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

opment in all phases of tele- vision. Technically, this in- cludes black-and-white, color, three dimensional views, transmission, reception and network distribution. Artisti- cally and educationally, this means development of pro- gram technique through use of motion pictures, live talent, outdoor scenes, news events, sporting events and other fea- tures of local and national in- terest. 2. The RCA Victor Division—a pioneer in television engineer- ing and design — will manu- facture the finest possible tel- evision equipment for sale to broadcasters and the public. 3. The National Broadcasting Company — a pioneer in tele- vision broadcasting—will con- tinue development of television broadcasting and program service to American homes and schools, and will develop plans for the establishment of a nationwide network of independent television sta- tions. 4. The Radio Corporation of America will continue to make available to its licensees all of its inventions in this new field of television as it has done in broadcasting and other fields of electronics. Television Introduces Problems "Television as an art and a new service naturally introduces new economic and artistic problems," said General Sarnoff. "While they are by no means easy to solve, many of them are similar to those which confronted the pioneer broadcast- ers. American ingenuity solved the problems of sound broadcasting and can solve the problems of television. "We are confident that this prog- ress report is the forerunner of further achievements. We shall continue pioneering in all phases of television. We shall move television forward from a local to a regional basis, thence to a national service and eventually, we hope to see it function on an international scale." Obsolescence Means Progress Warning that obsolescence in tel- evision is a necessary part of its progress, General Sarnoif pointed out: "In a science, art and industry so vast in scope and possessing pos- sibilities for unlimited growth as television, obsolescence is a factor which the public and the broadcast- er must always face as a guarantee of progress. "There will be obsolescence in tel- evision systems, transmitters and receivers. The purchaser of a re- ceiving set, or the licensee of a transmitter, buys his receiver or in- stalls his transmitter with the knowledge that he is pioneering in the development of a new service. Obsolescence will and must take place. When and how soon obsoles- cence occurs will depend up6n the ingenuity and creativeness of the scientists and engineers within and outside of the radio industry. "Similarly, the network operator makes an investment in the new art as part of his obligation to the public. He must not hesitate to pioneer and improve his network's service if this country is to lead in GENERAL SARNOFF OUTLINES RCA TELE- VISION PLANS AND POLICIES TO 100 NEWSPAPERMEN AND SCIENCE WRITERS AT PRINCETON DEMONSTRATION. television and the American people are to reap its benefits in entertain- ment and education, as soon as they are available. The time has come in television when the networks must assume the responsibility to intro- duce and to advance the new art of sight-sound broadcasting and to make their television programs available by whatever means may be found technically and economi- cally feasible to the independent stations associated with their net- works. "We do not fear obsolescence; we welcome it," said General Sai-noff. "That is why American industry continues to research and to make pi'ogress. Every new development in radio, whether it be a gadget or a system, involves some obsolescence of former methods. A television receiver or a transmitter is no ex- ception. Every new art or business based upon the technical sciences must deal continuously with the factor of obsolescence. "Assuming that a television re- ceiver bought for $250 becomes ob- solete in five years, the price the owner pays for obsolescence is less than 2 cents an operating hour, if he has program service from 2 or more stations; for a $150 receiver, less than 1 cent an operating hour. In New York, for example, there will be seven channels from which to choose programs. "Research and development in television must not be looked upon as a process of obsolescence. Rather it should be regarded as an evidence of progress through which a new sei'vice of sight and sound with con- stantly improved instruments and programs are made available to the American people." RCA Victor Plans Frank M. Folsom, Executive Vice President in Charge of the RCA Victor Division, announced that or- ders are now being accepted for new television transmitters which will be available in the autumn, 1946. RCA will manufacture tele- [RADIO AGE 4]