Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

undiainished through the years that his company has spent §15,000,000 on its development. He v/as at the Statler show, obviously enjoying the congratulations heaped upon him by cabinet members, lawmakers, jurists and scores of other big brass. Understandably, he couldn't resist a crack at the anti-monochrome campaign: "Sure, we'll have color eventually, but not as now on an experimental basis. I gave color 5 years a year ago. I still say 4 more at least. Those v/ho promise it within 6 months, as they did a year ago, will eventually be right. But shall we Stop this kind of service to the American people in the meantime?" There were plenty of headaches for the stagers up to the last minute — not technical but labor union, but the fight went on. New Yorkers saw it via NBC's WNBT ; Philadelphians from Philco's WPTZ, linked via coaxial; in Schenectady, GE's WRGB got it via relay. DuMont's experimental W3XVVT, by gracious arrangement with NBC, telecast it to the few sets in Washington, played host to 125 enthusiastic viewers in its studios, while 350 more v/atched at Capital's Touchdown Club, 110 in Times-Herald' s offices, 290 at Navy's Bureau of Ships. Indicating the popular appeal was the showing by George's, big Washington dealer, who invited the public in big newspaper ads to come to its main store and see the fight on the two §130 Viewtone sets it v/as able to get. Store packed 500 in, said it could sell hundreds of sets immediately if they were available. Very little publicity was given event, but at Princeton Laboratories Wednesday night RCA projected Louis-Conn fight on its 22x16 ft outdoor theater screen for employes and townsfolk as picked up on rhombic antenna direct from WNBT, New York, using special 60,000-volt Kinescope receiving tube. Images were reported bright with good definition. ^ ^ ^ *1* ^ »r* Flushed with success of Louis-Conn telecast, RCA indicated its new line of TV receivers will be ready very soon, its officials confident they will sell all they can produce. No price list or delivery schedules were disclosed, but they should be announced any day now. Meanwhile, DuMont broke prices of its new deluxe telesets in big Wanamaker ads Friday, illustrating Westminster model (18inch screen) v/ith FM-AIi-shortwave-phonograph at §2,400; Revere model (13-inch screen), v/ith same, at §1,500; Hollyivood model at §600. Emerson Thursday held New York preview of its TV table model (7-inch screen) at §150, its "chairside' console (10-inch screen) at §250, prices still approximate; said production starts next week, estimated 8,000-10,000 sets before end of year. TSLSVISIDHABIES? Zenith's ebullient Gene McDonald still can't see advertisers footing the bill for adequate TV, insists the public will gladly pay for TV programs, calls those who think in terms of sponsorship "televisionaries." That's his thesis in an article in June 29 Collier's, in which he suggests TV be wired to home or theatre, or a picture scrambler device be employed, so public can pay for programs. Zenith holds recently granted CP for low-band TV station but makes no lowband receivers, McDonald insisting they'd be obsolete in year or two. In article, he discloses his company is about to go on air with experimental color, is making color receivers for its own use. Zim OF ni HZ.^^aiNGS in sight: Cleanup of FCC's hearing docket, on FM cases is in sight with prospects now that none will be scheduled during August ; more may be set later. This week Chicago Tribune's subsidiary. Midwest FM Network, dropped its FM applications for Fort Wayne, Peoria and Grand Rapids, keeping only Milwaukee. Left on IM hearing docket are Fort Wayne hearing there, postponed to June 29; Peoria hearing there July 5; New York hearing there July 8. As against 10 more CPs for new AM stations granted this week (including 3 in Gadsden, Ala., pop. 37,014, and already having one station!), the Commission this week issued only 4 more CPs for FM, 7 Conditionals (Supplement No. 38A herewith).