Broadcasting (Jan - June 1939)

Doolittle Operates Staticless Station Frequency Modulation Used By Mountain-Top Transmitter ANOTHER New England experiment with Maj. Edwin H. Armstrong's frequency modulation system of "staticless" transmisison and reception is now under way from the highest point of West Peak Meriden Mountain in Central Connecticut under the direction of Dr. Franklin M. Doolittle, owner of WDRC, Hartford. The transmitter was designed by Prof. D. E. Noble of Connecticut State College, using practically the same elements as those in the Yankee Network's system now also undergoing tests [Broadcasting, June 1]. A 94-foot turnstile antenna has been erected near the face of a cliff at an elevation of 1,000 feet. According to Dr. Doolittle, it is substantially the same as that employed by Maj. Armstrong except that it is fed by a concentric transmission line instead of open wire feeder. The station is known as WIXPW and operates with 1,000 watts power on 43.4 mc. "Although we have made certain listening tests," Dr. Doolittle reports, "our information on coverage is as yet incomplete. We can say, however, that the signal in Hartford is so strong that it completely overrides all noise even in the noisy downtown districts. Good reception has been reported from points as far distant as New York City and Worcester." Difficulties Met The accompanying photograph gives some idea of the topography of the station's site and the resultant difficulties met in construction, which was completed May 13. The transmitter house and the nearby cottage are the only structures on the mountain with the exception of a few summer camps. The station had to bring in its own water supply and generate its own power. According to Dr. Doolittle, it will receive its programs for retransmission via an ultra-shortwave frequency modulated transmitter on the roof of the WDRC building in Hartford, 17 miles away. The link transmitter will operate on 139.96 mc. Dr. Doolittle states that he confidently expects the station "will produce a noise-free service over the entire State of Connecticut and a considerable portion of Massachusetts." Surveys lare now being made. The special receiving sets required for receiving the frequency modulated signals are now m production at General Electric and Stromberg-Carlson plants, and both of these companies are also planning transmitters. Libel Rilling Reserved SUPREME COURT Justice Ernest L. Hammer of New York State, on June 6 reserved decision on a libel suit for $100,000 brought by Ernest A. Arnold and Walter Frese, securities dealers, against NBC, Benton & Bowles and General Foods Corp. Plaintiffs claim their firm, Arnold & Frese, was slandered on a humorous program broadcast Nov. 11, 1937, by General Foods Corp. on NBC. PERCHED atop the highest point of Meriden Mountain, 17 miles from Hartford, in the center of the State, is this frequency modulation transmitter now being tested by Dr. Franklin M. Doolittle, operator of WDRC, Hartford. View taken from an airplane shows the 94-foot turnstile antenna surmounting the 1,000-foot elevation. Note the rugged cliff in foreground and the wildness of the country, which had neither power nor water supply when construction began. Institutional ANOTHER heavy industry which does not sell its goods direct to the consumer became an institutional radio sponsor last month when Union Wire & Rope Corp., manufacturers of cable and wire rope used in building construction, mine hoists, elevators etc., began featuring a Wednesday evening program of band music and institutional talks on KITE, Kansas City. Only "plug" during the show tells about the company's team in the local Softball league whose play-by-play is covered by KITE. Pa. Facility Boosts FULLTIME operation for WKOK, Sunbury, Pa., 100-watter on 1210 kc, which heretofore has operated on specified hours, was authorized by the FCC in a June 6 decision ordered effective June 7. The same day the Commission issued proposed findings of fact and conclusions to grant WJAC, Johnstown, Pa., authority to change from sharing time on 1310 kc. with WFBG, Altoona, to fulltime on 1370 kc. with 100 watts night and 250 day. The proposed findings are tantamount to a grant unless exceptions are filed in opposition within 20 days. AP GETS INQUIRIES ON NEWS SPONSORS ALTHOUGH the Associated Press headquarters staff has received about 150 inquiries from member newspapers concerning the recent action of the AP board of directors in making AP news available for use on sponsored broadcasts [Broadcasting, June 1], no actual sale of AP news for such purpose has yet been reported, according to W. J. McCambridge, assistant general manager of the AP. However, these queries, chiefly regarding rates to be charged and other details in connection with this innovation in AP operations, indicate that most of the 210 AP members with radio aflSliations are extremely interested in the field of news broadcasting, it was stated. One explanation for the lack of sales may be that the 25% increase in the basic assessment, which the paper must pay AP if its news is sold for sponsorship, makes the news too expensive for use by a single advertiser and that unless the station could spread the cost over a number of news sponsors it could not sell AP news in competition to that of other news services. It has been suggested that this f^at increase should be replaced with a sliding scale that takes into consideration the number of news periods sold by the station. Broadcasting was told by the manager of a station owned by an AP paper, who said that under the present setup he could not offer AP news to advertisers on an equitable basis. Circle to Leave KELLOGG Co., Battle Creek, Mich. (Corn Flakes), will discontinue its weekly half-hour Kellogg Circle on NBC for the summer, following the July 9 broadcast. The sponsor is still mulling the idea of returning . that program next fall, the NBC network time option having been extended to July 1. Likelihood is that either the Circle will be resumed this fall on a half-hour basis or a new Hollywood program set up and at a new network time. From its inception on Jan. 15, the program has had internal difficulties, with changes in both cast and production. Sandy Barnett of J. Walter Thompson Co. Hollywood staff took over production of the show June 12 for the balance of the series. Magic Key Continues RCA MFG. Co., New York, has decided not to withdraw its Magic Key of RCA program for the summer months but on June 26 will shift the program from Sunday afternoons to Mondays, 8:30-9:30 p. m. Series stays on NBC-Blue, but the number of outlets as reduced from 118 to 53. Program format will remain the same. The company has also renewed its Musical Varieties program, heard Mondays through Saturdays, 7:30 to 8 p. m., on WEAF, New York. IN A NEW institutional campaign, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. has started sponsorship of KOMA, Oklahome City, of the 10:15-10:30 p. m. news period, Sunday through Friday, and the weekly half-hour Concert Hall series. t AN EARLY MORNING CHECKUP WTMJ Giving Away 3,650 Radios to Those Who Tell Bill Evans Name of Gift Song A SIGNIFICANT attempt to change listening habits in the early morning hours has been undertaken in the spectacular promotion built around Top o' the Morning, daily participating feature on WTMJ, Milwaukee, from 6 to 8:30 a. m. each weekday. WTMJ is giving away 10 midget radios each day for a year to listeners during the campaign, using the theme, "Get acquainted with Top o' the Morning and its entertainment, news and service features, conducted by Bill Evans". A unique device is used to distribute the 10 radios each day. During each program a musical number is played and announced as the "gift song". Immediately after the program Bill Evans makes personal calls in various parts of the city. He rings doox"bells, introduces himself and asks if the residents heard his program. If anyone in the household can name the "gift song", the home is awarded a radio which carries the inscription, "Courtesy o f WTMJ, The Milwaukee Journal station". Householders who heard the program but cannot name the song receive a consolation prize as a goodwill builder, while those who haven't heard the program are given a souvenir card explaining the stunt. WTMJ believes the idea will yield valuable listener survey material, since Evans keeps a record of all calls, which will be tabulated into a composite of early morning listening habits. It is planned that he will call at each household again at a later date to note any changes. The station is promoting the stunt elaborately, running teaser ads in the Milwaukee Journal and announcements on WTMJ, putting signs on Journal trucks, and presenting Evans in guest appearances on other programs of the station. Coincident with the promotion, several changes were made in the program format. A news period was added at 6:30 a. m., giving the feature five news spots; a new programming policy permits more request numbers and popular music. The program carries such service features as time, temperature and weather reports, as well as helpful reminders about taking the car keys, kissing the wife goodbye, and such. New Display Medium A NEWS and advertising medium utilizing neon moving words and known as Telesign, offering advertisers space in the same manner as radio spot time, has been introduced by Ski-Line Motion Bulletins, affiliated with Telesignwriter Co. of America, Foshay Tower, Minneapolis. The device is operated by teletype and flashes a constantly changing message. It was introduced in latter May by the Minneapolis Journal and KSTP, St. Paul, which both supply the news bulletins. The huge electrical bulletin board is mounted atop Foshay Tower and is full width of the upper portion of the building. Among sponsors said to be interested are Pepsi-Cola, Nash Coffee and Holsum bread. Page 32 • June 15, 1939 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising