Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

2 (Vol. 10:26-27). Sets-in-use total does not take into account receivers located in public places, bars, institutions, etc. TV ownership is highest in northeast section, where 71.6% of all households have set, and lowest in south, with 44.4%. Some 72.1% of homes in the metropolitan areas have TV, 35.6% in rural areas. Of upper income households surveyed, 72.8% own TV, while 35.9% of lower income groups have sets. Survey also shov/s that 77.7% of all persons living alone do not have TV, whereas percentage of all households which lack TV is 41.9%. Living room was location for 17 out of every 20 TVs. Some 100,920,000 radios in working order were owned by 45,020,000 households — 94.7% of all U.S. homes. They include 26,180,000 auto radios. Of total radio homes, 26,800,000 also have TV. Of the households equipped with TV & radio, 75.6% have 2 or more radios and 42.8% have 3 or more. Among radio homes without TV, 52.5% have 2 or more radios, 20% have 3 or more. Summary didn't indicate number of homes with 2 or more TV receivers. Of 67,870,000 radio sets in TV homes, 53,920,000 (80%) are not in same room with TV set. Only 25% of radio sets are in living room, as contrasted to TV. Radio ownership was highest in the north central area (96.9% of total homes), lowest in south (90.8%). Survey reveals 96.4% of all U.S. households have TV or radio set in working order. For purposes of survey, any radio or TV set which was incapable of receiving at least one station or channel at time of interview was ruled out. TV sets which could receive a picture but no sound, or vice versa, were counted in working order. In addition to the 28,450,000 TV sets in working order, 810,000 were found to be inoperable, as well as 16,740,000 radios. Committee supervising project was composed of Harper Carraine, CBS, chairman; G.S. Brady, General Foods; E.L. Deckinger, Blow; Kevin Sweeney, BAB. Scope and design of study were approved by ARF technical committee headed by Arno H. Johnson, v.p. & research director of J. Walter Thompson Co. RCA INSTALLING MILLION-WATT UHF STATION: Big things are going on in Wilkes-Barre, in the heart of uhf country, where not one — but two — TV stations are being souped up to effective radiated power of one megawatt, highest in world. General Electric is installing first of its 45-kv; transmitters for WILK-TV (Ch. 34), as we've already reported (Vol. 10:33,37), hopes to have station's output boosted to FCC's maximum of 1,000,000 watts before end of year. Though it's been given no publicity, RCA also is readying megawatt installation for Wilkes-Barre — for uhf pioneer WBRE-TV (Ch. 28). RCA officials refuse to comment, but it's assumed that the 2 stations will go to full power at about same time. RCA v/ill achieve megawatt power by hooking up 2 of its 12)4-kw transmitters in parallel and feeding output to 46-gain antenna. Method is similar to that used by GE, which employs three 12-kw units and 25-gain antenna. RCA and WBRE-TV prefer to play it "close to the chest" — won't reveal any details or target dates. "We won't enter into a race," says WBRE-TV mgr. David Baltimore. Nevertheless, it's pretty safe bet that one of the 2 Wilkes-Barre stations will be able to call itself "the world's first million-watt TV station," heralding arrival of a new era for uhf — availability of the power v/hich FCC considers to be the equivalent of 100-kw on Ch. 2-6 or 316-kw on Ch. 7-13. 2 LOUISIANA STARTERS, ONE IN IOWA: In time for World Series, new TV stations with interlocking ownership began test patterns this week in Alexandria and Lake Charles, La., and Sioux City, la., got its second outlet. There are now 408 TV stations in United States, of which 123 are uhf. This week's starters: KTIV, Sioux City (Ch. 4) begins programming Sept. 29 as NBC affiliate, started test patterns Sept. 23, using 25-kw DuMont transmitter and 633-ft. Wincharger tower with 6-bay RCA antenna. It's the first competitor of KVTV (Ch. 9), which began in March 1953. It's owned by Dietrich Dirks group, which will dispose of its radio KCOM to permit Perkins Bros. Co. (KSCJ & Sioux City Journal-Tribune) to buy 50% of the TV station. Dietrich Dirks is pres. -gen. mgr. ; Gene Flaherty (KSCJ), v.p. ; Douglas Hough, sales mgr. ; A1 Smith, chief engineer. Base rate is $250. Rep is Hollingbery.