Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

will be greatly retarded due to lim- ited economic support. Such a sep- arate program service would face the competition of well-established and popular programs of the pres- ent standard broadcasting system. Therefore, to stimulate the prog- ress of FM, NBC proposes to make its network programs available to the FM stations operated by the NBC standard band afiiliate sta- tions. To insure equal treatment to all NBC network advertisers, it is obviously necessary to carry the same commercial jirograms on the companion FM stations as are car- ried by the standard band group. As soon as an adequate number of affiliates establish companion FM stations, NBC proposes to util- ize either improved telephone cir- cuits covering a broader range of frequencies than are currently used, or an automatic radio relay system capable of transmitting pro- grams from point to point with high fidelity. In respect to cooperation with advertisers, which is recognized as necessary to insure a sound eco- nomic foundation for FM, NBC plans no additional charge to ad- vertisers who use the affiliated FM .stations during the development |)eriod. The rate of the standard band stations and the FM stations is to be established on the premise that it is a single service, until such time as the combined total audience justifies rate adjustments. To Receive Applications It is to be the policy of NBC to e.xtend to its affiliates the first op- portunity to program their FM sta- tions with NBC service. In such communities as may not now re- ceive primary service from NBC stations and in the absence of standard band stations, applica- tions for affiliation will be received from operators of FM stations. NBC believes that as the size of the national FM audience increases, there should be enough FM stations across the country to permit the organization of several new nation- al networks comprised of FM broadcasters. For all practical pur- poses, FM using its present alloca- tion in the radio spectrum, will provide as many broadcasting fre- quencies as there will be broadcast- ers to use them. The number of stations, however, may be limited by economic considerations. In the opinion of the NBC, FM will afford a new opportunity to impi-ove radio broadcasting, with the ultimate test hinging on the extent that improvement affects the l)rogram furnished the listener. The Company has stated that it welcomes this opportunity to coop- erate with its affiliated stations. Out of the extensive research and development work, which RCA has conducted tirelessly from the incep- tion of FM, have come inventions by RCA engineers that have long been available to the radio indus- try, by means of patent licenses. Such licenses include not only the e.xisting inventions of RCA and patents of others under which it has the right to grant licenses, but also future inventions made or acquired by it during the life of the licenses. The licenses run to 1947 and 1948, and may be extended to 1955, at the option of the licensees. They impose no restrictions upon the vol- ume or pi-oportions of the business which the licensees may do, nor up- on the prices at which they sell their products. RCA PRESENTS MUSIC AMERICA LOVES BEST Neu) Nctuiorb Proqram Features Outstanding Stars of Both Clossicol and Popular Fields. EACH Saturday night at 7:30 P.M. (EWT) over the Blue Network, the RCA Program—The Music America Loves Best presents a versatile half-hour show that combines the outstanding stars in both the classifical and popular worlds of music. Jay Blackton, a musician who is well known for his talents in both fields, is conductor of the RCA Victor orchestra and chorus. Since its premiere date March 4, the parade of stars on The Music America Loves Best has included: [24 RADIO age; screen and opera soprano, Jeanette MacDonald; popular baritone. Per- ry Como; Alfred Drake, singing star of the Broadway smash-hit musical "Oklahoma!"; the Metro- politan Opera's sensational 18-year- old coloratura soprano. Patrice Munsel; renowned Russian basso, Alexander Kipnis; lyric soprano, Mary Martha Briney; famed blind pianist and musical satirist. Alec Templeton; A r t u r Rubinstein, hailed as one of the greatest vir- tuoso's of the piano today; and popular mezzo soprano. Nan Mer- riman. Jay Blackton, the maestro in charge of this musical show, is a musician, who, by his own descrip- tion, has led a "dual career." That is, a career that has included dis- tinguished experience in both clas- sical and popular music. His orig- inal goal was to be a concert pianist. In this pursuit, he studied at Brooklyn Academy of Music and l)resented his first recital at the age of 12. This he followed with fur- ther study at the Institute of Mu- sical Art and a scholarship to the Julliard Graduate School of Music. He also studied abroad. Along came "difficult times," and Blackton reports that "I was forced to abandon my long hair and arty ideas in favor of dance orchestras." That, says Blackton, "was the be- ginning of my dual career." He spent several years as an arranger and conductor of popular dance bands and at the same time made appearances as a concert pianist. Today, his well-versed background in the popular field has won him the assignment as musical conductor of Broadway's most successful mu- sical, "Oklahoma." II ''> tkese