Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

PIAHMIHG THEIH TV STATJOi'iS; Among low-band TV’s relatively few remaining eager beavers, we^ find the pioneering Detroit News (WWJ and WEN A) signing contract v/ith DuMont for complete transmitter installation, atop 700~ft. Penobscot Bldg., by next Nov. 15, which would make it first post-war and first newspaper-owned TV Station to take the air. Just as enthusiastic, just as anxious to get going soon as possible, are St. Louis Post-Dispatch (KSD) , Philadelphia Inquirer (WFIL & WFIL-FM) , Fort V/orth Star-Telegram (WBAP) , likewise CP grantees. But they may not make it this year (due to equipment delays, building restrictions), though they hope to get going early next year. Pulitzer’s Post-Dispatch, in fact, carried strong editorial July 16, then trade paper ads, affirming faith in low-band TV, asserting it isn’t waiting for color — not after success of Louis-Conn telecast. Then there’s Havens & Martin, Richmond, Va. (WMBG) , who no sooner got their TV grant May 17 than they changed their letter-head to superimpose upon it in color type this legend: "Tomorrow Television also programmed by NBC." This company is laying plans to, merchandise TV sets locally itself, when it gets its station going, just as it did AM sets in its pioneering days. Writes V/ilbur M. Havens: "I feel we are about to enter a period of development not a great deal different than that experienced in the early days of radio broadcasting." In those days, he relates, his company was distributor for Philco batteries, operating a 15-watt broadcast transmitter on the side ; then it took on distributorship of Philco socket powers, promoted them on the air, made its profits by selling them. That was in the early Twenties, before broadcasting began to pay its own v/ay. This week the FCC granted one more CP for TV — to American Broadcasting Co., in Chicago, assigning Channel No. 7 (174-180 me), with 30 kw' visual power, 15 kw aural power, 615 ft. antenna height. This leaves Chicago Tribune’s V/GN Inc. only remaining applicant for Chicago, a previous grant having been made to NBC, and Johnson-Kennedy and Raytheon having withdrawn. Assigned 7 channels, v/ith one already occupied (by Balaban & Katz’s WKBK) and v/ith 2 CPs now outstanding (NBC and ABC) , Chicago has 4 more channels available. ABC grant gives netv/ork its second TV, first having been acquired with purchase of WXYZ, Detroit (Vol. 2, No. 29). To date, 25 post-war TVs have been authorized by FCC, leaving only 34 pending applicants in FCC files. Some of these will be granted shortly. Latest to drop application is Louis G. Baltimore (WBRE) , for Wilkes-Barre, Pa. TELSVISIC}! KOTES: To his board Tuesday, Zenith’s Comdr. Gene McDonald reiterated his conviction advertisers won’t support cost of TV, which he says needs "boxoffice" ; he reported Zenith is working on color TV, but said it won’t market black-and-white receivers for present frequencies "because such receivers v/ould become obsolete within a year".... On the other hand, ABC’s director Paul B. Mowrey told WLW Summer Radio & Television Institvite in Cincinnati Friday that "this fall and v/inter will very likely see a preponderance of commercial support for video that radio did not enjoy until the end of its first decade," citing also "eagerness on part of industry to get its toes wet in the enticing pool of video" And in August issue of magazine Radio Mirror NBC’s v.p. in charge of TV, John Royal, says new TV transmitting equipment is being erected in a dozen cities; also that there are TV sets on market now and that TV is now a "going concern" Rotating TV spon sorship is involved in 26-week deal being negotiated by ABC w'ith Grey Adv. Agency, v/hich v/ould turn over program every 4 weeks to a different client-sponsor. Proposed for production via DuMont’s WABD is video adaption of "Powers Charm School," now heard over ABC Live-wire WBKB, Chicago (Balaban & Katz-Paramount), reports logging 29 hours of telecasting last week, 16 hours being remotes including Chicago Cubs ball games and boxing-wrestling matches — believed to be a record in TV.... RCA' s plans for theatre television indicate big-screen lag may not be as far behind home video projects as has been supposed. Also working on theatre TV are DuMont, GE, Rauland Corp Dr. Lee DeForest, the inventor, is now living in Chicago, working with his old friend U. A. Sanabria (American Television Laboratories) on problem of larger TV screens.