Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

LODS£ THE BALL: Notwithstanding heavy attack from clear channel proponents at FCC hearing this week. Bill Lodge, CBS director of general engineering, stuck to his guns and gave as his "firm opinion” that Columbia’s projected 200-station FM netv/ork would give better service than the same number of AM stations . The average number of stations on each of the 4 big networks is about 200. The CBS plan, first introduced by President Frank Stanton (Vol. 2, No. 17), proposed additionally to cover those areas of the country not served by the FM net by a number of 50-kv/ AMs for daytime and by only two 1,000-kw Ams for nighttime. Although the netv/ork's FM network projection was only v/orked out on a i 50 uv/ra contour basis for each station. Lodge stated that it was his belief that good FM signals could be received as low as 5 uv/m and that such a "usable" signal ' would still give better service to rural listeners than many now receive even from the best AM station. The FM net would cost ^8,270,000 to construct. Lodge estimated, and 5^3,320,000 to operate annually. He submitted to the Commission a table | listing the stations in the FM net, city by city, with radiated power and antenna height indicated for each. Power ranged from a high of 320 kw for Minneapolis St. Paul, with antenna height of 750 ft, to a low of 250-w, v/ith antenna heights of 250 ft, for such cities as New London, Conn. ; Albany, Ga. ; Salina, Kan., Lima, 0. Opposition to Lodge’s optimism centered on whether smaller communities could economically support more than 1 or 2 FM stations. Also brought into question v/as whether it was right for a community to be deprived of a choice of at least the present 4 netv/ork programs when the number of FM stations, under the allocations, is limited to 2 or 3 stations in some cities. PeSTAiLSS FOB FM ABS OUT: ^ you’ve considered using a Quonset hut or a trailer to house your transmitter in order to beat need for CPA approval, forget it. CPA this week interpreted Order VHP-1 to mean restrictions apply to erection of portable or prefabricated housings if they are to be placed on foundations, connected to ground by plumbing, wiring, etc., or if they are to remain at one place for an undetermined time. So, if the job costs more than $1,000, you still have to get approval from your nearest CPA field office; if it doesn’t. cost that much, you can, as before, go ahead without any red tape. First reported CPA okay for FM construction v/as application of Alliance (0.) Review, holder of FM conditional, which got clearance from Cleveland field office to remodel 3-story brick structure. ilDAPTIHS OBTifISOM FSB E’I'Q¥IES: Look for RCA’s light-amplifying Image Orthicon, or "magic eye," to be developed and applied by motion picture industry as basis of high-speed, lightweight, noiseless camera. Dr. Zworykin’s recent Hollywood J visit seems to have borne fruit, judging from statement Thursday by Loren L. Ryder, :( Paramount director of recording in Hollywood, to New York conference of Society of ( Motion Picture Engineers. Said he: "The improved Image Orthicon now available to ; television may point the v/ay to a higher speed, lighter and noiseless camera with a j picture recorder operating off stage in a manner similar to sound recording. The ! light amplifier demonstrated by Dr. Zworykin may have application to existing type i cameras and lenses." mm'Q am SaSHT; During coal emergency, FCC has waived minimum hours, powers for all broadcasting; Chicago’s WBKB has cut telecast schedule to 4-5 p.m. weekdays.... Frsed-Eismann in New York this week unveiled 7 consoles with FM, promised dealer deliveries in 30 days, demonstrated them via local FM stations. . . .Emerson announcec 3 FM models, ready late this summer, ranging from $60-$200, said it was delaying TV line until fall. .. .Excellent popularised story on FM, captioned "Something's happening to radio and listeners shouldn't miss it," appears in May "Science Illustrated" ... .V/NBT ’ s new antenna atop Empire State Bldg, is 61 ft high, 1,250 ft above sidewalks of New York. ... Possibility that ban on films for TV in proposed AFM-movie contract may be regarded by Dept, of Justice as restraint of trade under Sherman Act, is said to be holding up Petrillo coiitract with movie makers... New FCC Order No. 130-G this week permits amateur experimentation in FM on various bands from 27 rnc up, also TV here and there from 420 me up.