Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

tlflflTISi CODEI’S authositative news service OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTIN& ANt> F.'lEQUENCY MODULATION ARTS AND INDUSTRY FLUSHED mm BY # SABIO tiEWS EliSEAU, 1513 CSNIlEfiTICyT AYE. ll.W.. mSHiHSTOH 6. D.C. TEIEPHOHE MiCliiSAH 232a • VOl. 2, N9. 41 October 12, 1946 BUaDEN OF PROOF GH CBS: Last Wednesday, a scant dozen days after CBS had petitioned for commercialization of uhf color TV, with suitable engineering standards, the FCC presented CBS — and whoever else wants to join the argument — with a “bill of particulars” (Supplement No. 45 herewith) to be answered before it will rule on this highly controversial issue. It set Monday, Dec. 9, as hearing date; Nov. 25, for filing of appearances; Dec. 2, for filing of exhibits. On Thursday, the Commission granted the 34th CP for low-band TV — to the V/illiam H. Block Co., big Indianapolis department store, only applicant remaining out of the four originally asking for TV in that city (Supplement No. 18) .It was assigned Channel No. 3 (60-66 me), with 14.44 kw visual power, 7.6 kw aural power, 331 ft. antenna height. The Thursday action, the two similar grants the week before and others of a similar nature pending (Vol. 2, No. 40) would hardly betoken any intention on FCC’s part to relent now, to withdraw the official blessing it has already bestowed on lowband TV, pending its adjudication of the high-band issues raised by CBS. On the contrary, you can expect still more lowband gTants, including those for New York and Los Angeles, during ensuing weeks. In other words, there is no intention to “stop the works” so far as low-band is concerned. A good guess is that, in view of the exhaustive technical data the FCC demands, the probable additional tests it v/ill require, CBS and those who will testify in its support will be occupied the better part of 1947 in preparing and presenting “proof positive” that color TV is practicable now. The burden of proof has been thrust squarely upon CBS. The FCC and its engineering experts have seen CBS’s color demonstrations and presumably have been told plenty about its technical aspects. But they are “still from Missouri” so far as the case for commercialization and practical standards are concerned. Then there are the powerful low-band-now advocates — among them such strong voices as RCA, GE, Philco, Du Mont — who are certain to participate in the momentous hearing. And a strong voice will be that of RTPB Panel No. 6, which CBS as a member has thus far failed to bring arovmd to its way of thinking. That the Technical Planning Board’s TV panel is to be party to the hearing, was indicated in the FCC hearing order requiring that exhibits must be filed not only with FCC and CBS but also with Philco’s David Smith, chairman of the panel and also of RMA’s subcommittee on uhf TV systems. Of RTPB committee, even CBS says in its statement to the FCC: “The work of this committee has been highly constructive, and we believe substantial agreement can be reached on many of the technical matters connected v/ith uhf color television. In view, however, of the public statements of certain of the organizations represented on the committee, we have concluded that 100% agreement on all such technical matters is not to be expected within the foreseeable future.” H1GB|C03T OF TV SETS: Overshadowing all other impressions gained at the TBA show in New York Thursday and Friday is the feeling that the manufacturers of TV receiving sets, probably due to circumstance rather than design, are restricting the medium to the carriage trade. This may be an inevitable consequence of today’s high-cost labor and materials market. But the fact remains that most of the receivers promised will be as far out of reach of the average family as automobiles or radios were in the days before mass production. It’s in recognition of this factor that the biggest company in the radio field, KCA, is introducing table model sets only the rest of this year — a 7inch screen at $225, a 10-inch at $350, both TV only — and won’t bring out its proposed $750 and $1,250 Copyright 1D46 by Badio News Bureau