Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1955)

13 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Long-awaited Consolidated Consumer Analysis, released this week and covering 20 mai’kets where newspapers conducted own consumer buying surveys in Jan. (Vol. 11:15,20), reveals important data on TV purchase plans this year, rate of saturation and ownership by makes. Here are percentages of families, both TV & non-TV owners, planning to buy set this year (saturation as of Jan. in parentheses) : Sacramento, 15.7% (60.8%) ; Modesto, 12.4% (59%) ; Newark, 11.8% (92.9%); Fresno, 11.7% (66.4%); Washington, 10.8% (81.6%); Portland, Ore., 10.5% (64.9%); Milwaukee, 9.1% (93.1%) ; San Jose, 8.9% (82%) ; Honolulu, 8.7% (62.9%); Cincinnati, 8.6% (90.7%); Portland, Me., 8.4% (77.9%) ; Seattle, 8.1% (74.8%) ; Long Beach, 7.4% (90.8%) ; Duluth-Superior, 6.8% (75.3%) ; Phoenix, 6.5% (81.5%); Indianapolis, 6.3% (88.6%); Columbus, 0., 5.3% (93.8%) ; St. Paul, 4.9% (89.2%) ; Omaha, 4.5% (88.7%); Salt Lake City, L5% (87.1%). RCA ranks first among set ownership in 16 of those 20 markets; Hoffman is tops in 2 (Fresno & Modesto); Admiral, one (Phoenix); Philco, one (Sacramento). Newspapers in some of the markets asked additional TV questions of consumers; for example, Milwaukee Journal last week published replies to queries on second-set ownership (Vol. 11:20). Copies of the consolidated report, which gives basic data on all 20 markets, are available from Milwaukee Journal promotion dept., which coordinated information. Individual copies of respective market studies are available from these newspapers: Portland (Me.) Press Herald and Evening Express, Columbus Dispatch and Ohio State Journal, Cincinnati Times-Star, Indianapolis Star and News, Diduth Herald and News-Tribune, St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press, Omaha World-Herald, Salt Lake Tribune & Deseret News, Seattle Times, San Jose Mercury and News, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Honohdu StarBulletin, Phoenix Republic and Gazette, Oregon Journal, Newark News, Milwaukee Journal, W ashington Star. GE sees resurgent demand for 14-in. receiver, as second sets loom increasingly important in TV market. This week, it brought out a 32-lb. table model at $99.95, in Boston and Buffalo (and shown to press in N. Y.) as first cities in distribution expected to become nation-wide by July. It reportedly will cost distributor about $72, dealer about $80 — somewhat lower profit margins than on 17 & 21-in. receivers. Paul H. Leslie, monochrome TV sales mgr., told us that GE’s decision to resume 14-in. was motivated by marketing research indicating that comparatively few set owners are replacing their small-screen sets and demand is for a low-priced second set instead. “We expect to sell very few to initial buyers,” he said. “This set is designed to be taken from room to room or to the summer camp or any place where a portable radio goes.” Sets come in brown metal at $99.95, slightly higher for 2-tone ivory and gray. They’re about 1014-in. high, 13%-in. wide, 17-in. deep. They contain GE’s first vertical chassis (more are expected in GE’s new line to be introduced in July at National Assn, of Music Merchants show), are more than 50% printed-circuit, have 16 tubes (6 of them multi-purpose). They have 41-mc IF circuit, built-in antenna & all-channel tuner. Note: Olympic Radio has been merchandising 14-in. table model at $99.95 for last 8 months (Vol. 10:36). * * He * RCA will show new TV line, which reportedly includes its first vertical chassis sets, at meeting of field reps June 6-8 in Barbizon Plaza Hotel, N. Y. Regional meetings will be held June 10-12 in San Francisco, June 14-16 in Chicago, June 17-19 in New Orleans. SHIPMENTS of TVs to dealers in first 3 months totaled 1,968,347, compared to production of 2,188,252, according to RETMA state-by-state report released this week, supplementing recent 9-year tabulation, 1946-54 (Vol. 11:19). They compared with 1,655,839 shipped in first quarter of 1954, when production was 1,447,110. New York led, with 187,003; California second, 144,335; Pennsylvania, 125,252. March shipments were 690,097, compared to 640,771 in Feb. and 582,839 in March 1954. Here’s state-by-state report for quarter (county-by-county tables available to members from RETMA on request) : state Total State Total Alahama. 35,180 7,271 Arizona 10,941 Npw Jpr.<;py 60,216 Arkan.«;as 24,124 6,320 California 144,335 Npw Tork 187,003 Colorado _ . 14,339 NoT^.h Carnlina .61 ,7.62 Connecticut ... 26,981 Nnrt.h ‘Dakota 7,79.9 Delaware 3,855 .. 19,628 Ohio inn,fi47 District of Columbia.^ Oklahoma 29,675 Florida .. 61,153 Orpf?ron 2.6,787 Georgia . .. 40,268 Penn.sylvania .. 125,252 Idaho 9,380 9,416 Illinois 108,071 South. Carolina . . . 29,607 Indiana 52,994 fioiit.h Dakota Iowa 32,215 Tprmps.'^pp 43,7.6.6 Kansas 29,057 TpxaR 114,67.6 Kentucky 37i014 Utah 7,812 Louisiana 39,687 Vprmont 7,799 Maine ... 15,502 ■Vlrf^iriia 37,479 Marvland 26,388 Washington 34,009 Massachusetts .. 55;860 West vrrginia . .. ... 22,025 Mlchicran 78,431 WiRpon sin 43,883 Minnesota . . 36,326 Wyominpf 1,970 Mi.s.sis.sippi Missouri 18,526 54,829 U. S. TOTAL 1,962,726 Montana . . 6,468 9,3fin Nebraska 18,670 3^9fi1 Nevada 2,332 GRAND TOTAL 1,968,347 ■ Convention of National Community TV Assn, in New York’s Park-Sheraton Hotel June 6-8 will have as principal speaker FCC Comr. John C. Doerfer, who has shown a particular interest in community systems. Arthur Gladstone, of Commission’s Common Carrier Bureau, will describe FCC’s policy on microwaves for systems. Program includes panel sessions and speeches on taxes, promotion & advertising, satellites & boosters, govt, regulation, technical developments. Exhibitors include: Ampli-Vision div. of International Telemeter, Blonder-Tongue Labs, Entron, Federal Telephone & Radio, Jerrold, Phelps-Dodge, Philco, Plastoid, RCA, Rego Insulated Wire, Spencer-Kennedy, Times Wire & Cable, U. S. Wme & Cable, Vision Wire, Westbury Electronics. Bill to remove excise taxes from repair and replacement parts for TV-radio sets, to specifically exempt nonentertainment TV & radio from tax and to lift tax from certain TV-radio components and parts “where the cost of compliance and enforcement is not warranted by the negligible revenues produced” was introduced May 19 by Sen. Martin (R-Pa.) for himself and Sen. Dirksen (R-Ill.). The bill, S-2009, is identical to section of last year’s HR6440 which died when Congress adjourned (Vol. 10:34). Another microwave application to serve community antenna systems was filed this week — Antennavision Service Co., 612 Security Bldg., Phoenix, Ariz., seeking relay on Heliograph Peak to bring Phoenix station signals to towns of Clifton, Plantsite, Stargo & Morenci. Pres, of Antennavision is Paul Merrill, mgr. of Gila Bcstg. Co., operator of AMs in Coolidge, Globe, Safford & Winslow, Ariz. Application specifies Philco TLR-3AP equipment, construction costs of $18,382. Admiral and Federal Trade Commission may settle complaint charging misrepresentation in ads on 21-in. sets (Vol. 11:14,17,20) without need for hearing, it was indicated this week following cancellation of hearing scheduled May 17 in Chicago. Admiral lawyers and FTC attorney Edward K. Downs will confer later on terms. Raytheon pres. Charles Francis Adams Jr., taking cognizance of persistent “merger” rumors, states in current house organ “there is nothing of the sort in sight.”