Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

Broadcasting Co. Inc. (WPAT) ; Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Church. EM'S second round of hearings has not been scheduled yet, but 7 cities have been designated, probably will be calendared for September. Designated for hearings I are all applicants for Bridgeport, Conn., including Stamford and Danbury; Greensboro, N.C. ; St. Louis; Atlanta; Mansfield, 0.; Toledo; Philadelphia. HOLDIHG T^S UHE; What has been hinted as consumer discrimination in the purchase of radio sets — people aren't buying unknown brands — may be a good thing for PM. Por, if enough people become shopper-wise about radio receivers, there may be a boom in the sale of AM-FM combinations that will result in putting EM over despite threat of a glut of cheap AM table models. That's the consensus of many sharp observers in the industry. Whether OPA is reinstituted or not, radio set manufacturers are generally anxious to see one pricing policy continued. That is the maintenance of markups to the level put into effect by OPA and with few exceptions agreed upon as fair by the industry. Should 100% markups became prevalent again, industry leaders fear that the so-called consumer balk may actually turn into a buyers' strike. Industry leaders are also anxious not to provoke public by too sudden or drastic price rise. RMA President R. C. Cosgrove, in a public statement 2 days after OPA's demise, called on the industry "to continue very reasonable prices, as near present prices as possible, on radio sets and parts." TV riLTSH GUT FM: EM interference, which has been harrying TV reception because of the upward shift in EM frequencies, is being trapped out of video sets in metropolitan New York by RCA's new rejection band filter. This EM wave-trap attachment, designed to eliminate such interference within reasonable limits, is being furnished free to owners of TV sets converted by RCA. When sufficient quantities are produced, the service is expected to be extended to all video receivers for a §10 charge. Already installed in New York are some 50 to 75 of these traps, principle of which may be incorporated in new TV sets. £!SHT MU SOIIHS: Radio-keen Philadelphia Inquirer (WEIL-EM) , which like rich Los Angeles Times, San Erancisco Chronicle, Detroit News, is preparing to spend millions on TV, got knockout pictures of Louis-Conn prizefight on street full hour ahead of wirephoto ; simply photographed them off TV screen in Philco's WPTZ ; New York Mirror did same thing, using its own Viewtone model for pickup, had page spread out in 90 minutes .... GE announced this week that consoles incorporating both EM bands, plus AM and phonograph players v/ould begin reaching dealers in August, v/ith EM table models scheduled for production that month ; company is also filling orders for more than 125 EM transmitters, and is also making 2-way taxi EM with "selective calling," says system keeps all cabs off air except one called.... United States Television Mfg. Corp. , New York, says it plans to begin TV deliveries in August or September, with prices ranging from §195 to §2,500; company indicates large screen (16x21-inch) projection models will account for 75% of production..,. Earnsworth research chief B. Ray Cummings, at Eort Wayne EM hearing last week, reported his company expects to produce some 60,000 EM combinations by year's end, though none have yet been shipped. .. .Bell Labs announced Saturday a new vacuum tube that has extremely wide band coverage (800 me), with an amplification factor that i: higher than ever before accomplished (10,000) ; known as a "traveling-wave" tube, it is Said to have important potentials for TV networks. .. .W. W. Watts, RCA-Victor Gen' eral Sales Manager, has been appointed v.p. in charge of engineering products, RCAVictor, it was announced Eriday; he suceeds Meade Brunet, v/ho has been named managing director of RCA International Division, vice Edwin N. Clark, resigned. ... Joinin, lav/ firm of Hayes & Hayes is Eugene L. Burke, resigning as senior ECC broadcast attorney Aug. 1. . . .Eeatherbed observation of the< week; New Yorker cartoon showing pet shop salesman telling customer: "You have to buy two canaries, ma'am. It's Petrillo.