Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

CilARSSS fM SETS MELD BACK: Idaho Senator Taylor has asked Attorney General Clark to investigate radio manufacturing industry under antitrust act to find out v/hether it has banded together to withhold FM sets from public — another instance of sentiment building up for FM that will be hard to ignore. Though manufacturers v/ill doubtless plead materials shortages (with good case) , pressures on Capitol Hill are being exerted by consumer, labor, liberal groups. Taylor's letter says FM superiority is "universally conceded," calls AM sets "outdated models," asks Justice Dept, to probe whether (1) manufacturers have "conspired" to withhold FM during 1946, (2) trade associations have been "active in influencing the failure to incorporate FM in 1946 receivers," (3) manufacturer-ownership of AM stations is influencing delay, (4) manufacturers want to sell 20 million outdated AlA sets, then resell same consumers modern receivers in year or two. The Senator, who sparked recent Small Business Committee report on FM (Vol. 2, No. 15), uses April FCC set survey (Vol. 2, No. 14), now pretty well discredited because some big producers failed to report anticipated production, to Show less than 10% of 1946 sets will incorporate FM. RMA President Cosgrove estimated at industry convention last week that about 13 million sets would be produced this year, whereas FCC report estimated 22 million. The 13 million will be largely AM table models, which is bothering FM proponents, though set makers are known to be having great difficulty getting lumber for console models. First charge that manufacturers were deliberately withholding FM was made at recent Chicago FM hearing when UAW-CIO, one of applicants, wanted to subpoena RCA’S Sarnoff to explain why there weren't FM sets. Union withdrew request v/hen assured RCA would be represented at Chicago FM engineering conference in Washington June 27, and would explain. Automotive union advocated consumer campaign to educate members to wait for AI/I-FM combinations, said it plans to probe possibility of AM adjuncts to FM stations it seeks. It already holds conditional grant for Detroit, seeks outlets also in Los Angeles, Chicago, Flint, Cleveland, Newark. CABlliET BOTTLENECK; OPA's 3% boost for radio cabinet makers, effective last Thursday, brings prices up 21% over October 1941 levels. Whether this v;ill make much dent in future volume of cabinet production, necessary for FM-AJi[ consoles and TV sets, remains to be seen. Industry leaders are not too sanguine, especially in view of still critical shortages of lumber (Vol. 2, Nos. 22, 23, 24). FM and TV played relatively small part in RMA convention in Chicago last week, concerned mainly with shortages and OPA pricing policies. Aside from Ben Abrams' (Emerson) recommendation that manufacturers promote FM and TV as means of diversifying their line of home receivers, only other accomplishment of interest Y/as setting up of an RliA. Service Committee ,• headed by Stromberg-Carlson' s F. L. Granger, to investigate and formulate policy on TV installation and maintenance. AMD SflUriD: It was fate's irony that Dr. John L. Baird. Britain's father of TV, should have died last week, at 58, just a few days after his company had demonstrated telecasts of London's big victory parade, using his new 23x21 inch direct viewing tube; telecast marked resumption of London's TV, shut down since war's outbreak, v/hich started in 1926 with BBC using Baird system. .. .Reporters were mighty impressed v/ith FM demonstration during press jaunt to FCCT monitoring station at Laurel, Md. ; static made 20-mile distant AM station WITH, Baltimore, unintelligible but signal from its developmental FM, W3XMB, was faultless even though AM field intensity is 520 uv/m there and FM's is only 98 uv/m. ... Specializing in radio comm’onications and industrial electronics, newly formed Engineering Research Associates Inc. . St. Paul, Minn., has opened broadcast consulting division in Washington, with offices at 827 14th St. NW ; John E. Parker, of Auchinloss, Parker & Redpath, investment bankers, is president of company, comprised of some 50 associates, most of whom were in Navy communications research. .. .Potential market for 9,603,000 TV sets in urban areas where there is telecasting is forecast for next 5-6 years by Sylvanla's research chief, Frank Mansfield.