Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

petition claiming its tests at Deerfield, 111., and FCC's own tests at Andalusia, Pa., indicate that 100 me won’t provide rural coverage. Zenith claims 50 me transmission has 2]^ times coverage of 100 me transmission. It also says that there are more applications for PM stations than can be accommodated in the 88-108 me band and therefore 40 more channels should be made available in the low band. TV Channel No. 1 covers the 44-50 me band at present. It is reserved for Community TV stations. Hearing order poses 4 issues: (1) Should 42-50 me band, or any part of it, be made available for PM in addition to present 88-108 me band; (2) If such band be made available, should it be for Non-Commercial Educational, Community, Metropolitan and Rural stations, or only for Rural stations; (3) Should such frequencies be made available for the entire U.S. or only for Area II; (4) V/ill there be additional receiver cost if 42-50 me band is added to current 88-108 me band, and if so, how much? Appearances by interested parties — PM and TV licensees, manufacturers, etc. — must be filed not later than Jan. 14. Thus, the final act seems to be near in the play that opened early in November (Vol. I, Nos. 11, 12 and 14) v/hen Zenith first made its claims that 50 me PM was better for rural coverage than 100 me. Backed by Maj . Armstrong and others in the industry. Zenith feels confident it can prove its case. A preview of the Jan. 18 hearing will take place Jan. 14 when the Washington chapter of the IRE meets to hear Zenith's C. W. Carnahan debate with PCC's Edward W. Allen Jr. on the relative merits of 50 and 100 me PM. FUers BSPOHT GH OPERATIONS; Early returns from our own questionnaire to the existing F.M license and CP holders (Supplement No. 4) indicate that about half intend to operate on both their old and their new channels, the other half on only the new. The dual operators say, for the most part, that they will broadcast on both frequencies vintil receivers capable of the new band are generally available or "as long as the FCC will permit." Five stations reported they were already reconverted to new but also operating on their old channels; KMBC-FM, Kansas City, which started Dec. 31 on 97.9 me (Channel No. 250) and is continuing also on 46.5; WTMJ-FM, Milwaukee, started Dec. 30 on 92.3 (No. 222) and continuing on 44.5; WELD, Columbus, now on 94.5 (No. 233) and continuing on 44.5 me; WMIT, Winston-Salem, started Jan. 1 on 97.3 (No. 247) and continuing on 44.1; WWZR, Chicago, now on 98.5 (No. 253) and 45,1. Reconverted Jan. 1 also was WCAU-FM, Philadelphia, to 102.7 me (No. 274) but it has dropped its old frequency. Others reporting dates of reconversion but planning also to continue old frequency are; May 1, WBCA, Schenectady, 101.1 (No. 266) and 44.7; Feb. 1, WDRC-FM, Hartford, 94.3 (No. 243) and 46.5; February, WGTR, Worcester, 103.1 (No. 276) and 44.3; Peb. 1, V/ABF, New York, 98.5 (No. 253) and 47.5; February, WQXQ, New York, 97.7 (No. 249) and 45.9. Not planning to continue on old frequencies and date expected to start on new are: March, WEAF-FM, New York, 97.3 (No. 247); Jan. 20, V/GHF, New York, 99.7 (No. 259) ; Jan. 20, WHNF, New York, 99.3 (No. 257) ; Feb. 15, WMOT, Pittsburgh, 94.5 (No. 233) ; Jan. 25, WDLM, Chicago, 99.7 (No. 259) ; April 1, KTLO, Los Angeles, 100.1 (No. 261); Jan. 10, KOZY, Kansas City, 99.9 (No. 260); Jan. 25, WIP-FM, Philadelphia, 97.5 (No. 248). In addition, Yankee's WMTW atop Mt . Washington expects to Sturt on 98.1 (No. 251) by summer and has applied to be accredited to Portland, Maine.