Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

NARTB CONVENTION AMPEX SHOWS VTRs, DEMONSTRATES CLAIMS BROADCASTERS got their first collective look at Ampex video tape recorders in demonstrations under field conditions at the NARTB convention last week. Ampex described the showings, conducted in cooperation with ABC-TV, as loosening the "noose" around perennial DST problems, utilizing three VTRs in the Chicago Daily News Bldg. Ten prototype models have been in use at major networks the past five months, utilized in varying patterns and for different purposes. Ampex hopes to deliver its first production unit by November and deliver a 100-plus VTR backlog by May-June 1957 [B»T, April 1]. Representatives of networks, affiliates and independent operators saw three recorders (VR-1000) in action — one for closed circuit recording and nearly instantaneous playback, a second picking up programs from ABC's o&o WBKB (TV) Chicago and a third for playback to point up interchangeability of tapes. Companion monitors in a separate studio were set up to demonstrate company claims. NARTB delegates saw first-hand how an Ampex unit can record studio or actual programs and reproduce them within a relatively short span of seconds. They witnessed interchangeability of tapes among three units and observed the relative ease-of-handling in connection with threading and dubbing, much as with audio tape. Interchangeability took four tacks: (1) Plain recording and playback. (2) Playback, followed by processing of a tape copy, played on a second unit. (3) New sound track developed from the original tape (separation of audio for rebroadcast) on one VTR emerging on another. (4) Emergence of a tape from an initial machine on still another model. Quality of definition at the demonstrations, held April 7-10 from 6 to 10 p.m., was uniformly impressive, illustrating the superiority of video tape over film and, particularly, kinescopes. Demonstrations also seemed to buttress Ampex claims it has refined the original prototype model shown at last year's NARTB convention to the extent of alleviating "wobble" and other defects. Confidence that VTRs will move once production bottlenecks are licked and tape manufacturers turn out product with which they are satisfied was expressed Monday by Howard A. Chinn, chief engineer, audiovideo division, CBS-TV engineering dept., in a paper during the NARTB engineering conference. And when more VTRs become available, he added, there will be more techniques possible with them. Right now, he asserted, sources of supply are a problem, "to put it mildly," but manufacturers are working on difficulties. Ampex has reorganized to accommodate expected heavy business, creating a new professional products division for production and sales of equipment for broadcasting and professional recording industries effective May 1. The division will service broadcast ing stations, recording studios and tape duplication centers, marketing VTRs (and including, eventually, color models), time delay systems, high-speed duplication systems, studio recorders, portable recorder and monitor-amplifier-speakers. Ampex hopes to break out with a color model within 18 months [At Deadline, April 8.] Consumer activity in high fidelity and other products will be centered in a newlyformed subsidiary, Ampex Audio Inc. McNaughten to Spearhead Ampex Videotape Activities NEAL K. McNAUGHTEN, for the past four years manager of market planning for RCA's commercial electronics division and previously NARTB engineering director, has been appointed manager of Ampex Corp.'s newly-formed Professional Products Div., spearheading the company's video tape recorder and other commercial tape recording activities. The announcement was made Tuesday during the NARTB convention by Philip L. Gundy, vice president and audio division manager of Ampex Corp. He said selection of Mr. McNaughten reflected the company's decision to "concentrate heavily in the television, radio and professional recording industry. Mr. McNaughten assumes his new duties at Ampex's offices in Redwood City, Calif., on May 1, 1957. Mr. McNaughten will direct development, NEAL McNAUGHTEN (r), recently named manager of the professional products division, Ampex Corp.. discusses features of the Ampex Videotape Recorder with Phil Gundy, manager of Ampex's audio division. marketing and engineering of all commercial tape recording products, as well as lead the direct-to-consumer selling program planned by the new division [At Deadline, April 8]. Quality Names Sales Committee To Make Presentations in Fall SALES and promotion committee has been appointed to prepare a selling presentation for Quality Radio Group for the fall season. The committee was appointed by Ward L. Quaal, vice president and general manager of WGN-AM-TV Chicago and president and chairman of Quality, after a presentation by Scott McLean, eastern sales manager of Crosley Broadcasting Corp. The committee will include Mr. McLean; Ben Berentson, eastern sales manager of WGNAM, and John deRussy, WCAU Philadelphia. Representatives of some 17 Quality stations held a breakfast meeting Monday during the NARTB convention. On the basis of Mr. McLean's report and personal contacts, Mr. Quaal reported encouraging sponsor interest in terms of QRG programming and audience-advertiser acceptance. The plan now is to equip 22 Quality station members with sales tools and urge them to sell advertisers on the basis of their individual and group operations. Clients will be offered programs on a minimum 10station lineup. Quality Radio Group, comprising several 50 kw 1-A and 1-B outlets on clear channels, plus regionals, has been "semi-dormant" in recent months, but expects to obtain support from advertisers interested in attractive audience, programming and coverage advantages. The organization has been operating without benefit of a paid director during an acknowledged transition period. Officers attending the meeting in the Conrad Hilton Hotel Monday included Mr. Quaal; W. H. Summerville, WWL New Orleans, vice president, and William D. Wagner, WOC Davenport, Iowa, secretarytreasurer. Society of Tv Pioneers Organized at Convention THE Society of Television Pioneers, conceived solely for "fraternal and gastronomical" purposes, was formally launched last Monday during the Chicago NARTB convention. W. D. (Dub) Rogers Jr., president of Texas Telecasting and chairman of the organizing committee [B«T, March 25], presided over the session that drew a capacity crowd of nearly 300. For the present, Mr. Rogers said, membership will be limited to those in tv prior to the allocations thaw of 1952. Active memberships will be restricted to station and network executives. Associated memberships will be for allied organizations, such as NARTB and the Television Bureau of Advertising. A motion was unanimously carried that the organization committee be named en toto as the temporary board. The members, in addition, to Mr. Rogers, are Campbell Arnoux, WTAR-TV Norfolk, Va.; George M. Burbach, KSD-TV St. Louis; John E. Page 114 • April 15, 1957 Broadcasting • Telecasting