The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

BETTER MANAGEMENT BM-29 New Tele Apparatus Will Aid Expansion Moves TELEVISION A monthly department of Better Management devoted to new developments in television science, presented and interpreted in the light of the Cinema. Price Slashes Likely To Spur Tele Sales New York City — With limited comercialization of television given the nod by the Federal Comunications Commission’s Television report, leading set manufacturers are reported preparing to spur the sale of receivers through marketing at a lower price, it was stated last month. The problem of stimulating sales, it is understood, has been quietly receiving the attention of manufacturers during recent months. The total number of receivers now in operation throughout the country is placed at over 1,000. Although many improvements have been developed by manufacturers during the year, including perfecting square tubes to eliminate the concave effect in reception, manufacturers have been holding them back until the time was deemed right for an intensive marketing drive. Cut Rate Sales Help New York City — To test the demand for television sets if the price is right, the Radio Corporation of America instituted a cut-rate sale in the Newburgh area and sold nearly 100 sets in a week. The experiment was so successful that the cutrates will be kept for a month. Sets pried at $600 were cut to $395; $450 set to $295; $299 sets to $199, and $199 sets to $135. RCA figures that the Newburgh area has only l/30th the population of New York City, and, if the ratio can be maintained, thousands of sets can be sold in the big city in a short time. Tele Network Reported Pittsburgh — First definite indication of a television network was forthcoming from A. H. Morton, vice-president, National Broadcasting Company, at a special Rotary Club luncheon here late last month, when the statement was issued that, by the end of 1940, a network could be expected, wherein Pittsburgh would be able to see television programs sent out from New York studios. The local outlet for the television chain would, in all probability, be KDKA, NBC’s outlet here, it was revealed. Network Plans Progress Schenectady, New York — Technical details on the first television network are being completed by General Electric Company engineers, who have tested reception of images from the New York City television stations of the Radio Corporation of America-National Broadcasting Company set-up. Tele Film Exhibited New York City — Using a new motion picture on television which has just been completed by the Radio Corporation of America, Ellsworth C. Dent, RCA’s educational director, addressed the closing session of the third annual southern conference of Audio-Visual Education. Through the new cinema, Dent showed the relation between television and other types of audio-visual instruction aids, as radio, motion pictures, and recordings. Dent also acquainted the delegates with the various research activities being carried out by RCA in the educational field. Musicians Watching New York City — Locals of the musicians union will deal with television situations in their various territories, but the American Federation of Musicians’ national office will continue to note its progress, it was decided last month after a lengthy discussion of television problems by the union’s national executive board. A special television committee, consisting of President Joseph N. Weber, Financial Secretary Harry E. Brenton, and Chicago’s James C. Petrillo, made its report to the national executive board. Mass. Tele Asked Springfield, Massachusetts — Permission to build a television station here for experimental purposes, eventually to lead to the local manufacture of commercial units, has been asked of the Federal Communications Commission by Henry J. Walczak. He has been experimenting for some time with television, and if permission is granted he will construct a station in the Exeter Building at Worthington and Chestnut Streets. Wolczak applied for permission to operate 1,550 kilococycles, 250 watts power, and unlimited time. Tele Promotion Scores Schenectady, New York — The first general promotional stunt to introduce television locally swung into action on December 8, when Rotary International executives were seen and heard simultaneously at dinners here and in Albany and Troy. Rotary officials were televised from the General Electric station here to the dinners where sets were set up to give guests an opportunity to see televised images. CBS Due February 1 New York City— The Columbia Broadcasting System is slated to go on the air with its television programs about February 1. Washington — A new type of television apparatus, which will permit video pickup equipment to be as light as newsreel cameras, was unveiled before the Federal Communications Commission early this month. Marking the first time it has been shown outside the laboratory, the field kit was demonstrated by the Radio Corporation of America laboratories for the exclusive benefit of the FCC and members of the press. Promising to make the field work of television crews almost as simple as running a motion-picture camera, the new equipment is composed of 12 cases similar to those used by radio engineers on remote-control jobs. If use of telephone circuits to connect the crew with the home studio are desired, some of these cases may be left behind, and the apparatus is even lighter. The cost of the new equipment, RCA sources state, is about one-sixth the cost of present mobile equipment now carried in two large National Broadcasting Company vans. The new units can be carried in a station wagon or light delivery truck. Without the transmitter and with the use of telephone wires, the reduced equipment can be put in a taxi and sped to the desired scene, it was said. Jurisdiction Tiff Continues New York City — The battle over jurisdiction in the field of television, which was believed to have been settled by the appointment of a special television committee by the AAAA, broke out afresh recently when Equity issued a statement, saying that such jurisdiction belongs and always has belonged to Equity. The statement denies the right of the AAAA committee or any sub-committee to administer this jurisdiction. The statement, issued by Paul Dulzell, for his organization, declares that Equity intends to proceed with the organization of television and to exercise full jurisdiction in that field. New Amateur Frequencies Washington — Effective December 1, the Federal Communications Commission amended its rules, allocating certain frequecies for amateur use. For television and frequency-modluation transmission were allocated the following frequencies: 112.000 to 116,000, 224,000 to 230,000, and 400.00 to 401,00 kilocycles. For facsimile transmission were these frequencies: 1,715 to 2,000, 56,000 to 60,000, 112,000 to 116,000, 224.000 to 230,000, and 400,000 to 401,000 kilocycles. "Crucial Stage” — FCC Warns Washington — Asserting that a “crucial” stage has been reached, although noting certain progress in television since last May, the television committee of the Federal Communications Commission warned against pitfalls in giving television a “green light” prematurely, in its second report, filed with the Commission recently. The committee recommended liberalization of existing regulations to help popularize this method of visual broadcast. December 20, 1939 THE EXHIBITOR