Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

nSLD DAY FOB LAWYERS: Defendants have been given extension until March 9 to file answers to Dept, of Justice anti-trust suit against alleged TV patent cartel (Vol. 1, Nos. 16 and 17, Vol. 2, No. 1), with some of New York's plushiest law firms engaged for defense. But consent decree is still very much in the wind, though defendants are not all of one mind about what to do. Paramount has offered to "get out of the v/ay" 1) if Scophony will buy back its stock, for which it paid 1^8,500 plus another §20,000 cash advance, or 2) if Scophony will give Paramount a paid-up license. Other alternative is dedication of patents to public, which would mean end of Scophony here, biggest benefactor from publicity surrounding the suit. Array of counsel for the defendants lines up thus : for Arthur Levey and Scophony Corp. of America — Joseph Ollier and Hays, St. John, Abramson & Schulman; for Paramount, Paul Raibourn and Television Productions Inc. — Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett ; for Earl G. Hines and General Precision Equipment Corp. (20th CenturyFox) — Mudge, Stern, William & Tucker; for Scophony Ltd. of England — special appearance by Edwin Foster Blair. For Government, case is in hands of Joseph Borkin, co-author in 1938 v/ith Frank C. Waldrop (now editor of Washington Times-Herald) of the book "Television: A Struggle for Power," whose chapter on "The Somnolent Cinema" refers to the movie moguls and their attitude toward TV in none too flattering terms.... "an unwilling fat boy trying to assume the angular position of the ostrich with head in sand." EVERYBODY RIDES: Current Miller-Petrillo negotiations moved another step forward this week with the setting of April 8, in New York, as date for first meeting between committees representing NAB and AFM. NAB committee numbers 26 and includes representatives of netv/orks, regional chains, affiliates, clear channel stations, independent stations, FM stations, plus NAB Employee-Employer Relations Committee and President Miller's assistants. AFM committee will number 14, including all officers and executive board. Subcommittees, to v/hittle down this convention-size membership, will probably be picked to carry on negotiations. Meanwhile, Lea Bill is due to come to vote next week, press of other business keeping it from scheduled House consideration last Thursday. Passage seems to be assured. Rep. Lea has picked up support from all over country, especially small broadcasters, and Rep. Marcantonio is still battling against it with slight, if any, backing (see Vol. 2, No. 6). T2imTS£?l FOB FHILLY: One of our engineering friends called up the other day and pointed out a flagrant error in the FM allocation plan. It seems FCC engineers listed Channel Nos. 264 and 266 for both Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del., only 20 miles apart. A check at the Commission straightened the matter out. It was an error all right, and Philadelphia should not have been given those two channels. They belong rightfully to Wilmington. So, v/e suggest you correct your allocation plan (Supplement No. 21) and delete Channels 264 and 266 from Philadelphia. That now gives the Quaker City 13 Metropolitan channels and not 15 as originally specified. GOLDWYH mmm tv PL.^\NS: Louella Parsons broke the story in her Hollywood column the other day, so Sam Goldwyn, the producer, then confirmed the fact that he has completed a study of TV, has worked out a plan with GE engineers to build a station (presvimably in Hollywood), spend §350,000 on plant and a like amount annually for operation. When Don Lee's W6XA0 converts to its new Channel No. 3 on March 4, he will test a show with the 6 Goldwyn girls he is sending to New York in latter March where he proposes to book them also on TV.