Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

STOP, LOOK AND LlSTCt Everyone who could, including commissioners, stopped to peek as long as they might at the FCC’s television set just outside Acting Chairman Denny’s ofiice. It’s one of the very few TV receivers in Washington, and the occasion was the second game of the National League playoff Wednesday. Over at NBC’s studios a few blocks away, scores crowded into the narrow confines to watch the game also. Off-the-air images were excellently received from WTTG, the DuMont outlet in Washington which had been granted permission to carry it as received via coaxial from NBC’s V/NBT in New York. NBC’s guests in Washington saw it off-theline. As it did in the case of the recent Jos Louis fights, NBC also allowed Schenectady’s WRGB and Philadelphia’s WPTZ to carry the game. This despite the fact that NEC paid a reported $7, .500 for exclusive TV rights, had agreed to pay twice that much for third game if there was one. TV enthusiasts were inclined to root for the Brooklyn Dodgers, hopeful that TV might get another chance to strut its stuff with telecasts of part of the world series. But the St. Louis Cardinals effectively squelched that hope by winning the right to play the Boston Pvcd Sox. Since neither Boston nor St. Louis has any TV facilities as yet (though are slated to have stations next year; see Supplement 18A) , the v/orld series can’t be telecast, even assuming a deal could have been m.ade for video rights. ALWAYS GODD COPY: Kecommended reading: Current series of three sketches titled “Vandevilla to Television” by Alva Johnston in the New Yorker, started Sept. 28; it’s built around personality and career of John F. Royal, NEC’s TV v.p., given by David Sarnoff in 1940 “one of the toughest jobs in t’ne history of show ’ousiness.” Article in October Fortune on “Rise of Raytheon” from a $5,000,CQ0-ayear pre-war business to $15,000,000-a-month during war (mostly radar), recounting its acquisition of Belmont and plans for TV production. And, in October Coronet, Norman Carlisle’s “Farnswort’n of Television,” quoting the inventor’s enthusiasm for small-city TV: “We must get television to the smaller cities if it is to achieve its place in our social and economic lives.” . TELEVISION NOTES: Originally slated to speak bej fore the TBA conference', FCC’s acting chairman, i Charles Denny, had to beg off, reason being his I “judicial” role in color vs. monochrome controver! sy soon to be subject of standards hearings. TBA, of ) course, favors monochrome now, which led to CBS’s j withdrawal from association . . . Mr. Denny, how' ever, will address NAB Chicago convention Oct. 23, topic as jmt unselected. On previous day, Com missioner Jett talks on “Application of War Developments to Postwar Broadcasting.” . . . These are the manufacturers who will exhibit their TV receiving sets at TBA conference this week: RCA, GE, Farnsworth, Philco, Telicon, Sonora, Crosley, Belmont; in addition, GE and RCA will exhibit transmitting equipment, AT&T its coaxial ... Indefatigable speaker in the “TV now” cause — and always well press-agented — is Joseph Gerl, president of Sonora. Though sponsors and commercials, let alone stations, can as yet be counted on a few hands, his latest tack (before Philadelphia’s Poor R’ chard Club Tuesday) was to urge “a code of ethics against excessive commercialization of television programs” . . . RCA for some time lias been taking orders for, now has in production, full line of TV transmitters am! antennas, together with Orthicon Camera and other studio and field equipment; for details write Engineering Products Dept., RCA ATctor Division, Camden, N. J. . . St. Louis U’s noted geophysics dean, Fr. James B. Macelwane, was authorized by FCC Thursday to conduct experiments in uhf color TV in 480-920 me band, for which the Institute of Geophysical Technology has appropriated $160,000 . . . Faced with zoning and material problems, Bamberger (WOR, New York) was this week granted 6 month extension of construction dates for its Washington TV station WWBR; completion date in now June 23, 1947 . . . SIGHT AND SOUND: What tiny TBA is doing in the way of convening, exhibiting and “selling” TV (see story in this issue) almost gives the laugh to the “problem” of an FMBI-NAB merger, scheduled to occupy first day of NAB’s Chicago convention, Oct. 21. In fact, suggestions that TBA, too, should merge into NAB have met with polite but firm refusals even to discuss the matter . . . Look for imminent resignation of Joseph Borkin, Dept, of Justice attorney and economist, who has been handling Scophony case. His departure will leave government case in hands of James Wilson, of N. Y. office, and Sigmund Timberg, Washington . . . Always hungry for more information on shf equipment and propagation, TV people can expect interesting data to come out of Raytheon’s work with two new mobile experimental stations, CPs for which were granted this week; frequencies range from 1750-1825 me to 26,000-30,000 me ... In Washington this week, John P. Kearne, FCC’s West Coast regional attorney, handed in his resignation, announced opening of his own law offices in Central Tower Bldg., San Francisco. He was Commission counsel in Los Angeles TV hearing, which still awaits Examiner Plotkin’s report and FCC decision . . . Leader in producing and promoting FM combinations, Stromberg-Carlson foresees no diminution in demand for its products, has just leased an additional plant in Erie, Pa.