Television digest and FM reports (Sept-Dec 1945)

FBICSS AJiD PH0BUCT!0}l: OPA is awaiting cost data from North Atlantic parts manu facturers before reviewing increase factors as requested by industry. These figures will be considered together with mid-west information left with OPA last week. Industry's objections are based on inability to produce at ceiling prices without loss. Senate V/ar Investigating Committee has also informed RMA that an investigation is being made of situation, especially in regard to possibilities of unemployment. Permission to fill orders for parts to go into original radio sets, v/ith prices to be adjusted after OPA reviews costs figures, had been anticipated by industry and discounted. Set manufacturers, still unable to get parts and go into production, are beginning to lose their early optimism re quantity output this year. Some production, mainly AM, based on parts inventories on hand, is probable, but in nothing like volume hoped for. Set manufacturers are not looking forward too hopefully for ruling on price ceilings until parts price knot is untangled — not for several weeks at best. mm AND VIEWS: General Electric is understood to be preparing a cheap adapter for present FM sets, making possible their use on new band, but GE on inquiry v/ill state only that their "engineers are studying FM converter problem. ”... .Federal Telephone & Radio Corp. , which is building CBS's ultra-high-frequency TV transmitter, is shopping around for a manufacturer to make camera and all other studio equipment except lights. . . .Farnsworth showed two types of TV receivers at distributors meeting in New York last V/ednesday, one a direct viewing table model and the other a projection model with a 16x22-inch screen. Neither was demonstrated nor v/ere prices announced. ... Sponsored by the magazine "Televiser , " a Television Institute opens in New York's Commodore Hotel Oct. 15. Speakers scheduled include ex*FCC Chairman Fly, DuMont's Dr. Goldsmith, CBS's Dr. Goldmark, American's Paul Mowrey, Paramoiint's Paul Raibourn, and others. .. .Tom Hutchinson's resignation from RKO Television Corp. does not mean company is retiring from field of producing TV programs for stations, networks, agencies, advertisers, says Ralph B. Austrian, exec, v.p., in letter designed to scotch rumors. Company is dropping live-talent programming and will confine efforts to programs on films.... CBS v/as granted permission to identify WABC New York over its FM affiliate, WABC-FM, during operation of latter from 6:30 to 7;45 a.m. This is exception to Sec. 3.287 (f) of Rules for FM Broadcasting as published last week (Supplement No. 7).... Just released from Navy, v/here he was with "guided missiles" project, in which TV played an important part, Lt. Leonard Hole has returned to CBS Department of Editing and Copyright as staff editor and liaison for TV activities. ... Solid, f eet-on-ground facts and thoughts on TV is contained in "Television Grey Matter," monthly bulletin issued by Grey Advertising Agency, New York. It's good reading for those concerned with advertising slant on subj ect . . . . TV gag of the week; "Hurry television along, because we want to see Drev/ Pearson demonstrate his sponsor's product!" EXTHA COPIES or FM RULES: We are proud to report that our printed edition of the new FiM Rules, published last week as Supplement No. 7, was the only wholly complete and accurate copy published by anyone. We were fortunate enough to catch errors and omissions in FCC's mimeographed release before going to press, and so by running off extra copies we were even able to comply with FCC's request for several hundred reprints. The FM Standards will also be published by us in similar loose-leaf form. From our extra supply we will be glad to furnish a few extra copies — but to our subscribers only.