Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

r'FJSILLO ASKED FOB IT: Looks now like a better-than-even chance that Congress v/ill act to curb the royal reign of the gent with the big cigar. The Lea Bill as amended (text in Part II, Supplement No. 28 herewith) may not have the teeth in it that the broadcasters want. But Jimmy Petrillo, by his many arbitrary actions, asked for it — and the fact that the House committee voted it out 14-5 last, V/ednesday indicates the temper of Congress. Rep. Lea is confident he will secure its passage. The fact thatthe Senate last session passed the Vaiidenberg bill (S. 2) indicates a good chance there, too. But broadcasters, perhaps suffering an undue inferiority complex after Petrillo 's past successful rampages, are still keeping their fingers crossed. The bill hits at forced labor in the form of "standby musicians," and would penalise such duplications as Jimmy ordered in FM, threatening to stunt that infant's growth almost at birth. But the best Lea could get from his committee was to make Petrillo 's bans misdemeanors, subject to one year's imprisonment or ^1,000 fine or both. Originally, they were made felonies carrying tv/o years imprisonment and/or ^5,000 fine. Within AFM ranks, it is reported, all is none too harmonious either. Jimmy's public relations and timing, his failure to give FM a chance to grow and eventually to employ more musicians, is said to have led to a rump movement to set up another musicians union and join up with CIO. Nor has the keen Joe Padway, AFM counsel, been able to make his influence felt with Jimmy as he formerly did v;ith Joe Weber. Meanwhile, NAB's President Justin Miller met last Monday with his industry committee to report on his recent confab with Petrillo and the AFM board (Vol, 2, No. 3). Mr, Miller was authorized to appoint a smaller negotiating committee to deal v/ith Petrillo, which he said he would do shortly. KMA BSABD TAKIJIS U? FM: Channel numbers as designated by the FCC (Supplement No. 21), rather than frequency markings, are likely to be used by most if not all FM set makers on receiver dials. RMA last week, announcing that its questionnaire showed 47 to 19 in favor of channel markings, said final recommendations would come out of its Chicago board meeting V/ednesday (Jan. 30). Most of the largevolume set makers were among the 47 pros ; some companies favored a dual system of marking, several indicated they would follow industry trend. RMA board may also take up current controversy between its President R. C. Cosgrove, Crosley executive v.p., and Leonard Asch, of Schenectady's WBCA. Since last Sept., Asch has been conducting a local advertising campaign tied to theme, "If You Buy a New Radio Without FM, You'll Obviously Have an Obsolete Radio." He sent copies of first ad to set manufacturers, asking for comment. One reached Cosgrove, who replied he considered ad misleading and damaging since, he claimed, most early-line radio sets would not have FM included due to cost. Cosgrove also burned over quotations in ad from GE, Stromberg-Carlson, Zenith, Philco and others, plus such names as ABC's Mark Woods, CBS's Paul Kesten, NBC's Niles Trammell. He turned the correspondence over to Better Business Bureau. Asch says some RMA members object to Cosgrove views and action, claiming he expressed himself as RtlA president without consulting his board. S2EKS TV GH COAST: Dorothy S. Thackrey (New York Post),* heiress to the Schiff fortune v;ho also owns V/LIB, Brooklyn, KYA San Francisco, and has purchase pending for KMIR, Los Angeles, widens scope of her West Coast radio activity with applications for TV in Los Angeles and San Francisco; estimated initial costs §387,400 and §376,400 respectively — monthly operating costs, §25,000 each. With Hearst San Francisco Examiner's application for TV, minus the several that have dropped, total pending applications now number 139 (Supplement No. 18).