We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
WDSIOIM
A Review of 1939 and a Forecast for 1940
By NORMAN S. WEISER Associate Editor, Radio Daily
The long awaited debut of television finally took place April 30 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech opening the World's Fair was telecast by NBC. Since that time, only a few months have elapsed, and the record, which far surpasses that of radio in its initial year, shows not only the rudimentary pattern of television's future greatness, but also definite proof of the amazing progress brought about by the pioneer work in this newest of industries.
Progress
Progressing so swiftly that much of the historical value will inevitably go unrecorded marks television's story to date. In eight months of 1939 television created its first audience among the public; made gigantic steps forward in program production; rebuilt and improved its physical framework, and began the solution of the unavoidable problem of making a living for itself.
During 1939 a total of 600 telecasts were chalked up, with the schedule increased from two hours weekly to about 15 hours over the same span, on a five day a week. Of the total, 30 per cent were remote telecasts, 30 per cent were film, and 40 per cent were live talent telecasts from the NBC studios in Radio City.
Moving towards a solution of tele's most difficult problem — the business of becoming self-supporting — NBC cooperated with advertisers and their agencies in presenting more than 30 semi-commercial telecasts of various types. In these programs, sponsor paid all, or part of, the talent costs, with NBC meeting the expenses of production and overhead.
Too, more than 100 commercial films were telecast during 1939.
Network
The biggest job facing telecasters during the coming year is the establishment of network facilities, for only through this means can a profitable basis of operation be accomplished. RCA has already readied a new type booster station, to be constructed at a very low figure, which will be tested late in the spring, and which may be the answer to the problem.
Another new avenue recently opened up to the commercial angle is the use of television by large national advertisers at sales conventions, where mass demonstrations can be held with ease. Pioneered by Bulova, the movement has gained momentum steadily, and appears to be the first major trend developed in '40.
Programming
Added emphasis on live talent presentations will be in order during the current year, with a gradual trend away from the old films. Use of commercial films, however, appears to play a prominent part in the new industry, and will undoubtedly be increased during the succeeding months.
A definite television technique in the presentation of live shows will be developed, combining the major points of all audio-visual entertainment, and even now experiments are going forward full blast at NBC.
CBS
With the adoption of a "pattern transmission," CBS, towards the end of the year finally came to life, and to all intents and appearances, will begin an active schedule before the end of the current year. Continued experimentation is in order, according to President Paley, and programming and preliminary preparations will be emphasized.
For complete information regarding Television, please turn to page 613 where a 2 3page section will be found.
75