Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

Coy Reviews Color (Continued from page 57) do not buy an adapter, they will not be able to receive programs transmitted in color. As the number and quality of color programs grow, the owners of present receivers will either buy an adapter or turn their old set in for a new model which is a color receiver or at least has adaptability built into it. For the broadcaster, the initial months of color broadcasting can be difficult. There will be comparatively few receivers that can tune in on his color programs. Of course, the adoption of bracket standards by manufacturers would make the broadcaster's task much simpler. For, if the Commission postpones a color decision upon receiving assurances from manufacturers that they will manufacture receivers with bracket standards, there will be no broadcasting of color programs except on an experimental basis. If, as a result of such postponement, a successful compatible system should be developed, the broadcaster would have an audience that could receive his color programs in blackand-white. However, if no compatible system succeeds and the Commission adopts the incompatible CBS system, a portion — and a continuously growing portion — of the television audience will have receivers capable of receiving a black-and-white picture from the color broadcasts. The extent of this audience will depend on the rate of production that is achieved by manufacturers for bracket receivers. And each month that passes will increase the size of the audience that is available for color programs. 'Supported by Evidence' Chairman Coy emphasized that the Commission was unanimous in its findings with respect to the three color systems. Though the result of the report was naturally "disappointing to some of the parties," he said, "there has been no intimation by anyone that the Commission's findings are not supported by the evidence in the record." Reviewing the decision, he said two "fundamental defects" of the RCA and CTI systems involved picture quality and color reproduction, and system complexity. He noted that in the demonstrations RCA and CTI were unable to keep accurate registration and color control even though trained operators "hovered over the equipment." "You can imagine what the situation would be like in the ordinary home where children or untrained adults had to operate such receivers," he asserted. He continued: The conclusion appears to be inescapable that CTI and RCA devoted so much of their efforts to t-he compatibility part of their systems that they never succeeded in producing satisfactory color. The net effect I from the adoption of either system by the Commission would be that the public would continue to receive black-and-white pictures. We did not believe that the public would buy receivers that would get the type of color pictures that RCA and CTI showed to the Commission. CBS color pictures, he reported, were "of high order" in quality and color rendition, and equipment was easy to operate. He conceded the picture has fewer lines, but said this is more than offset by the addition of color. He also conceded that CBS black-and-white reception does not match present blackand-white in quality, but said the same was also true in the case of RCA and CTI. "However," he said, "I regarded such pictures as satisfactory in the case of CBS and RCA and unsatisfactory in the case of CTI." As to the need for bracket standards, he said: (1) No successful compatible system has been demonstrated; (2) "it is entirely too easy to invent a new compatible system every time the Commission appears to be ready to adopt an incompatible system," with the number of receivers meanwhile growing until, "as a practical matter," an incompatible system could not be adopted; (3) changes could be made in black-and-white standards to take advantage of benefits of horizontal interlace and long-persistence phosphors, if further study proves them feasible. Mr. Coy acknowledged that bracket sets would cost more than present receivers. The extra cost, he thought, would be approximately the same as the estimated cost of adapting present sets to receive CBS color in monochrome. Convertibility Question On the question of convertibility, he said CBS demonstrated "the only practical converter." CTI demonstrated none, and RCA's "was demonstrated only once and. was apparently withdrawn, although the record is not absolutely clear on this point." But, he continued, "the question as to the convertibility of the RCA and CTI systems did not prevent the consideration of all the systems on their merits." Mr. Coy emphasized that the color question is only one phase of the overall television proceedings — which, he said, exemplify "the nation's dependence" upon electronics engineers. "We are in great debt to you for the long way you have brought us in the past quarter of a century," he told his listeners at the National Electronics Conference. To the Chicago Television Council he said: "The Commission believes that television is destined to become the dominant form of broadcasting and is destined to be of inestimable service in promoting the welfare of the American people. We are anxious to see the service extended the length and breadth of the nation at the earliest possible moment. In that effort, we solicit your cooperation." After Mr. Coy's resume of color television history for the Television Council, the speaker answered questions from the floor. Commenting on "Why are obscenities permitted on television and not on radio?" Mr. Coy said "it is most unfortunate that there is a tendency toward bad taste and even obscenity in television. This is a very important matter." Explaining that obscenity in radio is in violation of the criminal code, the FCC Chairman said much of the "bad taste" in TV is in movements and actions, "and in some cases in exposures," rather than in the spoken word. "The problem is one for the industry to handle, to avoid government intervention and a possible puritanical complex," he said. He suggested that management and programming officials assume responsibility, but "if the trend gets worse, perhaps the government's action will get worse." Military Needs Mr. Coy said possible production setbacks in the future, because of war production and demands of the military, would not affect the color decision, "but might affect implementation of it" if military demands were great. Commenting on four questions, all concerning the FCC's approach to Phonevision, Mr. Coy reiterated his stand in favor of "any form of box-office television which will help bring to viewers the best entertainment in the country." Another question : "If a satisfactory compatible system is demonstrated within six months after the (possible) adoption of the CBS system, would it be too late for adoption?" Chairman Coy answered : "I hope with all my heart we can have a compatible system, which is why we are giving the manufacturers an opportunity now to adopt bracket standards. Compatibility could not be adopted with the same ease after acceptance of the CBS system as now, and then we would have the same problem of decision as before. Compatibility would have an additional hurdle after adoption of the CBS system." 'Many Problems New' The final questioner asked Chairman Coy if owners of the various color television systems knew in advance of the FCC hearings what the Commission's criteria of judgment were. Mr. Coy, replying that the hearings "were a good education for us as to what to look for in color television," said "we didn't anticipate all of the problems." Because many of the problems were new, "we are now giving the benefit of our hindsight judgment to the TV concerns, giving them a chance to meet FCC standards." The Chicago Television Council met jointly with Radio Management Club. Guests at the opening fall session numbered about 250, including industry leaders at the speaker's table. They were I. E. Showerman, NBC Chicago vice president and Television Council president who was toastmaster; John H. Norton Jr., vice president in charge of ABC's Central Division; Art Harre, general manager of WJJD Chicago and president of Radio Management Club; Frank Schreiber, general manager of WGN-AM-TV Chicago; Ralph Brent, sales manager, CBS Chicage, and Bishop Bernard J. Shell, director of WFJL (FM) Chicago. by all four major networks Telecasting • BROADCASTING lami you CAN SELL MORE IN MIAMI F/!EEa^ PETERSN-di 'Re^'metCdiiivei October 2, 1950 • Page 67