Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

WANTS MORE, MOT LESS, FM CHANNELS: u_ the FCC wants to reserve some FM channels, let it assign more frequencies to FM. That's the sentiment of the industry, expressed in an NAB-FM Executive Committee (FMBI) resolution adopted this v/eek. Mot only does the FM Committee object to the Commission's proposal to "cold storage" some present FM channels, but it urges that the Commission "indicate at this time a specified portion of the spectrum for future allocation to FM broadcasting for the further development of this service." Surprising support for the reservation plan has come from several farm organizations , notably the National Council of Farm Cooperatives and the Farmers Union. Both have indicated they v/ill be represented at the hearing July 12, and will base their advocacy of the proposal on farm groups' need for more time to carry out FM plans. Other support for the plan is expected to come from veterans organizations, most of which report that they are studying the question. The legislative representative of one such organization reported that he was "inclined to favor the plan," but wanted more time to study its details before deciding whether his group will appear officially or not. Meanwhile, following the FM Executive Committee meeting, Wayne Coy, one of its members and director of the Washington Post's WINX and W3X0, not only reiterated his belief that TV Channel No. 6 (82-88 me) should be added to the FM band but v/ent a step further and recommended that TV Channel No. 5 (76-82 me) also be brought into the FM fold. In this he was backed by C. M. Jansky Jr. , Washington consulting engineer, v/ho added, "That will be only a starting point. This shows that the Commission erred in not assigning sufficient channels to take care of all comers." The FM Committee felt that "reservation of channels at this time v;ill obstruct the speedy development of FM broadcasting." If the Commission follov/s its recommendations and provides additional channels for FM, "such action would assure equitable distribution of service to the listening public... and would provide facilities for both present and future applicants and would contribute to the sound development of FM broadcasting," the Committee concluded. FSDEHAL'S 8-BAY AHTEHHA: A power gain of 9 is Federal Telephone & Radio Corp.'s boast for its new 8-bay, square-loop FM antenna, unveiled to the Washington consulting engineering fraternity last Tuesday. Features claimed include lower cost for transmitter, since 20-kw can do the work normally required of 50-kw ; savings in operating costs, since the smaller powered transmitter uses less power to operate; feasibility of a power gain of 20 with 16 loops. Prices range from ^2,200 for a 2-element antenna to §12,400 for a 12-element radiator. The 8-bay antenna is priced at §8,400. Booklet on new antenna, released this week, is available from the company's headquarters, Newark 1, N. J. TV FBQMT THE V/EEE: Exactly two days after the Louis-Conn fracas, Wanaraaker ' s, big New York department store, advertised its DuMont TV sets in a full page in the New York Times. At the close of business next day, more than 50 sets had been ordered, amounting in dollar volume to more than §100,000. As of the middle of this week, orders have amounted to more than §2,000,000. That's how much demand there is for TV, DuMont officials explain. CBS's recent discreet silence was broken this week by Adrian Murphy, TV chief, reported as saying: "The basic interest that color gives to television is s#till required, just as much now as before. Color is an extremely important factor in television's future progress and there's no change in our thinking on the subject. " He was also reported as revealing that CBS was purchasing an image orthij con camera for its low-band, black-and-white WCBW, New York, and was experimenting I with a similar camera for its experimental color operations. FCC Friday granted. TBA request for deferment of 28-hour-a-week TV rule until October 31, but denied additional request that a graduated compulsory mini