Television digest and FM reports (Sept-Dec 1945)

EQUALIZING FM COVERAGE: Boyish Bill Lodge, CBS engineering chief (he looks 25, is actually pushing 40) , came f orv/ard with a new FM allocation plan at FCC hearing last Monday which looked good enough to Commission engineers, and to most others affected, so that it — or a variation of it — very likely will be adopted within next 10 days. Plan was answer to Commission's demand that CBS and NBC, only tv/o dissidents to Area I plan previously announced (see Supplement No. 6), produce an alternative. It is designed to iron out disparities between one channel and another in New York area. But since that city is key to whole of Area I, it inevitably affects all prospective assignments in whole northeastern area. CBS alternative grew out of networks' objection to their assignments to lower-coverage frequencies — just because they were netv/orks — with so-called independents getting the choicer channels. The Lodge plan reduces New York coverage spread from FCC's high of 8,060 sq. mi. and low of 5,500 sq. mi. to a high of 7,490 sq. mi. and low of 7,000 sq. mi., with exception of VVNYC-FM which remains at 5,400 sq. mi. under both plans. Three stations in New York (Metropolitan Television's WABF, Maj . Armstrong's WFMN, New York Times' WQXQ) lose area coverage under CBS plan, while two (Muzak's Vv'GYN, Loew's WHNF) lose population coverage. But the others gain. In all, coverage on some 48 channels in Area I is reduced as compared with FCC's original allocation, whiie coverage on virtually all the others is extended. There were few objections to this equalization plan, but several assignees, who liked what they got in original allocation, , asked that no change be made; their objections, for the most part, apparently could be met even under the CBS plan. NBC's Henry Ladner went along v/ith CBS plan, but suggested that, if it is not deemed acceptable. Commission make assignments on basis of length of FM development, program service etc. In other words, not to discriminate against the networks. Chairman Porter pointed out that Commission was eager to get FM going quickly, and he and other commissioners manifested a real desire to straighten out discrepancies — so that an early emergence of final allocations seems certain. Though everyone was grabbing for choice assignments, it was pointed out that FM stations are only guaranteed protection to their 1,000 uv/m contour , and that future assignments in metropolitan areas might cut down whatever excess coverage is apparently gained under any plan of channel allocation. READYING FOR TV: Encouraging reports from FCC staffers on TBA's plan for the use of directional antennas to permit greater number of channels in New York City and other metropolitan areas lend to belief that TV rules and channel allocations may be ready in 2 or 3 weeks. FCC engineers still have to check the contours of the 48 cities in which directive transmission is proposed. If found as satisfactory as TBA proponents claim, Commission will be ready to go ahead with the form.ulation of rules and channel assignments. Meanwhile, Larry E. Gubb, Philco chairman, upheld the FCC's stand on the go-ahead for TV on present low-band frequencies. Speaking before the Cornell Club of Michigan, Gubb said, “I doubt if anyone would have foregone the pleasure of his automobile as a means of transportation to wait for the developments of 1945." TV's method of presenting symphony orchestras — long shots and closeups of individual instrumentalists vs. Disney's Fantasia scheme — a subject under discussion by teleproducers from time to time, came in for some ribbing from Paul IftTiiteman, ABC music director. In a letter to the New York Times, Whiteman said.