Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

later applicants. There is also a disposition to take away an allocated channel now and then from one city (as it has done in case of Washington and several other cities (see VoT. 2, No. 8) and give it to another locality. When V/ashington FM hearing started Monday, there were 12 remaining applicants for 11 available channels; but Loew's (MGM) dropped out at opening. The Commission went into huddle and then instructed hearing officer. Assistant General Counsel Ben Cottone, to proceed nevertheless. This, despite strenuous efforts of counsel to be permitted to present their cases in writing; despite noncompetitive character of applications; despite FCC's critical shortage of staff — so critical that Cottone had to be "borrowed" from Common Carrier Division, whose activities are a far cry from broadcasting. Unusual interest was manifested at hearing in "program promises" of applicants, apparently in line with Commission's new policy of scrutinizing program schedules under its "Public Service Responsibility" report (Vol. 2, No. 10). Schedule of TV hearings, which lists applicants, fails to eliminate "dropout s " reported elsewhere in this issue. Yet some of applicants listed have already formally v/ithdrawn with FCC approval (i.e., Yankee, Providence; V/JR, Detroit; WGAR, Cleveland). Others are known to be withdrawing, but formal petitions to withdraw have not yet been filed. Fact that hearing dates are now set v;ill hasten these, so that not all those scheduled for hearing will appear. COOD im: To demonstrate F?^ to our Latin American neighbors, RCA is expe diting delivery of a transmitter to CMQ, Havana, so that it can be on the air by the time of the Inter-American Broadcasting Assn, meeting there starting May 19. International GE is also sending a transmitter, v/hich may operate independently or in conjunction with another local AM station. And Philco has promised to send 50 to 100 table model FM-AM combinations that can retail, even after import duties, at around §50. Am.erican demonstrators will emphasize low cost of both transmitters and receivers, possibility of many more stations (thus meeting, particularly, the Cuban wave length demands at recent NARBA Washington conference), and will stress efficacy of FM in overcoming high noise levels and tropical static. -Havana hosts report that some 100 acceptances from U.S. broadcasters, 200 from Mexico, Cuba and other Central American countries have already been received in response to invitations to the conference. AHMSTBOHC'S ROYALTIES: Though he didn't collect a cent of royalty on the extensivt wartime uses of his FM patents, and has spent about a million dollars on his Alpine station and other activities in behalf of FM, Maj . Armstrong blinks a knowing eye v;hen asked how he hopes to come out financially in the light of patent expirations in 1950 (Vol. 1, No. 1). That he isn't particularly worried, was manifested last week when he announced new royalty conditions designed to hasten the art. Licenses are available to all on the same basis. Educational and religious institutions get free licenses. World War II vets may defer royalty on transmitters until in financial position to pay. Royalty rates on broadcast stations (generally included in manufacturer's sale price) are based on power; range from §150 for 250 w to §2,500 for 50 kw. On receivers, royalties have been cut about 20% from pre-v/ar — run approximately 1% of the manufacturer's gross selling price, which Maj. Armstror says returns him about one-half of 1% of the retail purchase price. FM CONVERTER: Electronics Research Inc., 519 Vine St., Evansville, Ind. (John B. Caraway Jr.), has developed an inexpensive, easily installed one-tub( I7.I converter for switching old receivers to new high band. Caraway doesn't have final cost figures yet, but it's cheap enough so that WMLL, local FM station, is furnishing 400-500 sets in its areas with the converter free except for §2.50 installation charge. Hallicrafters has a §15 converter available (Vol. 2, No. 4). • i