Television digest and FM reports (Sept-Dec 1945)

that more stations can be crowded into congested areas of U.S. (Area I) by protection to 1,000 uv/m contour than number that could be accommodated if RTPB original proposal to protect to 50 uv/m had been adopted. As many channels are now available, it is said, as at first desired by FMBI. Also, there's manufacturing problem of two-circuit receiver. Yankee's request for 30-day postponement of time for filing objection to assignment for WGTR, Paxton, v/as denied. Yankee wanted to see what Commission was going to do with its applications for new outlets in Boston, Providence, Hartford, before taking issue with \/GIR assignment. FCC said it could file for change later, if it so desires. LIKE GOOD BED MEAT; That phrase about epitomizes the reaction of those who heard NAB President Justin Miller's inaugural address the other night. V/e'd add, "But without either wine or applesauce".... For at long last American broadcasters have leadership akin to what baseball and the movies have enjoyed with reasonable success. Mr. Miller, ex-jurist, ex-professor, was inclined to be a bit didactic in his speech, but he made a most favorable impression among the scores of Senators, Congressmen, military brass, high public officials, broadcasters and other VIP's who crowded the Statler's Presidential room for a banquet big as most NAB convention banquets. He isn't a sparkling speaker, and he spoke almost as though reading an opinion from the Federal bench he graced so long and successfully. But the nub of his speech — that broadcasters must balance good taste and good manners without intervention or compulsion by Government, must practice self-control and selfdiscipline along lines of greater public interest — struck a wholesome and responsive chord. He's already at his desk in V/ashington, along v/ith A. D. (Jess) Willard, his executive assistant. Aside from the moral suasion over programs and commercials that will be their continuing headache, their first big administrative job will be to v/ork out consolidation of FMBI into NAB. Although opposed by Ira Hirschmann (Metropolitan Television's WABF) , one of the 9 out of the 53 FM grantees to date not now in AM, on grounds FM needs own aggressive organization, it looks as though merger plan is definitely in bap. NAB committee has approved FMBI terms, and final action awaits FMBI board meeting Oct. 20. Tentative idea is to have an FM Division within NAB, strongly staffed, governed by committee of 3 FM and 3 AM independents. FMBI members not already in NAB will be invited to join. SMOKES AJID COOL DBIHKS: Veteran editor and onetime radio commissioner. Dr. 0. H. Caldwell, a television enthusiast, who runs a sort of "television theater" for friends and neighbors at his home in Greenwich, Conn. , estimates that he has operated his TV receiver at least 300 evenings or afternoons an average of 2-3 hours per day during the last year. With average audience of 5 viewers, he says that, had they bought that number of tickets (1500) to the movies, at 50 cents each, the year's outlay would have been $750. Nearest cinema being 4 miles away, to go by car would have entailed 2,400 miles of travel costing $200 or more for gas and tires, not to mention time consumed. "Instead," he adds, "with television we were able to enjoy ourselves relaxed in our own living room to the accompaniment of smokes, cool drinks, shoes off and minimum dress — that that's the kind of television enjoyment that is awaiting everyone in all of tlie 30 million American homes that now have radios and who will eventually be seeing as well as listening."