years shows dynamic buying power. It bespeaks a vital interest in the programs of WIS and WPTF which together serve a substantial majority of the Carolina radio homes. Sold at one low competitive rate, these two 5000 watt NBC stations justify your FIRST consideration in the Carolinas. WIS Columbia WPTF Raleigh Represented by Free, Johns & Field, Inc. cation Survey on clear channel coverage and also made observations on other phases of the allocation problem. He utilized graphs flashed onto the large screen to illustrate his arguments. He was introduced by R. Morris Pierce, chief engineer of WGAR, Cleveland. Prof. Byrne said that the average listener of today, unlike the listener of radio's earlier days, picks two to five channels in the band and looks to thern for his broadcast service. These channels, he said, ordinarily provide the most satisfactory technical service at his receiver. Analyzing the postcard reports on the allocation survey, the witness said they show that 50 kw. stations have approximately 95% of their audience within 800 miles of the transmitter, and that this is substantiated by other studies. The average rural listener pays little or no attention to signals below 160 microvolts per meter, he added, lending support to the assertion that the average listener tunes to the strongest signal if the program is to his liking. Listen to Strong Signals HE SAID that clear channel stations of less than 50 kw., and operating with poor antennas or in a poor location, were quite easily noted in the card analysis. If a number of 50 kw. stations were to increase their power to 500 kw., he added, "it seems reasonable to assume that the revised picture of rural service would not differ greatly from that shown in the present survey, since one of the most important factors limiting the service of broadcast stations, particularly those on clear channels, is the strong signal preference of listeners. With the present geographical spacing of clear channel stations this factor limits the practical service provided by stations of equal power to a maximum of not over 900 or 1000 miles for 500 kw. groups, or 800 miles for 50 kw. groups". A clear channel station, Prof. Byrne said, is actually a regional since it serves only approximately 800 miles. Such an area served by a station in the center of the country, he added, would not permit simultaneous operation of other stations of any consequence, but when located on or near either coast, some other class of service could be established on the channel at a remote point. Taking up high-power regionals, he said many of the clear channel observations also can be applied to stations of this class. If these stations are to justify themselves, he said, they can be protected to distances of 400 or 500 miles, with power sufficient to provide a signal value that will be used by rural listeners. The amount of power required for this sky wave coverage, he said, should be at least 25 and preferably 50 kw. Regionals Too Congested DISCUSSING regional stations, he said there are too many operating on the same channel, with but few exceptions, for high-quality service. He declared it impossible to provide good broadcast service to any reasonably large city, particularly on a high-frequency assignment, under present allocations. This situation might be somewhat relieved, he said, if the frequencies 520, 530 and 540 kc, now outside the broadcast band, were made available for Page 60 • November 1, 1936 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising