Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

nsw YOBK F?/i UmmM JULY 8: New York metropolitan area's FM hearing was postponed from July 1 to July 8 by FCC Commissioner Jett's order Friday after joint counsel request. Reason was that July 4 holiday would intervene, and counsel v/ant hearing to continue uninterrupted during several weeks period seen needed to cover big docket. Instead of usual staff examiner, a commissioner may preside. One more applicant withdrew from New York this week — Greater New York Broadcasting Co. (V/NEW) . As previously reported, earlier dropouts from New York contest were Supreme Broadcasting System, New York Sun, Book-of-the-Month Club, Elias I. Godofsky (who changed to Commiunity and secured CP for Huntington, Long Island). This leaves 19 contestants to date, as listed in our Special Report of March 16. Of New York area's 20 allocated channels (Supplement No. 21), 11 are already occupied (Supplement No. 32), leaving 9 channels available unless Commission goes through with its "reserve plan" and holds back 4 (Vol. 2, No. 23). Chicago and Providence FM hearings ended this week, and recommendations of examiners should be forthcoming soon. Meanwhile, Commission this week issued 15 more CPs for FM in noncompetitive areas (Supplement No. 38 herewith), bringing total to date to 106. Also granted during week v/ere a dozen more nev/ AMs. Ordered to hearing, but dates not yet designated, were all Philadelphia and remaining Toledo FM applicants. Meanwhile, new applications for FM stations are now coming in driblets, only a handful having been filed since we published Supplement No. 14K. Among new applications are one for a Community in Pasadena, Cal. , in which Washington Attorney Andrew Haley is 60% partner with several others, including Tom Olson, owner of KGY, Olympia, V/ash. ; one by Variety Broadcasting Co., for Dallas, headed by Lee Seegal, producer of Vox Pop, Dr. I.Q. and other programs, who already holds a conditional for Houston; one by the Nunns for Mobile, where they recently acquired WMOB ; one for a new Community station in Brooklyn, N.Y. , filed by Brooklyn Broadcasting Service Inc., 1110 E. 23rd St., headed by Edgar Sanford, a radio director. Another interesting development in FM is possibility that Jim-my Petrillo's AFM may file for stations of its own, following the example of United Automobile Workers, International Ladies Garment Workers Union and Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, multiple applicants (Supplement No. 26). AFM's St. Petersburg convention last week voted resolution to probe FM field with view to encouraging locals to operate own stations, stating "FM v/ill foster better music, and the answer to better music lies in the musicians themselves." DH9?, TV OFF: unexpected withdrawals of V;estinghouse and Gimbels from Philadelphia TV hearing docket, plus predicted dropout of WIBG, leaves only 3 applicants for that city's remaining 3 channels — Inquirer (WFIL) ; Bulletin (WPEN) ; Daily News, new to radio. Accordingly, the FCC Thursday cancelled hearing scheduled in V/ashington next Monday. Same thing is now almost sure to be done with San Francisco hearing scheduled there July 15, with 6 remaining applicants for 6 available channels (Vol. 2, No. 23). Commission by reason of past hearings has full dossiers on Inquirer and Bulletin, as it has on 4 of the 6 San Francisco applicants, so that all they need do now is file additional records pertaining to their TV plans. It seems a foregone conclusion that most if not all of the applicants will get their CPs in a matter of a few weeks. If San Francisco hearing is also called off, that will complete the Commission's docket of hearings on TV cases unless it schedules more. Report that Inquirer or Bulletin might effect tieup with Philco's WPTZ, Quaker City's sole existing TV station, is denied by both. As for Westinghouse , which previously had dropped its Pittsburgh application, it still has one on file for Boston where its present plans are to conduct its only low-band TV project.