Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan 1951-Jan 1952)

3 uted greatly to getting FCC 220-mile proposal of 1949 down to 180 miles (Vol. 7:5). "It is my opinion," he told engineers, "that these 12 vhf channels will eventually accommodate many more stations than are now proposed to be allocated... The range of all existing vhf stations will be in the neighborhood of 50 miles. Doubling the number of vhf assignments will reduce the figure to about 35 miles; 4 times as many... could be accommodated with a probable range of 25 miles or so. "Most of us who are now operating an AM station on a regional or local frequency would be very happy if we could cover a 25-mile range at night. "I believe that the first 4 priorities [of the FCC] will be more completely served by a larger number of smaller range stations than by the relatively small number of 50-mile range stations currently proposed." Also precipitating haste, of course, are the TV-prompted AM rate cuts, which would extend into nonTV areas (see page 1). Not that applicants won't strive mightily to get more commercial vhf channels into their cities, during hearings beginning June 11 (Vol. 7:15). In fact, FCC Chairman Coy's speech appeared to indicate more than ordinary Commission receptiveness to such efforts. DuMont will undoubtedly make most comprehensive pitch, improving its plan for 4-network system since FCC has proposed closer vhf channel spacing. To gain support for DuMont's position, v.p. Thomas Goldsmith said his plan will give 4 or more vhf channels to 51 of top 50 cities, compared with 7 in FCC plan. Further, he pointed out, his plan would require channel shifts of only 19 existing stations, compared with 31 proposed by FCC. Senator Johnson sounds almost like a vhf applicant when discussing allocation plan. He tells us: "I'm disappointed in the vhf allocation to Colorado, particularly to Denver. Previously, Denver was scheduled to get 5 commercial vhf channels; now it's getting only 5. That's not enough for a city of 500,000. Other states, like Wyoming, seem to have gotten better treatment. I don't think much of this mixing of vhf and uhf, either. The Commission knows what I think; I've told them." Asked what he thought of moving vhf channels from other Colorado cities to Denver, he said: "I'm not commenting about that." * * * * * Uhf got lift from several sources. Said Coy in convention speech: "I feel quite sure that uhf stations in the future will be able to cover almost any metropolitan area and a very large part of the rural areas... To me the strong probability of early assignments in the uhf look a bit more attractive than prolonged and costly litigation [for] the few vhf channels available...! believe that by time uhf transmitters can be put on the air, there will be substantial flow of receivers equipped to receive both uhf and vhf signals ready to go on market." Ex-Comr. E. K. Jett, now of WMAR-TV, Baltimore, expressed great hopes for uhf future. NBC's Ray Guy emphasized that his apparent bearishness on uhf during hearing (Vol. 6:46) stemmed solely from Bridgeport experience with low power and height, hilly terrain. RCA lab chief C. B. Jolliffe, in talk at Princeton U, said company's experience "has shown that a major expansion is practical and possible in the uhf. " And GE this week announced it has uhf converter (see page 6). Educators are about to announce permanent establishment of Joint Committee on Educational Television, with WOI-TV's Richard Hull as administrator and headquarters in Washington. Ford Foundation has granted JCET $90,000, and other foundations may come across soon with similar grants. Sen. Johnson wouldn't comment on educational reservation, said he had sent Benton Resolution for 90-day allocations freeze, pending Senate study (Vol. 7:15) to McFarland subcommittee "where it will get careful consideration." Pittsburgh's Mayor David Lawrence, president of U.S. Conference of Mayors, has been urging all mayors to spur educational TV activity in their cities. In Milwaukee, Mayor Frank P. Zeidler announced that he was doing just that.