Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

war rate — 1,442,757 sets, as against the monthlyaverage of 1,100,000 for 1940-41, according to RMA estimates from 90% of the industry (over 1,700,000 for whole industry, according to CPA estimates). In August, 101,744 consoles were produced (only 13,892 FMs), up 30,244 from July and about equal to pre-war rate. But console production still lags behind pre-war proportion to overall set output. After OPA gets the decontrol petition — ^which must be accompanied by all sorts of figures on production, raw material supply, component stocks, inventories, etc. — the pricing agency must, by regulation, announce its decision in 15 days. If petition is denied, hearing can be requested and must be granted within 10 days. After hearing, OPA has 15 days to decide again. If verdict is still negative, industry can turn to the Decontrol Board. Already the radio parts people have voted to ask OPA for decontrol, are also preparing exhibits to attach to formal petition. Though sets and parts are one industry, OPA has them in different agency division, so that each must seek decontrol separately. Possibility that OPA might consider automatic decontrol of radio industry, under its authority to take price ceilings off products not considered essential to living or business costs (which it must do by Dec. 31), went glimmering when John Bulkley, assistant deputy administrator for decontrol, told RMA leaders that “present OPA thinking” is not to consider radio sets and parts in that category. TV’s Bi0-T!^E SPONSORS: Sponsors aren’t exactly “flocking” to the TV medium, as Television Broadcasters Assn, avers in a current survey of advertisers on New York’s three commercial stations. But those who have bought time — and they’ve optioned the choice segments — are big enough spenders of advertising dollars, with big enough agencies, to warrant optimistic hopes for the commercial future of the medium. Besides Goodyear Tire’s sponsorship of Army home grid games on NBC’s WNBT, Ford Motor’s sponsorship of Columbia U games on CBS’s WCBW (in addition to Madison Square Garden sports events, other than boxing) , and Ford’s sponsorship also of Yankee pro grid games on DuMont’s V/ABD, the schedule of commercial TV shows on New York stations for a September v/eek is listed as follows (all times p.m.); On WNBT (NBC) Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Your Esso Television Reporter, Mon. and Thu., 7:50-8. Agency: Marsclialk & Pratt. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Your Life Work, Mon., 8-8:15. Agency: Sweeney & James. Gillette Safety Razor Co., Cavalcade of Sports, Mon. and Fri., approx. 9:30 to closing. Agency: Ma.xon Inc. Standard Brands Inc., Hour Class, Thu., 8-9; Face to Face, Sun., 8-8:15. Agency: J. Walter Thompson. The Borden Co., For You and Yours and I Love to Eat, Fri. 8:30-8:45. Agency: Young & Rubicam. Radio Corporation of America, The World in Your Home Fri 8:45-9. Bristol-Myers Co., Geographically Speaking, Sun., 8:15-8:30. Agency; Young & Rubicam. United States Rubber Co., Friday Night Quarterback, Fri. 88:15. Agency: CampbeU-Ewald Co. Botany Worsted Mills, weather reports (approx. 20 seconds) Fri., 9. Agency: Silberstein-Goldsmith. Bulova Watch Co., time signals (approx. 20 seconds), two on Mon., Thu., Sun. afternoons. Agency; The Biow Co. Waltham Watch Co., time signals, two on Wed. and Fri. nights. ' Agency; N. W. Ayer & Son. Elgin Watch Co., time signals, two on Sim. and Tue. nights. Agency; J. Walter Thompson Co. On WABD (DuMont) Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Commercials about DuMont TV sets, Mon. thru Fri., 4:30; Tue., Wed., Thu., 8:30 and 9:30. Agency: Buchanan & Co. United States Rubber Co., Serving Through Science, Tue., 99:30. Agency: Campbell-Ewald Co. Alexander’s Dept. Store, Play the Game, Tue., 8-8:30. Pro. duced by ABC. Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Co., Magic Carpet, Wed., Thu., 8-8:15. Agency: Anderson-Davis-Platt. Waltham Watch Co., time signals, Tue., Wed., Thu., 9. Agency N. W. Ayer & Son. Elgin Watch Co., time signals, Tue. and Thu., 8:30. Agency: J. Walter Thompson Co. On WCBW (CBS)* Gulf Oil Co., CBS Television News, Thu., 8:1.5-8:30. Bristol-Myers Co., Shorty cartoons, Sim., 8:30-8:45; Vitalis Sport Almanac, Sun., 8:45-9. Agency: Young & Rubicam. Bulova Watch Co., 4 time signals weekly. Agency: The Biow Co. Elgin Watch Co., 2 time signals weekly. Agency: J. Walter Thompson Co. Gruen Watch Co., 2 time signals weekly. Agency: McCaimErickson Inc. ® Call letters become WCBS-TV on Nov. 1. NETWORK SHAPE OF THINGS: First “commercial network” in TV, probable nucleus of an eventual nation-wide network, is the two-way hookup effected by signed agreement this week betv/een NBC’s WNBT. New York, and Philco’s V/PTZ, Philadelphia. They will exchange both commercial and sustaining shows hereafter, with compensation rates agreed upon. Up to now, WNBT has been feeding its programs to the other stations wanting them (except rival New York outlets) on a no-pay basis, its purpose being to stimulate interest in TV. Philco indicated its continuing interest in radio relays, as against coaxial, by announcing that WPTZ would get its programs via relay from New York — WNBT’s signals being picked up and rebroadcast at the Philco relay station at Mt. Rose, N. J., about 44 miles from New York, and then at the WPTZ transmitter at Wyndmoor, Pa., 36 miles farther away. Coaxial cable is available also, of course, but company is still sold on radio relay for inter-city links. DuMont also has a two-station hookups between its WABD, New York, and WTTG, Washington, has applications pending for additional stations of its own in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland (allowable limit, 5) with hopes eventually to have nation-wide network affiliates.