Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

on Channel No. 237 (95.3 me). The Times-Picayune began operation March 1 with 3 kw on Channel No. 233 (94.5 me), using an RCA superturnstile, 3 section antenna at the Howard Memorial Library. WHP's FM adjunct went on March 18 with 250 v/atts on Channel No. 247 (97.3 me), transmitting from a single unit antenna atop the Harrisburger Hotel. All 3 stations had equipment ready for immediate operation and were given the "go-ahead" by the FCC on a non-commercial basis for a 90-day period. Fact that conditional FM grantees could go on the air before receiving actual CPs v/as made known at the Broadcast Engineering Conference in Columbus this week by FCC Assistant Chief Engineer John Willoughby. Only qualification, Willoughby said, was that grantees have full engineering data submitted with application, proceed diligently with construction of permanent installation. FCC's purpose, he said, in addition to getting FM stations on the air, is to enable dealers to demonstrate sets as quickly as the new-band receivers come on the market. Consensus of engineers at meeting was that FM grantees, especially those not A>M-aff iliated, would be most eager to take advantage of new setup. Willoughby also provoked surprise among attending engineers by telling them that FCC v/as aiming for 20 kw effective radiated power, 500-ft antenna elevation for Area II Metropolitan stations. Applicants, according to several engineers at Columbus, had expected to cover many metropolitan areas with transmitters putting out 3 or 10 kw, and with lower antenna heights. At the Commission, it was said that Area II Metropolitan stations would be required to cover designated service areas which, it has been found, will in most cases require the 20-kw, 500-ft ratio. As an example of how this requirement was working out, last week's EAs were pointed to (Supplement No. 33). Only 4 of the 10 Metropolitan EAs followed the 20-kw, 500-ft formula. PiilLCO DBOPS, GETS H0.5: Washington's fourth TV channel (No. 5) goes to DuJ.lont , thus obviating the need for further legalistics over the FCC's failure to decide as between Philco and DuMont (Vol. 2, No. 10). Philco withdrew its application this week, announcing it will concentrate on its radio relay experiments for TV and other services. Its Philadelphia WPTZ will be its only TV outlet, for it has decided also to withdraw its application for a station in New York City. Philco 's withdrawal leaves 12 in the race for the New York area's 4 available TV channels, scheduled for hearing there July 1 (see hearing schedules and appearances, Vol. 2, No. 11). Also dropping its TV application this week was Unity Corp. Inc., for Erie, Pa. Thus DulAont becomes the first telecaster in the nation's capital, for it already has a low power experimental station (W3XWT) in operation, which will be formally inaugurated as a commercial April 15 coincident with opening of its Nev/ York Wanamaker studios. New York shows presumably will be carried to Washington regularly via coaxial and telecast there despite paucity of receivers in capital. Dul.^ont, however, plans to give Washington dealers goodly quota of its first TV sets as soon as they come off production line. As part of speeded production plans, DuMont Friday annovinced purchase of 150,000-ft. Doherty Bldg, in Clifton, N.J., for expanded factory facilities. Hailing Philco decision to withdraw voluntarily rather than fight it out for the one remaining Washington channel, Leonard Cramer, DuMont vp, promised to cooperate v/ith Philco relay system, said Washington outlet will be invaluable to Dulvlont's proposed "nation-wide network." DuMont also has TV applications pending for Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, which with its WABD in New York would give it the 5 limit. It also has close corporate connection with Paramount, which through associated companies plans stations in other big cities. NBC engineers headed by 0. B. Hanson, engineering vp, are pushing work on V/ardman Park studio and tower location, are losing time because hotel is unable