Broadcasting (Apr - June 1950)

national Press Bldg. /Washington 4, D. C. MAY 29, 1950 BROADCASTING, Telecasting $7 annually,' 25c weekly JONES HITS 'FOXES' e Interest' Operators FCC COMR. Robert F. Jones warned sound broadcasters last week against "foxes" of the industry who, he said, may be interested in seeing sound radio live "just long enough to make the transition" to television. At the same time he expressed a fear that UHF television broadcasters may find themselves "in the same box" that FM is in today, if manufacturers fail to push UHF reception equipment. Speaking Wednesday at the annual spring meeting of the Ohio Assn. of Broadcasters at Columbus (story page 44), he reiterated that he felt radio and TV can live "side by side." But "foxes" do exist, he warned, identifying them as "the multiple interest broadcasters, who, oddly enough, have the best sound facilities and who, as I have said before, skim off the cream of the advertising dollar in sound broadcasting in Ohio." SWIFT APPOINTED WCBS-TV Key Posts Filled IN LINE with its policy of integrating AM and TV operations on an administrative level, CBS last week appointed G. Richard Swift as general manager of WCBS-TV New York in addition to his position as general manager of WCBS (AM), the network's key station. At the same time, Mr. Swift announced other appointments to key positions on his staff. Clarence Worden, WCBS director of special features and public service, was named assistant to Mr. Swift. Richard Doan, former administrative head of Martin Stone Radio Assoc., New York production firm, was appointed director of TV programs. George R. Dunham Jr., eastern sales manager (television) for CBS Radio Sales, was named sales manager of WCBS-TV. Don Ball and Don Miller will remain as program director and sales manager, respectively, of WCBS (AM). Mr. Swift He continued: I identify a multiple-interest broadcaster by investment and annual return. That is, a broadcaster whose investment and annual return on sound broadcasting is a small fraction of his total investment and annual return in television station ownership, television network ownership and operation, and in television receiver manufacturing — and frequently more than one of them. Now, if you recognize the fact that his interest in sound broadcasting is about to be small compared to the vast potential of earning power in this new medium of television — whether it be station ownership, network ownership and operation or television receiver manufacturing — then I think you are heading for real trouble if you don't recognize the fox slinking along the trail. You sound broadcasters are not confronted with a competitor who is primarily interested to see this medium live, but one who may be interested in seeing it live just long enough to make the transition to the new medium. He warned that if clear-channel stations get additional power, then Mr. JONES other sound broadcasting stations will have to compete with "a supersignal from super-power stations." Further, he asserted, when and if the network owner decides that TV dollars are easier to get than sound radio dollars, then he can "blow the whistle on every network-affiliated sound broadcaster's rate card by merely refusing to renew the affiliation contract except at a lower rate." Escape from "the effect of such a toboggan," he said, lies in increased emphasis on local programming— "selling time on a local basis to local merchants." Radio-TV Accord But Comr. Jones found evidence "on every hand" that radio and television can live side by side. "History," he said, "confirms the prophets that no wide-awake medium of intelligence has ever gone into complete eclipse because of the introduction of another medium." In the television field, he eonceded there is basis for "concern" about operations in the littleknown UHF region. He considered it clear that manufactures will not build UHF tuners into VHF sets (Continued on Telecasting p. 13) TRI-C0L0R TUBES Two More Announced DEVELOPMENT of two more tricolor direct view TV tubes were reported to FCC last week, one by Paramount Television Productions Inc. and Chromatic Television Labs. Inc., and another by Don Lee Broadcasting System. Allen B. DuMont Labs, reported it had received a patent for a new tri-color, single-gun tube just a fortnight ago which has both camera and receiver applications [Telecasting, May 22]. Paramount indicated its tube is to be ready for showing about June 15 and requested permission of FCC to participate in the color TV hearing to offer evidence. Details of the tube construction were not revealed. Don Lee Broadcasting, according to Willet H. Brown, network president, has filed application for patents for its tube under the name of "Color-Vision." Mr. Brown made the disclosure in a report to FCC on the first six months of intensive "ColorVision" and stereoscopic television development conducted at the network by Harry R. Lubcke, director of television research and color for Don Lee Broadcasting. In the Paramount-chromatic petition, filed by Paul A. Porter, exFCC chairman and member of the Washington law firm of Arnold, Fortas & Porter, it was explained Paramount Television Productions is a stockholder of Chromatic Television Labs, and is collaborating with the latter "in development of a new tri-color direct view tube which can be utilized in all of the color television systems which are under consideration" in FCC's color TV hearing. Termed Compatable It was explained Chromatic was organized specifically to develop and produce this new tube and it has entered into contracts with Machlett Labs. Inc., Springdale, Conn., "for the purpose of the manufacture of experimental tubes employing a new design and principles heretofore undeveloped which are unique and provide a new method of achieving high-definition color in a 6-mc band." The tube was termed completely compatible with existing monochrome transmissions. Copies of the patent applications already have been supplied FCC in early May, the petition said. Paramount did not know of the development until February 1950, it was explained, and hence was not in a position to enter the color hearing any earlier. Paramount is a party to the reallocation proceeding. "For the Commision to refuse to consider or evaluate an analysis of present proposals and how they may be integrated into a plan under which all systems can function would be retrogressive in character," the petition said, and would "eliminate from consideration an important development which gives promise of affording a workable solution to some of the complex issues which are involved in this proceeding." Contributing Components In the Don Lee report to FCC, Mr. Brown explained that the devices to be used for single tube reception of color television images are being proposed as contributing j components for finally a ppcolor TV standards rather than as a new color system. Although i varying from other systems, he j stated, they can apply to any or all three of the existing systems. Page 57 • BROADCASTING May 29, 1950 TELECASTING • Page 3