Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

TH2 WSEK IN FM: Eve of Chicago FM hearing (Vol. 2, No. 21), to be conducted there starting Monday, found 2 applicants withdrawing — WLS and WIND — leaving 16 seeking 12 available channels. One or more other dropouts can be expected. WLS gave as reason for dropping that it wants to "study Rural station," indicated it may file again. Peoria hearing there July 5 v/ill have one less applicant, with F. F. McNaughton dropping, leaving 7 for 4 (Supplements 14A to 14X) . This week brought 21 more CPs, 1 m.ore EA for FM stations (Supplement No. 36E herewith) . Only one new application was filed all week — that of CBS for Washington, where 8 grants have already been made but 3 channels are still unassigned (Vol. 2, No. 12). CBS already has 2 FM stations, in New York and Chicago; now has applications in for Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, St. Louis and Minneapolis; asks they be granted in that order. Although Minneapolis hasn't been withdrawn, presumably it v/ould be left out in the cold under 6-station rule. FCC Friday proposed decision to deny CBS purchase of AM station KQW, San Francisco, on grounds CBS already owns 7 AMs (6 of which are 50-kv/ outlets) and has minority interest in 2 other AMs, that eighth station would tend toward concentration of control; Jett and Wakefield dissented. Also, this week, reaspn v/hy Bookof-the-Month Club dropped out of New York City FM hearing (21 for 9 channels) was shown in Ira Hirschmann's application to buy Metropolitan Television Inc. (WABF) ; Club is lending $200,000 to finance deal, including $106,000 purchase price. im ilANY SSTS IN SISHT: Outlook for radio set production this summer still isn't bright , boding ill particularly for cabinet models containing FM and TV. Shortages of copper, steel and wood are reason why manufacturers forecast production decline this month, continuing at low ebb possibly until September. Copper is in "mo£ critical" category now because of recent strikes both at mines and mills. Some manufai turers are getting driblets of copper through surplus property sales, refabricating parts to their ov/n purposes. Steel shortage is still being felt as result of recent strike. Wood needed for cabinets is in exceedingly short supply, though a fe\ firms have followed Crosley's lead in sending buyers out into the country to scrounge for it. Sawmills are still concentrating on low grade lumber and cabinet makers prefer to make furniture on which there is larger profit margin. Crosley, incidentally, has bought up a cabinet plant of its own. SlyHT SOUND; Detroit News plans immediate installation of Finch system po operate on its FM station WENA's high-band channel (No. 245), will publish miniature newspaper starting every midnight .... Importance Westinghouse attaches to Stratovision (Vol. 2, No. 21) is emphasized by naming of Col. John A. Holman, coordinator for company's 5 FM stations, to additional post of business director for Stratovision, headquartering at Baltimore plant and reporting to V.P. Walter Evans. .. .With staff war-trained in designing and constructing radio-radar stations, headed by Ira Kamen, Conlan Electric Corp. , 1042 Atlantic Ave. , Brooklyn, N.Y. is offering FM am TV applicants a "packaged service" that includes design, installation, constructioj plus aid in seeing papers through FCC; its brochure is available on request . . . .Public offering of $14,000,000 in new stock, reducing Chairman Ed Noble's holdings from 75% to 35%, is involved in proposed financing program of ABC submitted to FCC; money is needed for expansion program, including acquisition of King-Trendle stations and Michigan State Network (Vol. 2, No. 18)....Capt. William Crawford Eddy, director of Balaban & Katz's TV station V/BKB, wartime head of Navy's radio-radar school in Chicago, has been recalled by Navy for several months temporary duty in connection v/ith Naval Electronics TV program. .. .Merger of General Instrument Corp. into Emerson Radio & Phonograph Co., voted this week, comibines assets of $20,000,000, involves expanded TV and FM set production plans.... RCA Institutes is conductin. 4-week-course in TV for broadcast station engineers, starting June 3.... Legion of Merit went this week to CBS v.p. for TV, Col. Larry Lowman, for his wartime work wit OSS.... John H. Midlen, ex-Army, and William Thomson, ex-Navy, have joined Washing! i radio law firm of George 0. Sutton. ... John W. Guider, partner in Hogan & Hartson, big Washington law firm handling many radio cases, has been named as defense counse for To jo in Tokyo trials; he recently was released from Navy. k