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

RCA Begins Production of Color TV Sets; Gives Manufacturing "Know-hoiv^^ to Industry Plans Announced ro Bring Color TV into American Homes; Deliveries of 13-Inch Color Receivers Started from Bloomington, Ind., Plant Production of the Radio Corporation of America's first commercial color television sets began on March 25 in the Bloomington, Ind., plant of the RCA Victor Home Instrument Division as the initial step in a comprehen- sive program to bring color television into American homes. The following day, RCA revealed its color plans to seventy competing manufacturers, furnishing detailed engineering and manufacturing information on RCA's first commercial model — the CT-100. At the same time, a full report was made on RCA's manufacturing plans and on the National Broadcasting Company's plans for colorcasting. As a prelude to the meeting of television manufac- turers, RCA invited press representatives to Bloomington on March 25 for an inspection of its color television production line, which is more than two city blocks in length and geared to an output of 2,000 color sets a month. RCA announced that it planned; 1. To manufacture during 1954 — regarded as the "introductory year" for color television — about five thousand 15-inch color receivers and about five thousand 19-inch color receivers. These quantities can be in- creased to meet the public demand as it develops. 2. To begin shipment of color sets the following week. Initial deliveries are going to RCA distributors in areas where network color signals can now be received. Already, color reception is possible in 35 large cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. It is estimated that by the end of 1954, one hundred twenty-five TV stations will be equipped for color broadcasts, providing coverage for 75 per cent of American homes. 3. To expand color programming over the NBC net- work. By the end of this year, NBC will be colorcasting two programs a week from New York and a third from Burbank, Calif. In addition, NBC will present a series of specially produced ninety-minute shows, "Spectaculars in Color," the most elaborate in the history of broad- casting, beginning in October, 1954. Largest set ever built for television — created for the NBC broadcast of "King Richard II." J. B. Elliott, Executive Vice-President in charge of Consumer Products, discussing the outlook for the color television market, said: "Basically, as was the case of black-and-white TV, we are interested in seeing color television grow, steadily and securely, into a national service. This will take a lot of doing. Such an undertaking is too big for any one firm. It must be an industry-wide project, backed to the limit by each of the separate, competitive companies. "We believe that the prospects for color television today are just as bright as black-and-white's were seven years ago. To show the extent of RCA's confidence, 1 quote the figures we prepared — figures on the sales prospects of color receivers during the next five years. "During this year and next we believe the demand for color sets will exceed the supply. According to our estimates, the industry should be able to sell 70,000 units in 1954, and 350,000 in 1955. "During 1956 we believe unit sales will reach 1,780,000; during 1957, 3,000,000; and during 1958, about 5,000,000. These annual sales add up to the very satisfactory total of 10,200,000 color sets in use five years from now. "We believe that the RCA initial model CT-100 (with a suggested list price of $1,000) will help make television history. And we believe the market for color is as great as the market for black-and-white television was seven years ago." hijoiDiatioii to Competitors E. C. Anderson, Vice-President of the RCA Com- mercial Department, made these comments on the plant visit by RCA's set licensees: "This visit is another expression of RCA's long- standing policy to introduce color television at the earliest possible time. We have devoted substantial cash and considerable manpower to this important task. We believe that the process of continuing research and development by RCA and by other companies in this vital new field of color will be commercially rewarding to the industry within the next few years. RAD/O AGE 3