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

First Network Video Pact KSTP-TV and NBC Sign Pioneer Contract Assuring Television Program Service to Twin City Viewers THE first station affiliation con- tract in the history of television was signed March 17, by Frank E. Mullen, executive vice president of the National Broadcasting Company and Stanley E. Hubbard, president and general manager of Station KSTP-TV, St. Paul-Minneapolis. Under terms of the contract, both the NBC Television Feature Service —consisting of all unsponsored NBC Television network programs,—and television network sponsored pro- grams were made available immedi- ately. KSTP, parent station of the television outlet, is a pioneer mem- ber of the NBC sound broadcasting network. "All the far-flung facilities of the NBC Television network will bring into the homes of St. Paul-Minneap- olis the world's best television serv- ice," Hubbard said. "In extending the network to the Twin City area, we are supplementing our great sound broadcasting public service with the finest sight-and-sound pro- gramming that the country has to offer. "Our network service will be sup- plemented by a complete program- ming of local features, and I have every assurance from the National Broadcasting Company that out- standing events from the territory surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul will be shown from time to time on the network. Will Provide Programs on Films Mullen explained that in advance of interconnecting facilities to the midwest by radio relay or coaxial cable, NBC Television will provide a program service on film, as well as by script—and possibly with live talent, too—to KSTP-TV. When such connecting facilities become available, the station will receive the network programs direct from their origination point. At the same time, Mullen also said that all NBC Television Feature Service programs will be made avail- able to stations for cooperative sponsorship. KSTP-TV is on the air now and expects to provide regular commer- cial program service before the end of April. Under the direction of Hubbard, one of the founders of KSTP and now president and gen- FRANK E. MULLEN, NBC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT (LEFT) AND STANLEY E. HUBBARD SIGN CONTRACT WHICH MAKES NBC TELE- VISION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO KSTP-TV, IN THE TWIN CITIES. eral manager, KSTP maintains studios in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. In March, 1944, the station opened a new Minneapolis Radio City. In addition to the five-station net- work which NBC is now operating on the East Coast, the company also is providing television service to four mid-western outlets. By mid- May the eastern network is sched- uled to reach from Boston to Rich- mond, and before the end of the year, NBC's owned-and-operated television stations in Los Angeles and Chicago will be on the air. It is expected that Chicago will be inter- connected with the East Coast net- work by January 1, 1949. Many Television Sets On Farms The importance of television serv- ice to the midwest area was empha- sized by Mullen during a recent visit in Chicago. In announcing that the International Livestock Exposition, which is to be held in that city next fall, would be televised, he stated that a substantial number of the 750,000 or more television sets that are expected to be in use by the end of the year will be in farm homes. Supplementing Mullen's state- ment, William Drips, NBC director of agriculture and agricultural tele- vision, said that the new medium will "revolutionize state-sponsored extension and educational work. Where today it requires literally thousands of experts to cover farm regions with up-to-the-minute meth- ods, tomorrow the whole job can be done with one television demonstra- tion, thus providing the present field staff with more time for other work." DIVIDEND DECLARED Following the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Radio Corporation of America held on February 6, in New York, Brig. General David Sarnoff, President and Chairman of the Board, an- nounced that a dividend of 8TY2 cents per share had been declared on the outstanding shares of $3.50 Cumulative First Preferred stock, for the period from January 1, 1948 to March 31, 1948. [RADI O AGE 7]