Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

that "the radio set manufacturer does not knov/ how to make color television at a price the public is willing to pay." As for the reaction of the members of Congress who saw CBS*s color last week, it is significant. We asked them what they thought of it. Senator V^heeler (Mont . ) liked it but was non-committal otherwise; said he didn't want to be drawn into the argument over color vs. monochrome. But Senator Hawkes (N.J.) said: "Certainly anyone would rather have color. And if I v/ere in the business, I'd examine color very closely before I'd invest heavily in black-and-white. But I'd have to examine the technical aspects more thoroughly than was possible in the hour and a half I spent with CBS." Rep. O'Hara (Minn.) said he liked it but didn't know enough about the technical problems to make an evaluation. Rep. Halleck (Ind.) said it v/as "interesting" and "very well done," but no more. Rep. Harless (Ariz.) called it "remarkably superior to anything I've ever seen before, and I've seen a great many television exhibitions. I had no idea color was so well developed. The people in black-and-white better make it obsolete before they get deeper in it." And Rep. Howell (111.) said; "Some manufacturers v/ant to freeze TV at black-and-white for 10 years, to get rid of inventories of old prewar and wartime receivers" ; he added color should be allowed to go ahead alongside black-and-white. SATSVSPOST OH TV: Alva Johnston strives hard to be objective but fails to avoid a somewhat cynical note in the first article of his "Television: Boom or Bubble?" series of three in the March 9 Saturday Evening Post. To the industry reader, he doesn't tell much that is new, dealing in first article mainly with program problems. But he may succeed in beclouding TV in the minds of lay readers. His approach is reminiscent of the iconoclastic attitude of most newspapermen toward the parvenu broadcasting industry during its inceptive stages ; today radio is largely manned by ex-newspapermen, is regarded as a goal by most others. ' C3S F!Li^S DDCUMSHTABIES: CBS Television has entered 16mm documentary film produc tion field with series of 3 and 4-minute short subjects on New York City activities — subway, schools, police, fire departments. Shooting has already started on first about firemen's training school. Series is handled by a film editor, two cameramen and director — latter also being news editor who has been supervising filming of news since summer. Pictures v;ill be shown weekly v/hen WCBW returns to air after adjustment to new channel. Gruen Watch Co. has signed with CBS's WCBW for 20-second film time-signals to run twice weekly, 52 weeks, starting April 3. KBC ISSUES T¥ HATE CARD; First definitive explanation of TV station-advertiseragency relationship is made in "NBC Guide to Commercial Production Procedure." virtually a rate card, issued this week. Costs for air time (offered in 10-minute segments) as well as for rehearsal time and program production are set forth, covering ’WNBT facilities. Firmly stated is NBC's policy to retain iron-clad control over programs created by agencies and advertisers. K2WS AHD VIEWS: Their answers due March 11, defendants in Dept, of Justice TV anti-trust suit involving Scophony, et al. (Vol. 1, No. 17 ; Vol. 2, No. 1 and 7) were given extension until April 28 with stipulation they will ask for no more.... First TV station to return to air after reconversion is Philco's WPTZ, Philadelphia, v/hich resumed Friday on Channel No. 3 from new studio in Architects Bldg. ... Second annual convention of TBA. planned this spring in New York, has been postponed until fall due to unavailability of equipment for demonstrations ; TBA meanwhile is considering offering a course in all aspects of TV for ad agencies and their clients to counteract influences at work to discourage sponsors from experimenting with the video medium.... A preview of Western Electric equipment, including FM and TV, is planned for Washington consulting engineers Monday, May 11 Ritch & Gwaltney. consulting radio engineers of Raleigh, N. C., have moved their practice to 631 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington.