Broadcasting Telecasting (July - Sept 1951)

Closed Circuit DuMONT SAYS DEFENSE HITS TV SET OUTPUT ALLOCATION of materials for defense already effecting production of video receivers, Allen B. DuMont, president, Allen B. DuMont Labs., told stockholders Friday at annual meeting. Company has defense orders totaling about §30 million. Dr. DuMont said production has been cut since April 1 and that output of receivers might be expected to run at 40% of 1950 rate for rest of year. For first five periods of 1951 (Jan. 1-May 20), DuMont sales of all products totaled $23,970,334, compared to $22,474,562 year ago. Profits are down despite increased sales, however, with Jan. 1-May 20 profits of $832,018 before taxes and $487,618 after taxes. In same time of 1950, profits before taxes were compared to $3,885,166 and $2,380,886. Predicting black-and-white telecasting will remain backbone of video industry for some years, Dr. DuMont called CBS system interim measure which will last "at the most, one or two years." He reaffirmed conviction final answer will be all-electronic fully compatible system. Stockholders saw a demonstration of field sequential and tri-color systems at DuMont Laboratories in Passaic. Full slate of officers and directors reelected. KTHS OBSTACLES REMOVED WAY cleared Friday for FCC consideration of KTHS Hot Springs move to Little Rock, Ark., with 50 kw operation on 1090 kc. KGRH Fayetteville, Ark., also seeking 50 kw on 1090 kc and participant in the week-long hearings last week, requested FCC permission to withdraw without prejudice (see picture, page 32). Paul A. Porter, KGRH counsel, explained cost of installation was higher than originally estimated and it was felt advisable to drop application. WNOE New Orleans, originally party in hearing, withdrew before June 25 start of sessions. KTHS represented by Fly, Shuebruk & Blume. John D. Ewing, owner of KWKH Shreveport and publisher of Shreveport Times, also owns KTHS. Henry B. Clay is KWKH general manager. B. G. Robertson, KWKH assistant manager, slated to become manager of KTHS in Little Rock. AMA RADIO-TV PROJECT AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSN., which plans to continue its campaigning against the government's socialized medicine proposals, considering recommendation of Russel M. Seeds Agency, Chicago, to use "high-level" radio and TV drama series. Shows would be networked, reportedly paid for by "contribution" of $100 from each of nation's 45,000 physicians. Seeds handled AM-TV billing during AMA's national saturation campaign last fall. WISCONSIN BILL NOW LAW WISCONSIN giveaway bill became law Friday after publication in Wisconsin State Journal (early story page 28). Interpretation of law will be outlined by group of experts to members of Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn. July 13 in Northland Hotel, Green Bay, at special meeting called by President Ben Laird, WDUZ Green Bay. COY URGES FACTORIES TO ROAD SHOW' UHF DEVICES FCC Chairman Wayne Coy declared Friday, after seeing demonstrations of UHF television converters at Bridgeport, Conn., that manufacturers should make "road show" demonstration to let more prospective telecasters "have a look at what can be done with the UHF." (See early story page 55.) Such demonstrations, he said, might contribute to lifting of freeze in addition to selling UHF to dubious telecasters. He praised industry for UHF progress to date, and said public can now be told that "here is a service that is excellent and in some ways superior to VHF." His remarks came at luncheon given by J. W. Craig, vice president and general manager of Avco's Crosley Division, for more than 100 industry representatives and visitors at demonstration. Several industry members echoed Mr. Coy's suggestion that converters be shown to telecasters. Possibility of having such demonstration at early broadcasters convention has been broached to NARTB officials, it was learned. Visit to RCA-NBC experimental UHF transmitter, employed for demonstrations, and trip to New Haven to show pick-ups from greater distances (about 18 miles) followed Bridgeport showing. Besides showing converters, RCA Service Co. announced it had developed new UHF receiving antennas during Bridgeport tests. They were called "highly satisfactory." TWO SEEK TV SEGMENTS TWO major advertisers currently battling to buy remaining half-hour alternate weeks on Your Show of Shows, Sat., 9-10:30 p.m. on NBC-TV. They are Bymart Inc. (Tintair) and Revlon polish. Lehn & Fink (Lysol) signed late last week to sponsor half-hour every other week. Other sponsors are Camel cigarettes for first half-hour, and Benrus watches, Scotch Tape and SOS sharing middle half-hour. MILLER RESUMING TOUR JUSTIN MILLER, NARTB board chairman, embarks late this week on remaining leg of Latin American inspection tour on behalf of Dept. of State and U. S. Advisory Commission on Information, of which he is member. Judge Miller is surveying and evaluating U. S. information programs, especially the Voice. VAN LINES ON ABC NORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES, Fort Wayne, Ind., sponsoring Jay Stewart Show, Friday, 4-4:05 p.m. on 289 ABC stations, beginning July 6. Agency for 13-week contract is Joseph Castor & Assoc., Los Angeles. GENERAL MILLS SERIES GENERAL MILLS sponsoring new adventure program Silver Eagle, 7:30-8 p.m., Thurs., over ABC beginning July 5. Agency, KnoxReeves Adv., Minneapolis. BROWN BROTHERS, advertising agency, Nashville, preparing to open New York office. Firm has Gloria Swanson radio show. (Continued f rom page 4) area to be operated in conjunction with h existing three AM stations. THOM McAN Shoes, New York, throug Neff-Rogow, same city, preparing radio sp't campaign for fall in Negro markets onlji similar to its schedule last year. FORD MOTOR CO. preparing six-week radi spot campaign, effective July 16, in Texas J. Walter Thompson, New York, is agency.! I APPLICATIONS for transfer of ABC's radi. and TV Station licenses to newly formei American Broadcasting-United Paramoun Co., which would consummate $25-millioi merger, expected to be filed this week witl FCC. Also to be filed will be proposed $6-million sale of WBKB (TV) Chicago, by United Paramount's subsidiary Balaban & Katz ti I CBS, as part of overall transaction. Applications will be filed contingent upon stockholder approvals at meetings scheduled for Julj I 27 of ABC-United Paramount merger. STEGMAIER BREWING CO., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., slated to name MacManus, John & Adams, New York, as advertising agency. Firm cure rently sponsoring Frederic W. Ziv package Bold Venture in 20 markets. Advertiser exl pected to use TV and radio spot campaign. ZENITH RADIO Corp., sponsor of Phonevision, circulating letter on Capitol Hill that challenges theatre TV acquisition of rights to sports events. PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., Cincinnati (Drene), increasing its current radio spoil schedule from three to five times weekly, effective early in July. Compton Adv., New York, is agency. READY for private showing is battery-driven portable television receiver, almost as easily moved about as larger portable radios. STATE ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED IN IOWA BROADCASTERS from 23 Iowa stations, on' call of William B. Quarton, WMT Cedar Rapids, unanimously voted Friday to organize state association and approved writing of ethical code. Code was termed positive approach to that set for radio men by outside group, Iowa High School Athletic Assn., with which stations have had many policy run-ins. High school group, private union of public school principals, "censors" sportscasts and makes illegal demands on broadcasters, radio men charge. Principals recently banned KRNT Des Moines sportscaster from appearing on high school track meet telecast because of his comments [Broadcasting • Telecasting, June 4]. Broadcasters charge high school group not authorized officially by school boards and does not have representatives from public. TRUMAN ON NETWORKS PRESIDENT TRUMAN's Independence Day address will be carried by four radio networks and four TV networks, July 4, from Washington, D. C. ABC, ABC-TV, CBS, MBS and DuMont will air program from 9:30-10 p.m. (time President is scheduled to speak) ; NBC, 11:30-12 p.m.; NBC-TV, 11-11:30 p.m., and CBS-TV (kinescope) 10:45-11 p.m. KGFT Fremont, Neb., denied increase from 100 w to 250 w on 1340 kc unlimited on interference grounds, FCC announced Friday. Page 90 • July 2, 1951 BROADCASTING • Telecasting