Broadcasting Telecasting (July - Sept 1951)

Viewing commercial colorcasts at the Carlton Hotel in Washington were (I to r) Comrs. George E. Sterling and E. M. Webster, Sen. Ed Johnson (D-Col. ), chairman, Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee ; Comr. Paul Walker; Earl Gammons, CBS Washington vice president, and Sen. Charles Tobey (R-N. H.), ranking Republican member of the Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee. Commercial Color (Continued from page 55) a CBS statement said. "Most of our own affiliates will carry many of our network programs. Some television stations already have color equipment on order so that they can broadcast color programs." Major manufacturers who have refused to build CBS-type sets, Columbia asserted, "will either change their minds because the public and the television dealers will insist that they do, or they will no longer be large manufacturers." Mr. Stanton reported that CBS has been "beseiged" with calls from manufacturers and dealers wanting to get necessary equipment. He reiterated Columbia's estimate that its own color-monochrome sets — CBS-Columbia, formerly Air King — would reach the market by Sept. 1. The CBS statement said these sets would be of two types: One with internal adaptation to premit reception of CBS color in black-and-white, slated to Sell for "only a few dollars more" than present monochrome sets, and one capable of reproducing CBS color signals in color. Both types will also receive standard monochrome telecasts. The CBS statement also quoted RCA officials as having testified, in FCC's color hearings, that the RCA tri-color tube could be used with the CBS system. "Yet RCA's determination to keep the public and the industry confused on this point is clearly shown by the fact that at last week's tube 'symposium' in New York, RCA refused to discuss the application of the tri-color tube to the field sequential (CBS) system," the statement asserted. Noting that RCA had delivered COLOR SPOT CBS Provides Fact Sheer WHAT DO spot announcements cost on CBS color TV? The answer is provided in a CBS color fact sheet supplied by the network to its salesmen. At present, the salesmen were told, t^e only local availabilities on WCBS-TV New York, which will originate the color shows, are an eight-second announcement with shared station identification, the same format as in black-and-white. . Costs: Eight second — $50 flat; 20 second — $75 flat: one-minute when available — $100 flat. Cost for preparation of each flip card at WCBS-TV (art work)— $50 net. A staff announcer off camera will be provided at no charge. In event an actor appears on camera but does not speak (demonstrates while off-camera voice narrates) charge is $13.50 net. If actor speaks on camera up to five lines, cost per announcement is $33.75 net. If actor on camera speaks more than five lines, $40.50 net. Advertiser must use continuous schedule of 13 spots. a sample tube to DuMont Labs, but had not yet to CBS, the statement, released Monday, declared; "Actually there is no great rush in view of the fact that the tube cannot be produced for at least two years." The new "composite" color system proposed by the National Television System Committee, CBS said, "is not a working system at all. It is no more than a vague outline on paper. . . .". On Monday's opening commercial colorcast, CBS Board Chairman William S. Paley hailed the event as "a landmark in television history" and the beginning of "a new dimension" which will exert a significant influence in a relatively short time. FCC Chairman Wayne Coy, who appeared on the program with Messrs. Paley and Stanton, called it "a day of fulfillment," marking "an hour of triumph" for CBS scientists who developed the color system and for the owners and executives of CBS "who had the vision, the faith and the courage to fight the long, up-hill battle to develop the system and secure its adoption as the only system authorized. . . ." Mr. Stanton paid tribute to Dr. Goldmark, developer of the system. "This day certainly belongs to Dr. Peter Goldmark and the men and women in his laboratory," he declared. Johnson Commends Mr. Paley read a telegram from Sen. Ed C. Johnson (D-Col.), chairman of the Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee, who called it "a historic day in the progress of man." and offered congratulations for "your persistence in the public interest in fighting the good fight for improving the art of television." Meanwhile, at its Passaic laboratories DuMont Labs was picking up the CBS program for showing to newsmen, and also demonstrated the RCA tri-color tube using DuMont equipment. The tube demonstration consisted of a succession of color slides, shown simultaneously on three sets. The color set and a companion black-and-white set received the "program" by wire, while a third black-and-white set received the same "program" from a small, intra-laboratory transmitter. Quality of the color picture and its companion black-and-white wire-fed picture was good, but that of the transmitter-fed black-andwhite picture was somewhat less so. Sets Compared Following the tri-color tube demonstration, which was under the direction of Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr., director of research, arrangements were made for newsmen to watch the CBS "Premiere." Four receivers were lined up — a black-and-white set tuned to WCBS-TV, another black-andwhite set tuned to WNBT (TV), a color set using the CBS rotating wheel, and a fourth color set using a rotating drum. When the CBS program started, it appeared on both color sets, although somewhat less crisply on the "drum" receiver than on the "wheel" receiver. Incompatibility was demonstrated on the blackand-white set tuned to WCBS which, of course, did not show the telecast. The other black-white receiver produced the WNBT (TV) program for purposes of comparison. Dr DuMont, who watched the CBS color telecast with newsmen, commented on the studio lighting difficulties involved, and called attention to what he considered the unnatural complexion of Ed Sullivan as the latter's image appeared on the color receivers. Dr. Goldsmith said that "we believe the significance of this broadcast (CBS "Premiere") can be better appraised when considered in comparison and contrast with the possibilities of other systems and experiments which have been under way by the best engineers of the entire television industry." With respect to the tri-colnr tube demonstration, he continued, "the pictures reproduced on this direct view color tube possess the sami line and field scanning standard, which are employed for black-anc white commercial broadcasting." After its initial broadcast. CEi said reports from all cities carry ; I ing the program indicated it wal "a technical as well as artisti success." In New York, where almost 40l persons watched in a studii ] equipped with eight color sets, thi network quoted Statesman Ber nard Baruch as calling color "j| vast improvement . . . over black 1 and-white television." Other quotes reported by CBSl included : FCC Comr. George E. Sterling— 1 "The potentiality from the advertis f ing standpoint has tremendous promise." Sen. Ed C. Johnson (D-Col.)— "This is the day I have been looking forward to for a long, long time. I think it was great." Sen. Charles W. Tobey (R-N. H.), another member of the Senate's Commerce Committee — "What we saw this afternoon enhances the beauty and pleasure of television ta a degree that words fail to express. This will bless American homes." Sen. James P. Kem (R-Mo.), also on the Senate Commerce Committee — "It was wonderful, natural and lifelike, and completely realistic." Henry J. Kaufman of Henry J. Kaufman Assoc., Washington agency — "This is by far the closest we have come to having the product actually in the home." Dorothy B. McCann, vice president of McCann-Ericson Agency — ". . . An excellent and tremendous step forward." William H. Weintraub, president, William H. Weintraub & Co. Agency — "Color adds a third dimension. . . . Today's broadcast by CBS was a brilliant demonstration that this third dimension is practical, exciting — and effective." Henry Legler, vice president, Warwick & Legler Agency — "Color opens up a brand new field of wonderful advertising for television." William B. Lewis, vice president, Kenyon & Eckhardt Agency — "Color . . . certainly will enhance our sales messages. I was greatly impressed." Alex W. Griffin, radio and TV director, Al Paul Lefton Agency — "The possibilities for arresting displays of major products are tremendous." Edward Ingle, radio and TV director. Republican National Committee — "Truly marvelous . . . just look what it's going to do for political candidates." Thad Holt, general manager, WAPI and WAFM (TV) Birmingham — "A wonderful presentation. . . ." Washington Viewers An estimated 550 persons were reported by CBS to have seen the color kickoff show in Washington. This included the 100 government officials and press at the Carlton Hotel, 100 advertising men and additional newsmen at WTOP's downtown studios, 150 technicians and employes of WTOP and about 200 amateurs in the area who have built their own color sets. In Baltimore, WMAR-TV reported an overwhelming verdict in favor of color .TV from those who observed the "premiere" on Monday. Some 200 persons crowded the lobby of the new Sunpapers building at Calvert and Franklin Sts. to watch a set there while another 400 persons were reported on hand to view another set in the old Sunpapers building at Charles and Baltimore Sts. At the latter location some mechanical difficulties marred reception, it was said, although general opinion was quoted as favorable. Page 60 • July 2, 1951 Telecasting • BROADCASTING