NBC transmitter (Oct-Dec 1944)

2 NBC Transmitter General Sarnoff Awarded Legion of Merit VOL. 10 DECEMBER, 1944 No. 3 JVB C T ransmitter Published Monthly by the National Broadcasting Company RCA Building, Radio City,N. Y. RELIGION ON AIR During 1944, NBC followed a careful policy of overall coverage of religious events. The network developed its religious schedule to a point where the spiritual life of the nation is reflected comprehensively in all its phases, particularly in relation to the war. In addition to regularly scheduled studio series, there have been many successful special events on religious subjects during the year, the network swiftly following up the course of world news with appropriate on-the-scene presentations of significant events in Protestant, Catholic and Jewish secular circles. Two broadcasts symbolized restoration of religious freedom in parts of the world where worship had been restrained due to tyrannical dictatorships. One of these events was the religious service from a synagogue in Rome after Allied liberation of the Italian capital; the other was a Jewish religious service held on German soil for American soldiers. The special series, “The Church in Action,” heard during the year, was the first religious round-table program arranged under the auspices of a church body. During the 13 weeks of the program’s run, outstanding Protestant leaders were heard. The mutual exchange of recorded daily prayers between NBC stations in New York, Cleveland and Denver proved so popular that two more NBC cities — San Francisco and Chicago — will soon he in on the plan whereby clergymen featured locally can be heard via recordings in each participating city. NEW YORK.— Brigadier-General David Sarnoff. on military leave as president of Radio Corporation of America and chairman of the board of the National Broadcasting Company, has been promoted from the rank of colonel on the recommendation of the War Department. His nomination for the higher rank, by President Roosevelt. received Senate confirmation on December 6. He recently returned after nine months overseas where he was awarded the Legion of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service.” The award was made by Brigadier-General Royal B. Lord. Chief of Staff. Communications Zone. European Theater of Operations. General Sarnoff. at the time of the award, was attached to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, as special consultant to General Eisenhower on communications for U. S.: Group CC. Prior to D-Day he was active in the organization of communications which made possible world-wide distribution of invasion news and radio pictures to publications and broadcasters. Royal Heads Television NEW YORK.— In an executive order issued November 22 by Frank E. Mullen. NBC vice-president and general manager. John F. Royal is designated vice-president in charge of a newly established department of television. The move was made because of plans now being formulated to develop and expand the company’s television activities. After limiting its video programs to films for a period of 18 months, NBC expanded its schedule beginning in October. 1943, to include sports events, operas and variety shows. Recently, WNBT has telecast football games from the Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds, and boxing bouts from Madison Square Garden and St. Nicholas Arena. Under the new order, the entire television staff reports to Royal. After the liberation of Paris, he was instrumental in establishing wireless communications between Paris and the United Kingdom and between Paris and the United States. The citation, dated October 11, 1944, reads: “Colonel David Sarnoff, Signal Corps, U.S. Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while serving as Assistant to the Deputy Chief Signal Officer. SHAEF. from August 23 to September 16. 1944. Colonel Sarnoff was largely responsible for reopening communications in Paris, thus enabling press communications to resume both to the United Kingdom and the United States. "His ingenuity and resourcefulness made it possible to restore cables which had been severed by the enemy, and allowed French radio experts who had not worked for many years during the occupation to return to their duties. “Colonel Sarnoff’s outstanding devotion to duty, courage and great diplomacy in handling French citizens have aided materially in overcoming the great difficulties in attaining this objective.” VIDEO FORECAST CHICAGO.— With an eye to the postwar world, Frank E. Mullen. NBC vice-president and general manager, predicted that television will provide the most effective means for mass communication ever created. His remarks were addressed to the Chicago Agricultural Club on November 13. He stated a belief that television would rank at the top of new industries that will create jobs for men and women and capital. Mullen pointed out that television is not just a better form of an old product or a better way of doing a thing that has been done before. “Television,” he declared, “is something totally new. It will grow on soil where nothing grew before.”