Broadcasting (Apr - June 1950)

Color Hearing (Continued from Telecasting 7) combination new color or monochrome sets, plus sets converted. Some 8.4% (2,100,000) would represent sets existing now which had become obsolescent or were traded in. Asked by Mr. Cahill what CBS' position was on making color sets itself, Dr. Stanton indicated he was glad of the chance to "clear up any misunderstanding" about CBS plans. He said CBS might interest a group of businessmen to form a corporation to distribute and perhaps manufacture CBS color sets if FCC adopts the system, but emphasized this would be undertaken only if present set makers refused to produce TV sets capable of handling CBS color. The firm would be financed by outside capital, Dr. Stanton said. Asked whether CBS now is buying interests in certain TV receiver manufacturing businesses, Dr. Stanton stated it is not now negotiating for such purchases although the network has given the matter serious consideration during the past year. If both RCA and CBS systems were adopted, Dr. Stanton indicated CBS would be inclined to see that receivers of both types were made available. CBS in addition to broadcasting its color system would experiment on RCA "to make sure the public could compare both systems," he asserted. Explains Announcement Considerable time was spent by Dr. Stanton in explaining announcements aired by CBS in New York at the beginning of experimental TV transmissions from 1941 to 1946. During lengthy inquiry by Mr. Cahill on the purpose of the announcements, and an associated booklet offered at the time, Comr. Frieda B. Hennock expressed "concern" over the material involved. Dr. Stanton said the announcements and booklet advised the public CBS was not in the set making business, its transmissions were temporary and experimental, ultimate disposition of the TV situation was beyond CBS' control and hence certain risks were involved in buying sets. The CBS pi'esident asserted the statements were full disclosures of the situation. He told Comr. Hennock they were made because of possible changes in standards in view of CBS' "appearance before FCC for a change of color frequencies into the UHF." A vigorous exchange ensued with Mr. Cahill over the booklet's statement in "bold face type" that "color television may replace black and white." Dr. Stanton asserted it's reasonable to believe color ultimately will replace monochrome. If this were not so, he indicated, they would not be involved in the present proceeding. While opposed to compulsion generally, Dr. Stanton testified he would not be opposed to some measures by FCC or other regulatory body to insure production of color sets if the CBS system were adopted. Such procedure, he said, would be necessary only if all other efforts were of no avail. Indicating this view was conjecture because he firmly believed set makers would cooperate, Dr. Stanton said, "I can't see set manufacturers losing a competitive advantage to new manufacturing firms by refusing to build sets if CBS standards are adopted." To a query by Mr. Plotkin, Dr. Stanton indicated FCC before considering compulsion of any kind should wait about 30 days after a decision favoring CBS in order to allow manufacturers to make up their minds. Dr. Stanton told Mr. Plotkin that adoption of a compatible system would allow set makers a greater amount of time to switch from monochrome to color production since no need for hurry would be imposed. He did not see the same situation for CBS in view of the automatic adaptor since such sets would be convertible to color. Questions Stanton Comr. Robert F. Jones questioned Dr. Stanton extensively on comparision of FM's plight with that of color TV vs. monochrome. The witness didn't think the situations were comparable in most respects. Asked what he believed to be reasons for FM's situation, Dr. Stanton cited lack of promotion between broadcasters and manufacturers alike, too high FCC operating standards, FM's change in allocation, the former AFM ban on FM duplication unless double fees were paid, the average person's inability to properly tune FM sets, and television. He indicated the latter had the greatest effect. Dr. Stanton said CBS research showed the public generally didn't like high fidelity and usually tuned it out even_pn sets that could take advantage of it. He suggested most FM sets now on the market do not take full advantage of high fidelity. The witness said Jack Benny and "Lux Radio Theatre" shows were interruped several times on the five CBS-owned FM outlets to test reaction and only three or four responses occurred except in New York where the number was a little higher. He indicated this was a sad thing for management to consider when it was spending $250,000 yearly to operate FM outlets. The CBS president thought the staticfree quality of FM was its preferred selling point and this generally had been overlooked. Asked by Comr. Jones if it takes 15,000 cycles to appreciate Jack Benny jokes, Dr. Stanton replied, "No. I think you could enjoy them on a Dictaphone." Dr. Goldmark, under cross-examination by Mr. Cahill on Tuesday afternoon, reaffirmed his earlier statement he saw no reason why RCA should field test since there could be no improvement in the system fundamentally. He admitted there was "1000% improvement" in the RCA color picture at the Laurel demonstration but this picture was "nothing to brag about" and the sets were not unattended as supposed. He termed the pictures just "tolerable." Dr. Goldmark saw no system improvement in the fact RCA achieved color stability after its initial showing. He said RCA originally had "heralded as perfect" its system, which may have been Te-Ve Drawn for TELECASTING by John Zeigler a premature announcement, but it was assumed from the first the system had color stability. He indicated the fact it was "re-established" was not improvement. Indicating a picture can improve only up to the capability limitation of the system, Dr. Goldmark upon questioning thought the RCA picture now is "pretty darn close to the system's capability." Asked by Mr. Cahill if the present CBS system doesn't have a greater overall loss in resolution than the 6-mc system proposed by CBS in 1941, Dr. Goldmark admitted this was true but explained other techniques have been added which more than make up for the loss. The RCA counsel noted CBS in 1946, when pressing for adoption of its high definition 16-mc color system in the UHF, had playeddown any system of lower quality. Dr. Goldmark stated only by very critical analysis is it possible to discern differences between CBS' present 6-mc color picture and the earlier 16-mc picture. The RCA counsel also questioned Dr. Goldmark sharply on his changes in philosophy over the years regarding optimum viewing distance. The witness indicated this partly was due to improvements in viewing tube quality. Dr. Goldmark explained his apparently conflicting positions on TV during 1944, when acting on RTPB committees, were due to restricted technical information he was familiar with but could not use to motivate his position until the latter part of that year. He indicated RTPB meetings then were generally considered a "darn nuisance" because of the war and everyone wanted the status quo for the time being. Upon questioning, Dr. Goldmark said that although CBS experimented with dot, line and field sequential color in 1940, it did not know about dot interlacing, mixed highs and time multiplexing as now used in the RCA system. "Did you mean to say that in 1940 you did not know how time multiplexing, mixed highs and horizontal dot interlacing could be employed to produce 525-line 6-mc color television?" Mr. Cahill asked Dr. Goldmark. He replied, "I did not think of it then and I do not think of it now," indicating he didn't consider RCA's system now capable of producing that definition. Cross examination Wednesday was led off by Charles H. Sparkman, engineering vice president, Birtman Electronic Co., Chicago, who said his firm has made 18 color converters for CBS. He said orders had been received recently from Philco Corp., Crosley Corp., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Teletone Radio Corp. for one converter each. He said his firm could produce a minimum of 7,500 units per month but would prefer a 75,000-plus rate to maintain largescale production. John Schubert, Birtman vice president in charge of plant operation, estimated redesigning of the converter could scale its price down from the $70 quoted last fall to about $55. Weight also would be reduced from 28 lb. to about 20 lb., he said. David H. Cogan, president, Air King Products Co., Brooklyn, said his firm has manufactured only a few pilot models of disc-type color receivers. Although his firm does not now produce 10 in. sets (its smallest is 12% in.), it could make them converted for color with the approximate additional cost of about $100-$105, he said. Air King Plans He revealed Air King is "status quo" in its plans for manufacturing color sets until FCC decides the color question. If RCA's color system is adopted, he said, all plans will be dropped, but if CBS' color is accepted by FCC, the firm will proceed. For sets internally adapted to receive CBS color transmission in black and white, he explained an interval of 4 to 6 months would occur before full-scale production could be reached. He said a multiple standards decision would complicate things for the manufacturer. If multiple standards should be decided, he said, "we would build both types of sets, although we would not prefer to do so. Our ultimate objective would be the building of sets which would receive both types." S. W. Gross, president of Teletone Radio Corp., New York, said his firm was ready to produce a 10 in. CBS color-type converted set to retail for $200, a reduction of $20 from the price quoted last fall. Reduction was due to lower monochrome set costs, he indicated. Mr. Gross said his firm would not manufacture the conventional set if FCC decided on CBS color. The period of changeover he calculated at eight to 12 weeks. C. P. Cushaway, executive vice president of Webster-Chicago, said his firm has manufactured 20 CBS disc type color converters and "one or two" external type converters. He said his firm was prepared to solve the problem of whatever converters or adaptors are necessary (Continued on Telecasting 13) Page 8 • TELECASTING April 24, 1950 BROADCASTING • Page 70