Television digest and FM reports (Sept-Dec 1945)

AH ALADUJJI LAMP F03 TV: Major significance of RCA *5 new Image Orthicon, super sensitive video camera tube demonstrated to press in New York Thursday, lies in its effectiveness for round-the-clock telecasting of special events, indoors and outdoors, under ordinary or even sub-ordinary lighting conditions. New tube is said to have 100 times the light sensitivity of the regular studio Orthicon, and gives vastly greater depth of focus. It was perfected under war exigencies, until now has been a top secret in connection with military's remarkable "guided missiles" €uid other radar projects. Audience saw studio scenes picked up v/ith exceptional clarity under relatively dim illumination. Stunt pickups included scenes by matchlight, candlelight. flashlight . One remote pickup from Madison Square Garden rodeo was received clearly under normal lighting conditions. A comparative shot by Orthicon showed up badly. Problem still to be ironed out is improvement of resolution, not yet up to par of studio Iconoscope. But since outdoor shots are from longer distances, resolution loss is not very noticeable. V/ork continues in labs to incorporate improvements into studio Orthicons. In addition, new camera obviously offers great prospects for better movie-making. Image Orthicon shown was a portable developmental model. Deliveries to TV broadcasters are expected in about 6 months. CAHD HATES FOB TV: A new pay-as-you-go policy will be instituted by DuMont’s WABD with December opening of its new Wanamaker tri-studio facilities. Broadcast time, formerly free, is being quoted at $180 a half hour or any part thereof, plus the following hourly rates for camera rehearsals: Studio A, $65; B (present studio at 515 Madison Ave. headquarters), $50; C, $50; D, $40. Previously, air time had been furnished free, only charge being for camera rehearsal at rate of $50 an hour for present Studio B and $35 for former and nov/ dismantled Studio A atop the 42-story Madison Ave. building. V/hen the one-time bandbox Studio A was converted into an engineering workshop, the $50-per-hour camera-rehearsal charge remained. For some time there was no charge for either air time or rehearsal, reasoning being — as it still is to some extent — that limited set circulation did not warrant charges. DuMont, so far as is known, is only station where future broadcasters may also gain experience. V/hile there was no charge originally as with experimental sponsored programs, a $1,250 hourly rate on air, including rehearsal, v/as instituted some months ago — at which time ABC, WOR and WNEW, v;hich had been experimenting at DuMont, left the air. This has been recently changed, so future users of the station’s facilities will be charged $1,250 for 2 half hours on the air per week, including 3 hours of rehearsal for each of 2 program periods. ABC consummated a deal of this kind before DuMont went off air for 90 days. V/hereas DuMont has allowed advertising agencies and package outfits to produce and direct their own sponsored shows, situation is different at WNBT-NBC and WCBW-CBS v/here, though commercials are invited, stations take over production of programs and add this cost to air and rehearsal time. Exclusive of program costs, depending on type of production, air time at NBC is: one hour, including 5 hours of camera rehearsal, $750, plus $100 for transmission; half hour on air, including 3 hours of camera rehearsal, $500, plus $100 for transmission. Additional camera rehearsals are $150 an hour. At CBS, where programs must also be directed by station staff, a charge of $150 an hour is made for all major use of studio, whether for ctimera rehearsal or broadcast. A half-hour dramatic show, including production cost, figures to run from a low of $1,500 to a high of $2,500, depending on talent, sets, rehearsals, etc.