NBC Transmitter (Dec 1945-Jan 1947)

December 1945 3 TELEVISION NEWSCASTING Developments in Handling Video News and Special Events Forecast Big Public Service NEW YORK — Television is whipping ahead these days at NBC headquarters in New York and not ihe least of the everincreasing activities falls under the general heading of “news and special events.” Supplemented by the recent return from service of former Lieutenant-Commander J. Harrison Hartley, USNR. as director of special features and utilizing the talents of Burke Crotty, television’s director of field pickups, NBC’s Station WNBT is gearing up for the day when it will meet the FCC’s minimum requirement of 28 hours per week. Currently, WNBT is on the air 171/2 hours a week, a large portion of which is devoted to coverage of sports events from Madison Square Garden: twice-aweek boxing matches; twice-a-week basketball, and once-a-week hockey. But probably the most comprehensive coverage ever given any sports event by television — and certainly a newsworthy event— was the televising of the ArmyNavy game from Philadelphia. Three cameras were utilized — including the newly revealed supersensitive RCA Image Orthicon — and the signal was relayed from Philadelphia to New York by the Bell System’s coaxial cable, unveiled as the first step in long-distance television. The reception accorded the telecast by 200 members of the press who viewed it was sufficient to convince the hardiest skeptics that television is here to stay. From a news point of view, three top guiding geniuses in the nation have made their television debuts over Station WNBT. President Harry S. Truman made his first video appearance when NBC covered his talk in Central Park on the occasion of Navy Day in October. As an example of the overall coverage WNBT is giving important special events, consider for a moment how Navy Day itself was covered: President Truman picked up by television cameras, motion picture cameramen shooting footage the entire day during the commissioning by Mr. Truman of a new carrier, a parade, ceremonies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, and finally, a “live" pickup that night from the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria of a Navy Day dinner. All the film taken during the day was quickly processed and put on the air that night, as well as the following night, under the sponsorship of Esso Marketers— pioneers in sponsoring news on NBC television. Thus, through the use of television and motion picture cameras, WNBT was able to bring to viewers throughout the day a complete picture story. The same has been true of other important events. Two other top-ranking celebrities made television history: General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower and Admiral of the Fleet Chester W. Nimitz. Films of both their arrivals in Washington (“Ike” in June, Nimitz in October) were flown to New York, put on the air the same night. The following day, parades through the city for both men were filmed for showing that night. In General Eisenhower’s case, television cameras were taken to the Polo Grounds, where he w’as brought to the televiewing audience for the first time. In Admiral Nimitz’ case, he was brought into the studio the day he arrived in New York for an exclusive telecast. Arrival of General Wainwright was fully covered by film as was the rousing reception accorded General de Gaulle in Newr York. These are samples of the way television is supplying viewers with important special events. Others in recent months have been the 14-hour consecutive telecasts of RADIO CITY: CHRISTMAS, 1945 YE and VJ Days when WNBT intermingled studio highlights with direct pickups by television cameras from Times Square as well as specially prepared film. Several sponsors, including Esso Marketers and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, have found these special events of enough importance to purchase time. Probably the single most important step in NBC television’s special events development has been the disclosure of the RCA Image Orthicon camera which is capable of picking up scenes in a blackedout room with only infra-red rays. This camera, said to be 100 times more sensitive than the orthicon— the camera NBC has been using for outside work — can pick up an image during daylight or twilight or moonlight. Details on this development were reported in last month’s Transmitter. With this combination of the new outdoor equipment, film, and studio programming—plus the “know-how” of NBC producers and engineers in delivering news and special events via television— the prospect for WNBT in this field looks excellent. ‘Peace Is Worth Paying For’ Is NBC Victory Bond Slogan NEW YORK.— “Peace Is Worth Paying For.” That was NBC’s theme for all network programs Saturday, December 8, which was officially designated as NBC’s Day in the Victory Bond Drive. On December 8, marking the day on which America officially declared war against Japan, all NBC programs were tied into the nation’s final war loan effort. NBC programs on that day featured special pickups and dramatizations urging the nation to buy its final quota of Victory Bonds to preserve the peace. “Peace Is Worth Paying For" was the theme devised by Clarence L. Menser, NBC's vice-president in charge of programs, who coordinated and directed the network’s participation in the Victory Bond campaign. NBC programs carried special announcements and messages promoting Victory Bonds throughout the campaign.