Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

(JASTia CODEl’s authoritative news service OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTING AND FJtSOUENCY MODULATION ARTS AND INDUSTRY FJ3LISHE0 WELHLY BY ^ RA310 BUREAU. 1513 SO.N^ECTICBI AVL H.W.. WASIlii^STOH 6. D.C. TELEPHONE M1CH13AH 2029 • VOL. 2, lid. 42 October 19, 1948 mB m m at Chicago: All that remains now is to conduct the requiem and lay away the corpse of the once-vital FMBI. Unless new leadership unexpectedly crops up to rally the weak and illfinanced few favoring a separate organization, the signs seem clear that the consolidation of FMBI into NAB will be made permanent at FM sessions in Chicago’s Palmer House Monday (Oct. 21). What NAB can and will do for FM thereafter, remains anybody’s guess — ^but few hold very high hopes on the basis of the year’s “trial marriage.” The best that the FM enthusiasts feel they can “salvage” out of the old FMBI setup is a possible pooling of licensees, manufacturers and others “sold” on FM to do a promotional job for FM outside the purview of NAB. That will take more money than seems to be in sight, for NAB can hardly be expected to provide any. You have the key to the overwhelming strength of NAB in the fiscal report it published this week, covering the 14-month period from July 1, 1945 to Aug. 31, 1946. It lists 1,079 dues-paying members, of which 35 are down as FM (presumably the relicts of FMBI) . It lists an executive, administrative, secretarial and clerical staff of 55. Its income for the 14 months was $691,966, expenses $596,735 — general administration accounting for $194,876, the president’s salary and expenses $91,352. An item of $9,038 is listed for FM, covering expenses in that field. Against so well-heeled an organization, willing to take FM’s basic problems under wing because they are the same as AM’s, a smaller trade association would seem to have little chance — particularlj’’ since most of those who would be expected to join the latter are already paying dues to the former. There’s also the simple fact that many AMers are not too sold on zealous promotion of FM, which openly threatens eventually to supersede regional and local AM facilities. To NAB’s panel on FM (Vol. 2, No. 32) this week were added two rrtore speakers — A. D. Wil lard Jr., NAB executive v.p., and Paul A. deMars, veteran consulting engineer and FM station builder. Luncheon and panel are scheduled for 12:30-3 p.m., with FMBI annual membership meeting 3-4 p.m. FROi^ ‘TO? OF THE rylARK': Ideally located for a TV station, towering high above a thickly populated metropolitan area, San Francisco’s famed “Top of the Mark” got its expected assignment this week. FCC Thursday granted Associated Broadcasters Inc. (Wesley Dumm), which operates KSFO in the Hotel Mark Hopkins, a CP covering Channel No. 5 (76-82 me), stipulating 23.6 kw visual power, 12.6 kw aural power, 583 ft. antenna height (above average terrain). Station’s engineering chief. Royal V. Howard, has long been planning both TV and FM from site, so that construction awaits only equipment and building approval. It was San Francisco’s second TV grant, one to the Chronicle having previously been made. Now four other applications still pend for the four remaining channels (Supplements No. 18, 18A). Log of grantees now numbers 35, applications pending 37. Over FCC engineering hurdles are applications of WGN, Chicago; KPRO, Riverside, Cal.; Connecticut Television Co., Darien (Bridgeport), Conn.; Institutum Divi Thomae Foundation, Cincinnati; KRSC, Seattle. If these applications follow usual FCC “production line,” they should now be in hands of Legal Dept, preparatory to Commission action. In the engineering works are Crosley’s applications for Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, new data having just been received. Further engineering data is still awaited from WPDQ, Jacksonville, Fla.; Fort Industry Co., Toledo; Daily News, Philadelphia. THE FCC AND FM^JHIS.IVEEK: FCC staffmen are somewhat less foggy, though still not definite, in answers to hoary question, “When are we going to get decisions?” They say Commission is begin Copyrlxht 1943 by Radio News Bureau