Radio annual and television yearbook (1949)

TV TRANSMITTER TRENDS By HERBERT E. TAYLOR. JR., Mgr., TV Transmitter Div., Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, Inc. H. E. Taylor, Jr. NOT too long ago the broadcasting industry found itself speculating widely on the future of television and the effect it might have on the f u«■""". ' tul"e of standard radio !.:' broadcasting. Today j mtagpf^ Jjhli little doubt remains: t ' , M television is currently ^ <v ' | a good two years ^ ■ || ahead of schedule; its patterns, potentialities and place in the home entertainment field can be adequately appraised. Which simply means that television has arrived. Tremendous strides have been made during the past twelve months. Television's growth is unmatched in the history of American industry. Monthly receiver production has increased some 2000 per cent over the early months of 1949, and 330 per cent over the early months of 1948. At the current rate of production, more than 2,000,000 television sets will have been produced and installed by 1950. Meanwhile, a total of 57 television broadcast stations are currently in operation. A total of 15 major market areas, representing over 30 per cent of the U. S. sales potential, are currently served by four major networks through coaxial cable or radio relay. Almost every station not on a network line receives and regularly schedules network shows by means of the new Teletranscription service. Advertisers no longer study the advisability of television as a means of advertising and selling merchandise. Rather, full concentration is on the type of show, budget allocations, and the procurement of time on the air most suitable for the product. • And telecast time is no longer restricted to the evening hours. Daytime programming has proved that television can equal and even excell the pull of standard radio any time of day, depending of course on the type of program. Current transmitter trends assure the possibility of television service in every marketing area of 50,000 population or more. Preconceived ideas of Hollywood techniques, tremendous programming facilities and numerous operating personnel, have been proven erroneous as applied to the average broadcast station. Broadcasters can now thing of television as a sound business venture requiring capital investments far less than the excessive figures predicted in the pioneering days of the industry. • Coaxial cable and radio relay networks preclude the necessity of extensive and costly studio and transmitting installations for other than key stations initiating the programs. A proven equipment "package" installation at a cost in the order of from $60,000 to $80,000 permits a broadcaster to inaugurate a television broadcast service and to meet operating expenses almost from the first month. Station personnel can be limited to five people working efficiently. This type of station will not, of course, originate many programs aside from films and slides. It will, however, provide the best in programming from a national network originating source in a major city. The effective radiated power of this station is in the order of 1.5 to 5 KW depending on the channel allocation. Increased power is attained at any future time, if required, through the addition of power amplifiers. This important factor of expanding the transmitting facilities is obtained at little cost and with no obsolescence. • Remote areas not served by a direct network line can be erected at modest cost comparable with a direct-feed network station. The development and continuing improvement of the Teletranscription has made network service feasible to these remote areas, and top-notch programming possible. The combination Teletranscription and film operation provides professional programming far superior to the average potential or local talent, although the top interest in local personalities and sports and events is not to be overlooked in the long-range planning. The development of UHF and the establishment of standards in this frequency spectrum can be expected by the end of 1949 or the first few months of 1950. The additional channels made possible by the exploitation of ultra high frequencies will open new doors in television broadcasting. For Complete List of Radio-TV Equipment Manufacturers See Page 1169 1129