Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

NBC Opens Test Station UHf VIDEO NBC LAST WEDNESDAY began experimental operation of its new ultra-high frequency television station near Bridgeport, Conn., designed to test the effectiveness of UHF video operation and the practicability of "satellite" TV station service. W'th the experimental call, KC2XAK, the station will retelecast, in the 529-535 mc video band, programs of WNBT (TV) New York, key NBC TV station, for reception by special receivers and by regular sets equipped with converters, located in the area within 25 miles of the station. KC2XAK is housed in a Cape Cod cottage at Stratford, Conn., on Success Hill, one of the five hills overlooking Bridgeport. Station was licensed by the FCC May 4, 1949. The building was completed Nov. 15. The tower, a four-cornered, self supporting structure 210 feet high, was built the next w?ek and the antenna, projecting 40 feet above the tower, was installed Dec. 21. Designed to have a gain of 20 to 1, the transmitting antenna is expected to increase the transmitter's 1 kw output to 15 to 20 kw of effective radiated power. The experimental transmitting equipment was built by the Engineering Products Dept. of RCAVictor Div. of RCA, under the direction of V. E. Trouant. After Larson Succeeds Coe (Continued from Telecasting 3) sion station in New York City, WPIX has unquestionably had more problems to overcome than any individual station in the country. I am very proud of the WPIX record and particularly of the station staff which made this record possible. My decision to leave has been a difficult one, but I believe my own interest will thus be best served. I am considering several opportunities, but I am giving top priority to a vacation. The war, plus getting two television stations under way, has precluded any such experience for the past ten years." Commenting on his new position, Mr. Larson said : "I am looking forward to my assignment at WPIX with great interest. In a city which develops television programs for national distribution there is a great possibility for WPIX to do a splendid job on a local basis. "Programs with a strong local appeal will be developed and we will keep in mind that WPIX shares with the News a direct and cont'nuing interest in New York. It becomes increasingly apparent in television that the good local show should not be overlooked because it offers both viewer and advertiser an opportunity to get together on the most intimate basis, that of immediate and mutual interest in their home community." Page 12 • TELECASTING a testing period until Jan. 15, while TV engineers are adjusting the transmitter and antenna, NBC will install the special UHF receivers, designed by the Home Instrument Dept. of RCA-Victor under the direction of D. D. Cole. Hanson, Guy Direct In announcing the project, Joseph H. McConnell, NBC president, said it is being conducted under the supervision of 0. B. Hanson, NBC vice president and chief engineer, with Raymond F. Guy, NBC radio and allocations engineer, in charge of the detailed work. The tests will continue for between six and twelve months, including observations at homes throughout the Bridgeport area at distances and under conditions which will determine the extent of such a station's service. Various types of receiving antennas will be tested, shadow areas and multipath problems investigated, field intensity measurements made and tropospheric transmission observed, using mobile as well as the fixed receivers. Terming the proposed experiment a major step toward the solution of the broadcasting and receiving problems of UHF telecasting, Mr. McConnell said: "We are confident that the operation of this UHF station will demonstrate the feasibility of broadcasting in the upper reaches of the spectrum. The experiments are being conducted by NBC to unravel the complex problems confronting the in dustry in the present space log-jam for television channels. If the experiment is successful it will show the way to opening up vast new areas for hundreds of additional television outlets in this country." Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllli Johns Hopkins' Policy EDITOR, Telecasting: I have just read with interest your editorial "The Gate or Gate Receipts?," in which you state that many colleges regard television as a threat. We at Johns Hopkins are among those who regard TV as a tremendous potential for the advancement of general education in the United States — both scholastically and "athletically." . . . Johns Hopkins has a unique athletic policy — no gate receipts, no student athletic fee. Our athletics are supported totally by the annual budget of the university. When we play games at other colleges we take no part of their gate receipts. When they play on our campus there are no receipts because anyone who wishes can attend, free of charge, any game of the 12 intercollegiate sports played by Hopkins. Both radio and television stations broadcast our home games. We lost our last home-game but it was broadcast by two radio stations and WMAR-TV. Radio and television stations were set up in our stadium, with the help of our grounds men, at no cost to them — nor do they pay us anything for the privilege. We feel that this helps in spreading interest in sports for sports sake. Furthermore, we consider television as an added medium through which we can carry on our general education program — -a duty which we as a privately endowed institution owe to the public. Also, last year, we offered a national contest for the selection of an original television play — in the hope of stimulating young writers to think and write for this new medium in a creative manner. After entries from all over the country were carefully considered, the prize was awarded to Guy de Vry for his play "The Man Who Ordered Apple Pie." NeQ^otiations at this point indicate that the play will be given network production this winter. This is our attitude toward television— we welcome it as an important adjunct to our amateur athletic program, and I don't use the term generically. I read Broadcasting each week and find it stimulating and worthwhile. My congratulations to you on your excellent work. Lynn Poole Director of Public Relations Johns Hopkins U. Baltimore BROADCASTING • Page 58 DR. DuMONT Sees Continued Growth Through 1950 Dr. DuMont DuMONT's forward march can be expected to maintain its momentum through 1950 in both the telecasting and manufacturing fields, Dr. Allen B. DuMont, president of Allen B. DuMont Labs., said Wednesday. In a year end statement. Dr. DuMont paid particular attention to the marked increases in the dollar * volume of sales in the DuMont organization and predicted these gains would continue. "The final figures are still to be tallied," he said, "but we anticipate that sales will reach the 45 million mark, almost double the 1948 figure. During 1950 we expect sales to reach the 70 million figure for the entire company," he said. Looking back to the "extensive" progress made by DuMont Television Network in 1949, Dr. DuMont cited the affiliation of 51 stations in the network at the year's end. These stations, he said, carry programs "live" or by the firm's Teletranscription service. "Television's march of progress during 1949 leaves no doubt that the medium has taken its place among the leading industries in the country. Figures prove it to be one of the fastest growing," he continued. The new year. Dr. DuMont forecast, will see a decided increase in industrial applications of television. "It will also mark a trend to two television homes, with extra sets being used in children's rooms, maid's rooms and rumpus rooms. The year should also see a vast improvement in programming, as budgets increase in line with the added circulation. The trend to large direct view screens should also continue," he added. Dr. DuMont voiced the same opinion given recently by Commdr. Mortimer W. Loewi, director of the network, that a great deal of future expansion in television depends on FCC's action in lifting the freeze on licenses [Telecasting, Dec. 26, 1949]. "If the FCC ban is lifted soon enough, there could be 100 new stations by the end of the year, with an increase in the number of sets to at least 10 million," Dr. Dumont said. Reviewing the progress of DuMont's manufacturing facilities, Dr. DuMont pointed to the equipping and opening of two new manufacturing plants, the East Paterson, N. J., plant, for television assembly, and the new cathode-ray tube plant in Allwood, N. J. Predicts 25% Increase DuMont, he said, is looking forward to a 25Vc increase in dollar volume in the sale of new electronic instruments developed by the firm's Instrument Division. The Transmitter Division, however, he observed, has been handicapped by the "freeze" but is now busy handling industrial applications of transmitting equipment and planning other improvements in equipment. Further expansion is expected in the Electronic Parts Division, which since its formation in 1948 has doubled its number of employes. Increased production schedules for both the Cathode-Ray and Television Receiver Divisions are already in operation. Dr. DuMont said. "Despite the fact," Dr. DuMont concluded, "that the growth of the DuMont organization has been unusually rapid, we feel that we are moving carefully in order to avoid a rate of growth that might endanger either our financial position or the quality of our products." January 9, 1950