Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

to be seriously intent upon securing TVs there despite the current campaign to discourage low-band monochrome TV in favor of uhf color. Scripps-Howard , v/hich dropped its Washington and Pittsburgh applications, says it intends to pursue the Cleveland application because that is the city v/here E. W. Scripps founded the newspaper chain and it wants to make Cleveland a proving ground for later TV activities. Western Reserve's Cleveland application is new, having been filed last week. It asks for a commercial channel but says it will operate non-commercially, says it is prepared to invest §100,000 less building costs and spend §3,500 monthly plus salaries. Barclay S. Leatham, professor of dramatic arts, is to be in charge, and V/GAR's Morris Pierce has been engaged as consulting engineer. AH2 IiEABI2J0S KSCESS.ABY? There will be fewer hearings on TV and PM applications than the FCC has scheduled (see full calendar in our Special Report, March 16). And there would be fewer still if applicants from certain communities, where channels are in plentiful supply, would gang up and ask for grants without hearings — stipulating their cases, as the lawyers put it. That’s the word from official FCC sources. Reasons for FCC's willingness now to avoid hearings are manifest: 1) Why hold hearings where there are more channels than applicants? 2) Why hold hearings when, as in the case of Pittsburgh’s 4 available TV channels, there are only 2 applicants left — DuMont and V/estinghouse , on both of v;hom the FCC has full dossiers? 3) Why hold hearings v/hen the already overburdened Commission can ill afford to spare personnel or time to conduct them? Counsel for applicants are also asking why hearings should be held when the number of applicants exactly equals the number of channels, such as the long-drawnout and perfunctory ones held on the 9 applications for Boston’s 9 FM channels and on the 11 applications for Washington’s 11 channels. Another case in point is Pittsburgh’s FM hearing there April 15, Attorney David Deibler presiding, which goes ahead despite fact only 6. applicants are left for the 6 available channels, 2 (Butler and Eagle) having withdrawn to ask for Community channels. Yet FCC spokesmen insist policy is to hasten TV and FM grants, point to steps already taken in calling off Detroit and Cleveland TV hearings (see story in this issue). But they also point out that strong pressures are being exerted to reserve some FM channels for later applicants, particularly veterans; that local interests sometimes demand the right to be heard against certain applicants, as was the case in Boston. Result is that Commission wants to point back to a record of ”open hearings" in disputed areas in the event of later recriminations. BIS TV indicating its firm faith in black-and-white TV. DuMont is pulling all the stops for next Monday’s inaugural of its new Wanamaker studios, whose 50x60 ft main studio with 50 ft ceiling is said to be largest in the v/orld. Two-hour inaugural program, with coaxial linking its New York WABD with its Washington W3XWT for two-way program exchanges, will include Governors and Senators from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, plus contingent of VIPs from United Nations Conference and FCC Chairman Denny. DuMont’s 1945 annual report, out this v;eek, reveals company planning a netv/ork of affiliated TV stations in addition to the 5 outlets it expects to have in its own name. (DuMont now holds a license for New York; has a CP for commercial operation in Washington; seeks stations in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Annual report indicates company’s high hopes for its "Tele-recorder," a camera for recording TV shows on 16-mm film, with sound, for multiple broadcasts on a netv/ork or syndicate basis. Report also stated DuMont made only §46,280 last year — but that was after §345,298 had been spent on TV station operation; is installing intra-store TV system for Wanamaker’s; promises new TV receivers before this year is out ; does not believe mechanical color TV will ever be satisfactory for commercial usage. In latter connection, DuMont published big newspaper displa''