Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

MERCHANDISERS LOOK AT TV: Mounting interest in TV as a merchandising medium is indicated by latest "TV Institute" scheduled in Washington^ Jan. 29 to discuss retailing, advertising and merchandising aspects. Heading speakers list are David Arons, Gimbel-Philadelphia ; Julius Haber, RCA Victor adv. mgr. ; Dr. Allen B. DujMont. Session sponsored by Baltimore and Washington ad clubs and Televiser Magazine. i Echoes of public airing of merits of black-and-white vs. color have already been heard from merchandising men, v/ho call it "unfortunate," say consumers are being scared into waiting for color and 3-dimensional TV. Said Arnold Constable's v.p., James J. Dingivan: "I think we should do more talking together before we do more talking to the public." Meanwhile, the go-ahead proponents are going ahead. In Chicago Balaban & Katz's WBKB has added 5 more hours to its weekly schedule, and in Washington intensive plans are being made for "showcasing" TV v/hen President Truman is televised Jan. 15 (see story in this issue). As the year began, there were exactly 139 applications on file for new TV stations, 3 having dropped out since publication of our Television Directory (Supplement No. 18) — Washington Times-Herald, Metropolitan Television Inc. for N.Y., E. Anthony & Sons Inc. for Providence. One has been added — Hearst for San Francisco. GALLUP^S TV POLL: Gallup Poll published Dec. 29 reported "average man" expects to pay ^150 for his television set, 18% expecting to pay §100; 17%, §150-195; 16%, under §100; 12%, §200; 7%, over §250 but under §500; 2%, §500 or more. The poll furthermore reported that "only about 1 in every 5 has ever seen a television set," v/hich seems to be out of line with known fact that there are only about 10,000 sets in the whole country — nearly all clustered in a half dozen cities. Even counting the thousands who saw early TV demonstrations at World's Fair and the recent department store showings, it's hard to believe that more than a few million out of the country's 140,000,000 population ever saw a television set. But perhaps most of the Gallup respondents referred to the pictures of TV sets they see so frequently in printed advertising. % CBS DEFERS COLOR SHOW: Long-awaited demonstration of CBS color TV, scheduled for FCC staff this Saturday and for press Monday and thereafter, was postponed in lastminute announcement Friday — due, said CBS, to "v/idespread epidemic of influenza" v/hich made engineering personnel unavailable. Dr. Peter Goldmark, research chief and color developer, promised new dates "soon as possible," adding postponement will also give CBS opportunity to use new Federal high-power transmitter being installed in Chrysler Bldg, rather than small experimental transmitter nov/ in use. KEWS AND VIEWS: A serious contender for new radio facilities in Baltimore is the I well-heeled Tower Realty Co., headed by Karl F. Steinman, attorney and businessman, who announced this week the appointment of 58-year-old ' Maj . Gen. Philip Hayes, retiring CO of the Third Service Command, to head up its radio activities. Thus far it has applied for TV, but is planning also for FM and AiM. Baltimore Sun, applicant for FM, recently appointed veteran radioman Don V/i thy comb as its radio chief .... U.S. Patent Office this week granted F. E. Fischer of Zurich, Switzerland, Patent No. 2,391,451 on the Eidophore system of TV (Vol. I, No. 13) .... The Philco Corp. subsidiary, Philco Radio & Television Corp. , has had its name changed to Philco Products Inc. ; this is unit handling distribution of products, including radio and TV receivers .... FM and TV have big places on agenda of IRE convention Jan. 23-26 at New York's Astor Hotel, with speakers including FCC Chair j man Paul Porter and Dr. Frank B. Jewett .... "A. B." is back on the job at CBS — Capt. A. B. Chamberlain, chief engineer, after a three-year hitch in the Navy, one I of the best and best-known in his field .... Philip G. Caldwell is new sales manager | for all GE television equipment .... Leonard H. Marks, ex-assistant to FCC general counsel, has joined Marcus Cohn in forming new Washington law firm of Cohn & Marks.