Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

HSHTIfl CDDEL’s AUTHORITATIVE NEWS SERVICE OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTINS ANI> Ff.EQUcNCY MODULATION ARTS AND INDUSTRY minm weekly by ^ radio mews bureau, \m coH^iEciicuT aylo.. WAsyiNSTON B. D.C. laEPHOj^E nmm 2020 • vgl 2, m. 9 March 2, 1946 ACCELSRMINS FM ACTIVITY: Concurrent with the present flurry of new AM station grants, mostly for daytime outlets, applications to the FCC for FMs seem to be perking up. Since publication of our Supplement No. 14F, 16 new FM appplications have been filed, bringing grand total as of March 1 to 789. Supplement No. 14G herewith lists these newest applications, includes another one for Washington, D. C. — making 15 now vying for that city's 10 channels, hearing on which is scheduled March 11. Most of new applicants are AI\/I-af filiated. Also granted this week were 15 more conditionals (Supplement 30A) , which brings total to 345. Among them were 3 to Dallas-Fort Worth, one to Midwest Broadcasting Co., Milwaukee, whose president is the city's postmaster, John Fleissner. Construction permits covering some of these conditionals, and designating frequencies and powers, may be expected "any day now," according to FCC sources. Boston hearing on FM has been shifted to new date, April 2, with Commissioner Durr sitting there. For Boston area applicants to date, see Supplements 14A to 14G inclusive. CLOSEH m SPACIM? Recipient of a CP for developmental FM this week. United Broadcasting Co. (Cleveland Plain Dealer) will experiment with transmitter antennas featuring rotating polarization. United's director of engineering, Carl E. Smith, formerly supervisor of Loran antenna research for Array Signal Corps, believes system may permit closer spacing of FM frequencies, leading to more channels in allocated 88-108 me band. He expects development will produce transmitter antenna gain of 20 to 30, allow simpler receiver antenna design. Plans call for duplication of United's AM station WHK and MBS programs, giving first service to FM set owners in Cleveland area. United is also applicant for commercial FMs in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron. COLOB CAD1PA2GH COmifiJES: That CBS intends to continue unabated its campaign for color as against black-and-white TV, v/as emphasized anew in a press release issued Tuesday following a demonstration of its system (Vol. 2, No. 5) to the Columbia Affiliates Advisory Board of 8 broadcasters representing the network's 145 independently owned stations. The CBS tack now is to enlist support for a demand upon the FCC that it "authorise commercial licenses for ultra-high frequency stations to transmit high-definition color television." The ultra-highs reserved for TV are now labeled experimental by the FCC. Then on Friday CBS demonstrated its color in New York to a party of Senators and Congressmen from the Congressional committees handling radio, whom President Frank Stanton took occasion to address personally. He told them the "issue" is now being taken before the "ultimate court" — the public. The decision, so far, is overwhelmingly for color, he said. CBS showed color to a random group of 90 TV set owners recently, he said: and, after seeing it, only 12^ expressed their satisfac Copyrlght 1946 by Radio News Bureau