Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

4 basis as long as another station in same area is available to carry them live. One FCC proposal certain to go by the boards is its plan to require minimum of 5-kw transmitter power for uhf stations (Vol. 10:8-11,15-16). Rule-making proposal on this measure drew 11 comments in opposition, none in favor (see p. 11). * * * * Backing reallocation, 23-member UHF Industry Coordinating Committee this week invited all uhf stations and grantees to join it in preparing testimony for hearing, in letter over signature of temporary chairman Harold H. Thoms. WISETV, Asheville, N.C. (for members, see p. 6). Enclosed was summary of previous meetings at Washington and Charlotte, N.C., which endorsed this proposal: "Legislative or administrative proceedings should immediately be instituted to explore methods of reallocation or reassignment of channels in such a manner that ...equality of competitive opportunity is more readily available. [Meanwhile] there should be an immediate suspension of any further grants of applications for new TV permits and for changes in existing TV authorizations affecting coverage." Eighteen witnesses are now tentatively slated to appear before subcommittee. In addition to those listed last week (Vol. 10:16), list now includes: RCA technical products v.p. W. W. Watts ; Dr. Allen B. DuMont ; NBC finance v.p. Joseph V. Heff ernan : Bloomington, Ind. vhf telecaster (WTTV) and equipment maker Sarkes Tarzian; pres. Ronald Woodyard of uhf WIFE, Dayton, 0. (now off air) ; pres. Harry Tenenbaum of uhf WTVI, Belleville-St. Louis. Hearings will have to be postponed again if McCarthy-Army airing drags on longer than anticipated. Originally scheduled to begin April 27, the uhf probe was pushed ahead to May 4 because communications subcommittee chairman Potter (R-Mich. ) is also member of committee which is hearing McCarthy dispute. *1 =i: =r * Going off air for economic reasons April 20, WKLO-TV, Louisville, told FCC it hopes to "re-survey the situation" and resume operations July 25. It was the only uhf in a city with 2 pre-freeze vhf outlets, first went on air last September. WBKZ-TV, Battle Creek, Mich. , owned by John L. Booth of Michigan newspaper family, went dark April 23, hopes to resume June 1 after increasing power and height to afford "greater assurance of success." It was losing $9000 to $10,000 a month. Another uhf station revealed heavy losses in balance sheet filed with FCC in unsuccessful attempt to forestall Ch. 4 grant to KWK, St. Louis (see p. 2). WTVI, Belleville-St . Louis, showed deficit of $330,000 since its debut last August. It's one of 2 uhf stations on air in St. Louis area. Third — KACY, Festus — went off air April 2 to seek additional capital, having lost more than $250,000 (Vol. 10:15). Relinquishing CPs this week were WOUC, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Ch. 49) and WGLM, Lawrence, Mass. (Ch. 72) — making 69 surrendered since freeze, 57 uhf, 12 vhf. MORE BOOSTER EXPERIMENTS IN THE WORKS: Efforts to fill "holes" in uhf station coverage have stepped up recently, particularly after FCC indicated willingness to issue quick special temporary authority for boosters and satellites (Vol. 10:7). Boosters are in limelight at the moment, with several organizations experimenting. FCC's thinking on subject should be clearly understood. There's no intention to allow the repeaters to extend service areas. As Chairman Hyde explained it this week: "We'd consider them in filling in weak signal areas within the logical service radius of the station. It's too early to consider them for extending service to towns which might have their own local stations when TV matures further." RETMA group on boosters and satellites, under GE's W.J. Morelock, met in New York March 21, discussed problem with FCC Comr. George Sterling, NARTB engineering chief Prose Walker and others. Conclusion was that more information is needed. Long-time experimenter WSM-TV, Nashville, has for years tested booster in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. on vhf Ch. 4. Pres. J.H. DeWitt remains enthusiastic over results, and residents of Lawrenceburg are extremely pleased with the service. FCC is more concerned with uhf, however, and the fillip that boosters might give to their coverage. Now experimenting in uhf is consulting engineer Ben Adler,