Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

Fr^ ACTION FROi^ CO-'OPs: Slowly, though rather sporadically, the nation’s ponderous cooperative movement (3-4 million members) is putting its weight behind FM. This week the Connecticut Valley Federation of Cooperative Societies applied for Hartford; and the New York Metropolitan Federation of Cooperative Societies prepared to file for one of New York City’s 4 reserved channels. It’s also reported that groups in Philadelphia, Boston and Albany are mulling over applying. In the matter of FP»I set procurement, co-ops are casting about for them, willing to try any method which promises faster distribution. In fact, a spokesman for Potomac Bi'oadcasting Cooperative, Washington CP holder, says his group was prepai'ed to manufacture an FM-only set, to retail for $30, until manufacturers talked them out of it by assuring (with unjustifiable optimism, he now feels) that a great many low-priced receivers would soon be channeled to the city. So the plan was dropped, but a new one is afoot to join in, or parallel, ILGWU’s scheme (Vol. 2, No. 30). ILGWU, incidentally, is already getting delivery, though how many sets is unknown. Except for the Ohio Council of Farm Cooperatives, rather quiescent lately, principal FM interest of co-ops is in the East, where they’ve begun a bludgeon-like promotion campaign. Theme of promotion: If it co.sts more than $30, and doesn’t have FM, don’t buy it. Co-ops long have had various manufacturers make sets for them to be marketed v/ith “Co-op” trademark, are now doing same with AM-FM combinations, report a $125 set in production, a $250 record-player job due soon. Meanwhile, “glut on the market” is the phrase being heard more and more in reference to tablemodel AM sets. One such report comes out of Chicago. From the West Coast come reports of a price war in haste to unload small (particularly offbrand) radios. The St. Louis Bensons (WIL-FM) report some dealers virutally burning them in effigy for advertising that an FM-less set is obsolete. Ffjl AND FX PANELS: Laying himself open to questions on work of his division, will be Bob Bartley, director of NAB’s FM Dept., addjed this week to speakers on FM panel of NAB convention (Vol. 2, No. 32) . And perhaps the facsimile panel, scheduled for 4 p.m., Oct. 21, will hasten presentation of recommendations on commercial standards to the FCC, since ardent FX proponents will be there. Panel lineup: W. G. H. Finch, Finch Telecommunitions; I’hilip G. Caldwell, GE; Elliott Crooks, Radio Inventions Inc.; John V. L. Hogan, Radio Inventions Inc. Incidentally, more data on FX, though not on FM frequencies, can be expected from Acme Newspictures Inc., which received CP this week to build experimental station near Cleveland. Frequencies run from 3492.5 kc to 23,100 kc. TELEVISION NOTES: Conspicuous because it bore no signature, was a full-page ad in the TBA conference hook, comprising merely one line of 36 pt. block letters in six colors reading: “Compliments of a friend.” It was an obvious dig, quite goodnatured but somewhat costly to CBS ($700), which was once a member of TBA but quit over the color vs. monochrome issue .... Prominent lookers-on at TBA were FCC Commissioners Denny and Jett, Chief Engineer George Adair, Asst. Gen. Counsel Plotkin, TV Engineering Chief Plummer . . . . TBA is asking the FCC for further extension, from Oct. 31 to Dec. 31, of TV rules waiver permitting programming less than 28 hours weekly. Reason given is equipment shortage. Association also withdrew petition for oral argument on TV relay and STL allocations (Vol. 2, No. 39) . . . Fearing amateur interference, KOB-TV, Albuquerque CP holder, asks to be moved from Channel No. 2 (54-60 me) to No. 4 (66-72 me). Station has RCA equipment contracted for but still can give no estimate of “on air” date . . .Extremely well done, double-spread in Sept. 29 Sunday roto section of Sf. Louis-Dispatch does good job of telling public what TV is all about, pictorializing what it will be like locally when newspaper gets its KSDTV on the air, planned by next March . . . Chicago’s Electric Assn., in its cui’rent campaign to make Windy City the country’s big TV center, is asking set manufacturers to channel at least 20% of their TV set production to Chicago. Estimate now is that city has slightly under 500 sets, WBKB’s Bill Eddy says there will be at least 30,000 by next July . . . New York -Washington coaxial cable was to be “tapped” at Baltimore this Saturday for pickup of Navy-Duke grid game (Goodyear sponsoring). Telecasters will relay to TV station WNBT, New York, and viewers will see game directly off-theline in NBC studios in capital. SIGHT AND SOUND: Chicago Federal District Court has fixed Nov. 4 for opening of trial of AFM President James C. Petrillo under the Lea Act (Vol. 2, No. 22) . . . Hopes of some broadcasters, particularly smaller ones, of obtaining special programs without high cost of wire lines, were squashed by FCC action this week denying Press Wireless’ request to use its international frequencies to beam programs around country. Denial says frequency situation too tight and insufficient proof of acceptable transmission quality shown ... In addition to its $56 plastic table model two-band AM-FM set. Zenith is now furnishing its dealers a new AC-only woodcncased table model, also with two bands, to retail at about $95. Only big producer of table model AM-FM combinations as yet. Zenith finds demand so far outrunning supply that it has expanded set production facilities to Wincharger plant in Sioux City, Ir., which it also owns.