Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

TRADE ASSNS. continued AM ST Supplies TASO With Vhf-Uhf Data The first all-inclusive measurement of vhf and uhf signals — of the Wilkes-Barre Pa., area — was turned over to the Television Allocations Study Organization last week by the Assn. of Maximum Service Telecasters. The printed material comprises 117 pages and 62 maps. Accompanying this report is over a quarter-mile of strip charts on which the measurements were recorded. The 60day study covered field measurements of WBRE-FM on 98.5 mc (uhf) and of WBRETV on 559.75 mc (ch. 28) with receiving antennas at 10 ft and 30 ft. above ground, and with a mobile antenna 10 ft. above ground. The measurements were made by AMST mobile unit No. 2, which traveled more than 6,000 miles. The tests were taken on eight radials with distances out to 30-87 miles. Also included are some recordings of signal intensities along arcs among these radials. The information will be evaluated (it is at present in raw form) by TASO Panel 4, Propagation Data, and Panel 5, Analysis and Theory. TASO was established at the request of the FCC last year to analyze vhf and uhf propagation and equipment. It is supported by NARTB, AMST, Electronic Industries Assn., Committee for Competitive Tv (uhf group) and Joint Council on Educational Tv. AMST was formed in mid1956 as an organization of major telecasters, mostly vhf. Its main program is the underwriting of a series of signal intensity measurements, for which it bought and equipped two mobile units. In cooperation with the FCC, it established techniques and standardized procedures earlier this year, using Norfolk, Va., and Harrisburg, Pa., as testing grounds. The unit which completed the Wilkes-Barre tests is now checking the Madison, Wis., area. Unit No. 1 is just completing a measurement of the Baton Rouge, La., area, after which it will move to Fresno, Calif. AMST has spent close to $100,000 making these tests. TASO Progress 'Significant/ Town Tells Panel at AIEE Meet "Significant progress" has been achieved thus far by the Television Allocations Study Organization, but "a great deal remains to be accomplished," according to a report delivered at the fall general meeting of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in Chicago. George R. Town, executive director of the industry organization, noted "a large amount of work remains to be done." He cited wave propagation measurements still to be made in many areas. Since last February, when TASO held its first panel coordinating committee meeting, there have been 38 separate sessions and questionnaires have been circulated to manufacturers, broadcasters and tv servicemen to gather needed data, Mr. Town reported. He noted wave propagation measurements and field performance surveys have been conducted in some areas. "A significant step forward has been taken," Mr. Town claimed, "in the estab HOWARD HEAD (r), consulting engineer, explains the meaning of a field intensity recording strip to Lester Lindow, AMST executive director (I) and Dr. George R. Town, executive director of TASO (c). Messrs. Lindow and Head officially turned over to TASO the results of AMST's first full-scale measurement of vhf and uhf signals in the Wilkes-Barre area. lishment of standard methods for taking field strength data at both uhf and vhf." He alluded to studies of uhf boosters and translates in New England and of "unusual" vhf wave propagation effects in Virginia. Robert M. Bowie, research director of Sylvania Electric Products Inc., chairman of TASO Panel 5 (Analysis and Theory), told the same tv and aural broadcasting session Oct. 8 that "the performance of TASO in its task of providing means for predicting the coverage of a potential television station will be bounded by the ability of another panel (4) to predict propagation. The other steps in the technical tasks of TASO appear reasonably amenable to solution by the exercise of established scientific and engineering methods." Mr. Bowie's panel will prepare a report on technical findings of TASO for submission, after review and approval, to the FCC. Tv and aural broadcasting sessions Oct. 8, during the week-long meeting at the Morrison Hotel, also featured talks and papers on tv station coverage, color and monochrome cathode ray tube tests, video tape applications, performance of uhf and vhf tv transmitting and receiving equipment and measurement of tv field intensities. Robert W. Galvin, president of Motorola Inc., challenged engineers to become the "taste-makers of American society during the electronic-atomic era." He addressed the opening session Monday. Dr. W. L. Everitt, dean of the college of engineering, U. of Illinois, was awarded AIEE's Medal in Electrical Engineering Education. The meeting was held concurrently (Oct. 7-9) with the 13th annual National Electronics Conference and exhibition at the Hotel Sherman, sponsored by AIEE, Institute of Radio Engineers, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern U. and U. of Illinois in cooperation with Electronic Industries Assn. Harold V. Gaskill, vice president of Collins Radio Co., addressed the opening NEC session, urging more basic research in electronics. Chicago Agenda Set By Promotion Group Plans for the two-day convention and seminar of Broadcasters' Promotion Assn., to be held Nov. 1-2 at the Sheraton Hotel, Chicago, were nearing completion last week. Developed under the supervision of Dave Partridge, BPA president and advertisingsales promotion manager of Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.. and Ell Henry, convention seminar chairman and director of advertising and promotion for ABC's Central Division, the plans call for five seminar sessions in addition to luncheon and business meetings and the annual banquet on Friday night, Nov. 1. Elections will be held at an afternoon meeting Nov. 2. The convention will open Nov. 1 with an 8:45 a.m. business session, followed by a seminar on "Trade Advertising" with Joe Zimmerman of WLBR-TV Lebanon, Pa., as moderator and a panel of Theodore D. Mandelston of Henry J. Kaufman & Assoc., Washington; Frank Brady, Ayleshire & Cohen Adv., New York, and James Kiss, WPEN Philadelphia. This seminar will be followed by a question and answer session. Speaker at the Nov. 1 lunch will be Ben H. Wells, vice president and director of sales and advertising for 7-Up Co., St. Louis, who will discuss "Gearing Advertising to Total Marketing." The second seminar session, at 2 p.m., will deal with "Effective On-The-Air Promotion." Gene Godt, WCCO-TV Minneapolis, will be moderator and the panel will consist of William J. Kaland, WBC; William Walker, WFGA-TV Jacksonville, Fla., and Alice Koch, KMOX St. Louis. Another seminar, on "Sales Presentations — How and When to Make Them," is scheduled at 4 p.m. with Charles A. Wilson of WGN-AM-TV Chicago as moderator. Panelists include Thomas B. March, WWCA Gary, Ind.; Harry Wilbur, WBBM Chicago; Richard Hodgeson, "Advertising Requirements," and perhaps one other member. Annual cocktail party is slated at 6:30 and the convention banquet at 7:30 with Howard Miller, WIND Chicago disc jockey who also is on NBC-TV and CBS Radio, as m.c. for a program featuring leading radio, television and recording talent. Fourth seminar session, starting at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 2, will deal with "Merchandising — The Red Ink Invader or a Bugaboo?" Paul I. Woodland, WGAL-AM-TV Lancaster, Pa,, will be moderator and the panel will include Bert Downing, KYW Cleveland; Howard Meeks, WMAL-TV Washington; Robert Kenny, WMT-TV Cedar Rapids, and Keith Wilson WTTV (TV) Bloomington, Ind. Final seminar, at 10:30 a.m., will cover "promotion cooperation with Agencies and Syndicates," with John Hurlbut, WFBMAM-TV Indianapolis, representing the station viewpoint and Clyde Clem, BomarLawrence, Atlanta, speaking for the agencysyndicate side. The Nov. 2 luncheon will wind up with the seminar. A business session, including election of officers, will follow at 1:30 p.m. and a meeting of the BPA board will be held Page 96 • October 21, 1957 Broadcasting