Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

VCC BSABYIHS TV Gl3i\?iiTS: if you're an applicant for low-band TV but aren't sure whether you want to go ahead v/ith your application, you had better make up your mind — for FCC is preparing to act soon on many TV applications and grant them without a hearing, as it did in Detroit (Vol. 2, No. 15). In fact, the great number of withdrawals in recent months — there were 6 more this week — may mean no more TV hearings at all except possibly those scheduled for Los Angeles, May 30; New York, June 3; Philadelphia, June 17; San Francisco, July 17 (see TV hearing schedule in our March 16 Special Report) . Pittsburgh hearing scheduled for April 25, was called off since there are only 2 applicants left for 4 channels. From a peak of about 150, number of TV applicants has dv;indled to^ less than 100 since turn of the year. .This week's withdrawals v/ere ; Travelers (WTIC) , Hartford; Star-Times (KXOK) , St. Louis; Joseph M. Zamoiski Co., Baltimore; WFIL Broadcasting Co., Philadelphia (but Philadelphia Inquirer, which recently acquired that station, is not withdrawing its separate application) ; Keystone (WKBO) , Harrisburg, Pa. (but other Steinman station applications are still on file) ; WCAU, Philadelphia (withdrawal long expected because of its interlocking ownership v/ith CBS; Dr. Levy accompanied announcement v/ith promise to demonstrate CBS color locally soon, via coaxial from New York). Also out of running, thovigh not yet formally withdrawn, is Alfco group, St. Louis. Formally filing this week for monochrome TV was Fort Worth Star-Telegram (VVBAP) , proposing to spend §334,500 on plant and §15,000 per month on operation. V/CBW SUSUMSS; BE3BY nLI'I TSLECJ^ST: Despite CBS campaign for uhf color TV, highly successful thus far in persuading several dozen applicants to withdraw low-band applications, that network's low-band TV station WCBW, New York, resumed commercial operation on monochrome Saturday. To reconvert to its new Channel No. 2 (54-60 me), it has been off air since Feb. 27; now it's back v/ith Saturday, Sunday and Thursday 8:15 p.m. live programs; with films and remotes Wednesday and Friday nights. CBS is holding onto low-band for time being, it says, to study operations, perfect program techniques. Besides getting contract for Gillette aural broadcast of Kentucky Derby May 4, CBS's television station has sold big sponsor Bristol-Myers (for estimated §1,000) film telecast next day of turf classic. CaEieramen v/ill shoot race on 16-mm silent film, fly it back to New York, telecast it with live commentary. Race runs little more than 2 minutes, but 15-minute movie will shov/ background, crowds, etc. Agency is Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield. Another reconverted low-band TV station, Philco's WPTZ, Philadelphia, now on Channel No. 3 (60-66 me), which hitherto has not sold time, announced it was starting commercial operation May 1 from new studios in Architects Bldg. , telecasting 2 hours each Monday, Wednesday, Friday nights. First time-buyers are Gimbels and two local newspapers. Bulletin and Inquirer, each seeking its own TV station but planning to use WPTZ to gain experience. UHGS AM STATUS QU0 TM: FM was projected into the FCC's perennial clear channel AM hearings this week when both CBS President Frank Stanton and ABC President Mark Woods urged no changes in existing A}A allocations until FM is the public's accepted method of broadcasting. Stanton foresaw FM supplanting AM in 5 years. Woods within 10 years. Allocation changes now would only be transitory, said Stanton, for "we believe that aural broadcasting of the future will be identified almost entirely with FM broadcasting." He even suggested eventual widening of FM band to include present TV Channels 5 and 6. Woods proposed FCC itself fix date of FM's acceptance as the basic medium, then review all broadcast allocations. Stanton proposed a plan whereby a 200-station FM network might serve 90% of the U.S. population in 50% of the nation's area, augmented for daytime coverage where needed by M stations and for night skywave coverage by only two 1,000-kw AM Stations at around 1000 kc — one located in eastern Colorado, the other in northern Kentucky. These AMs could fill in where FM's limited coverage fails. Alterna