Broadcasting Telecasting (July - Sept 1951)

ivo passengers who witnessed re'ption of KRON-TV signal aboard AL Stratacruiser were H. A. ' 'kite, president of Hawaiian Pinepple Corp., and his daughter, Pat. ■ ignal ivas received up to 300 miles from station's transmitter. IT RAT A TESTS KRON-TV Reports Results OUTSTANDING" results have i>en reported to KRON-TV San 'rancisco which collaborated with Jnited Air Lines in a test designed d provide trans-Pacific passengers nth regular commercial TV shows. ! A standard RCA home TV re•eiver was installed in the lounge if UAL's Stratacruiser Flight 49 } Hawaii last month. The Strataj ruiser's regular antenna was used o pick up telecasts from KRONTV operating on Channel 4. Spe1 ial technical personnel from the vir lines company and the station tccompanied the flight to measure esults. KRON-TV received three mesages from the plane which relorted reception ranging from good" for 17,000 feet to "fair to >oor" for 20,000 feet. Reception aded on the latter, possibly due o expiring signal strength or curvature of the earth. Measurements on "statute miles" varied Torn 155 to 306. TELEMENS10N Film Scenery Leasable TELEMENSION SYNDICATE of America has been organized to develop and lease to TV stations the Telemension Suspended Image System. Headed by Stevens Macey, firm is headquartered at 550 Fifth Ave., New York. Developed by Emil H. Frank, the system employs transparencies, thus creating the impression of (scenery around live, moving figures, it was explained. It is designed to cut the cost of program scenery through the use of film. Equipment is available to stations on a lease basis only, with all film to be processed through Telemension laboratories. Charges will be computed on a to-be-determined percentage of stations' Class A card rate, Mr. Macey said. WEST Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce honored WFIL-TV Philadelphia for station's "excellence in programming" at organization's 10th annual meeting. Scroll was given Roger W. Clipp, general manager. RE-TELECASTS New FCC Problem Growing A NEW and growing problem involving illegal re-broadcast of existing television programs may be facing the FCC. Already approximately 16 cases have been called to the attention of the FCC's monitoring staff wherein telecasts have been picked up off the air and re-amplified without the use of wires to certain areas. Eight of these situations have been reported in West Virginia, involving such communities as Logan and Marmet. It is believed that many of the cases are in honest ignorance of the law and stem from confusion about community antenna system. The latter operation, involving pickup of signals off the air and transmission to homes by lines, is a legal function not needing FCC approval. JOINT FACILITY Congress Must Give Go Ahead IF CONGRESS wants to give the green light and possibly additional funds, television will be added soon to the Joint Radio Facility, it has been learned. Ralph R. Roberts, House Clerk, said if Congress orders by resolution that the facility pay for TV equipment out of its reserve fund, it will be done. However, Mr. Roberts Said it would be helpful if funds were appropriated. This Congress thus far has failed to do. Reason why an appropriation would help the facility, operated by its superintendent, Robert Coar, is that the cost of TV equipment may go as high as $65-85,000, Mr. Roberts said. It has been revealed during testimony before an appropriations subcommittee that the facility, which currently records Congressmen's reports for broadcast station use, has built up a $100,000 reserve in the past 2% years. Estimates have been received in answer to advertisement of bids. Lowest was $61,000, it was disclosed. Mr. Roberts has told the subcommittee that he and Senate Secretary Leslie Biffle are ready to proceed with expansion of the radio service to television. SMPTE Convention Set SOCIETY of Motion Picture & Television Engineers will hold its 70th Semi-annual convention at Hollywood (Calif.) Roosevelt Hotel, Oct. 15-19. W. C. Kunzmann, convention vice president, is in Hollywood conferring with Peter Mole, president of the society, and other officers, on convention plans. They anticipate an attendance of 500 members from all parts of the world. IT'S RESULTS t&at count. . . One of WGN-TV's newest local advertisers, a sporting goods firm, sponsors an 11:00 P.M. feature film on Thursday nights . . . Results of the first program . . .More than 600 balls and gloves sold in two hours the next day. Results of the second program . . .More than 2000 DOZEN golf balls sold the following day. it*4, %e&0t(t& yOU want. . , you need WGN-TV in Chicago (P. S. The company has signed for an additional film program) Clje Chicago tEribune {Keletateton Station Telecasting • BROADCASTING July 2, 1951 • Page 59