Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

production early in April (Vol. 2, No. 14) gave the best answer; Radio manufacturers are in business to sell sets; if the public wants to buy an AM set, well — caveat emptor. That's still a marketplace slogan. Astute questioning by UAW-CIO counsel — for it was that Chicago FM applicant that called for an RCA representative to explain the company's FM production plans — brought out the following points: That RCA started postwar production with "tried and tested" AM table models because that was the quickest way to get sets onto the postwar market; that engineering for an FM circuit was approved only in March ; that AM-FM sets will begin going to distributors in September. Of RCA-Victor's line, eliminating portable, battery-operated and automobile receivers, about 60% will be All-FIA combinations, Elliott stated. These will be consoles, he said, selling from $69.95 up to §400, although there may be 2 or 3 table models at the lower price. All RCA consoles will contain AM-FM bands, Elliott revealed, except one model which is essentially a record player. No model selling for less than §69.95 will contain FM, he declared, since the company "doesn't consider it commercially feasible," and doesn't want to compromise the quality of FM by incorporating it in the less expensive sets. RCA will not manufacture sets with FM alone, he announced. Above all, that this was still part of the Chicago FM hearing and that part of UAW's strategy was to weaken the case of NBC, one of the applicants, must not be forgotten. The linking of RCA's plan for FM production with NBC's application for an FM station in the windy city, to the detriment of the latter, was implied, but not proven, since Elliott disclaimed that his FM production plans were based in any way on NBC's attitude toward FM, or Vice-versa. On other fronts of the FM production battlefield. Attorney General Clark has acknowledged Senator Taylor's letter asking for an antitrust investigation of radio manufacturers, said he would advise the Idaho solon further after the charges had been studied, RMA officials had no comment to make on the Senator's allegations, but one spokesman referred questioners to RMA President Cosgrove's remarks at a press conference in Chicago during the recent industry convention there. Cosgrove, who is also the manufacturing v.p. of Crosley Corp. , had told reporters then that FM sets were not being made primarily because of component shortages, OPA, lack of v/ood for cabinets. FCC had no comments, but an official recalled that in its survey on set production it had commented thusly: "In the light of the rapid progress being made for the development of FM on the station side, the Commission hopes that manufacturers may revise their production schedules to include a greater proportion of FM receivers." CGAiTR0X»S LIFTED Oil TV SETS: Removal of all price controls from TV sets is bein^ readied by OPA this weekend. The order, expected early next week, in effect completes decontrol on all TV products. Earlier this year, price ceilings were lifted on TV transmitters and tubes. Since the industry is still plagued v/ith shortages hov/ever, RMA officials do not see much change in the video receiver picture. Some relief is expected if the OPA renewal bill is passed over President Truman's veto (up for Congressional action as we go to press). The revised bill di’ rects OPA to take into account production factors not previously allowed in radio set pricing. It also provides for a readjustment of price increase absorption policies. If the OPA bill is not repassed by Congress and if no temporary renewal is voted all price controls will be off. CPA Administrator John D. Small in his most recent monthly report on production Said that 1,075,000 domestic radios had been shipped during May, .an increas of 75,000 over April. Although gains were reported in such typical items as radios washing machines, and other consumer durable goods, the CPA chief painted a general picture of production considerably under capacity in the face of continuing heavy demands for all types of goods and materials.