Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (1950-1954)

network hook-up, projected in New York from 35mm prints. Most production of commercial films, spots, etc., for network use is in 35mm, although the small stations rarely are equipped with anything other than 16mm projection equipment. There was development during 1952 in rear-view projection techniques,25 as well as considerable development of new motion-picture projection equipment for television broadcasting purposes. Experimental work on methods of recording the television signal on magnetic tape instead of film was announced during the year,35 but despite repeated scheduling at engineering conventions nothing has been shown. Several companies are known to be working on this technique, but so far only Ring Crosby Enterprises has released publicity on the subject. The Crosby engineers use a 1-in. wide tape running at 100 in. /sec. on which they record twelve tracks, one for sound and eleven for video. This results in the resolution of 260 times the information that a standard 15-in./sec. tape can record. According to many, this is far from enough for a good quality picture. Some forward-looking engineers project the curve of current advancement in this field, compare it with the advancement of the photochemical industry and foresee the end of the motion-picture laboratory in ten years. If sound and picture can be recorded on tape, say these men, so can left and right-eye pictures. So can three primary color signals per eye; so can stereophonic sound. The high-definition, wide-channel, closedcircuit television camera may replace the motion-picture camera in the future. For the first time in history, television broadcasting facilities were made available in Canada during the past year, a station being placed in operation in Toronto and one in Montreal.18 This signified the inauguration of television throughout the Dominion. 1952 was a year of advances and expansion of television service in England. Early in the year, the B.B.C. extended television service to cover the Lancashire and Yorkshire areas. In March, Scotland was reached and in August, South Wales. It is reported that 80% of the population of the British Isles can now enjoy satisfactory television reception in their homes. Experiments are under way for a relay to Belfast, so that Northern Ireland will be able to receive London programs. Considerable planning and preparation is in progress for the televising of the Coronation in 1953. An outstanding achievement was the transmission of programs from Paris to England in the summer of 1952. In addition to the long-distance relays involved, a change of standard had to be effected half way in the chain where the 819-line picture of the French Service was converted to the B.B.C. 's 405-line standard. An interesting development in the foreign television field pertains to Australia. While there is no television broadcasting in Australia at present, it is anticipated that there will be at least one television station in each capital city within the next two years, operated by both Government and private enterprise. Standards for Australian television were laid down in 1950 and are still in force. Extracts from them are as follows : 1 . The width of the standard television broadcast channel shall be 7.5 me/sec. 2. The number of scanning lines per picture period shall be 625, interlaced 2 to 1, and the radiated signal shall be monochrome. 3. Polarity of Modulation. A decrease in the initial light intensity shall cause an increase in radiated power, that is negative transmission. Picture Frequency. The picture frequency of the radiated signal shall be 25 per second and the field frequency shall be 50 per second, nonsynchronous with the power mains supply and held within a tolerance of ±.002%. Type of Modulation. Within the television channel the visual radio carrier shall be amplitude modulated with both George R. Groves: Progress Committee Report 545