Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

FCC GOES ALL OUT FOR m: Most powerful intravenous injection of FM ever absorbed by the broadcasting industry was administered by Acting FCC Chairman Denny when he enunciated Commission’s FM policy at NAB convention Wednesday. You can expect reaction in the form of accelerating filing of applications (16 were filed in last 20 days, Supplement No. 14P herewith). What Denny said about recalcitrant existing AM broadcasters, some 35% of whom have not yet applied, was especially significant. Because of its importance, we publish the text of the FM portion' of Denny’s convention address; italics are ours to emphasize the points he particularly stressed: The Commission has e.xpressly autliorized me to say to you again tliat it is our opinion that FM is the finest aural broadcast system attainable in the present state of the radio art. FM is not coming; it’s here. And it is growing fast. Already [as of early October] there are 66 stations in operation and 564 more authorized ( counting both construction permits and conditional grants). In addition, tliere are 307 applications pending. Our long range plans for FM look forward to the day when every square inch of every state from the Atlantic Ocean west to the middle of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas will be covered— night and day— witli satisfactory FM signals. Similarly, FM signals solidly will blanket tlie Pacific Coast states. The area in between these two sections is what is now the poorest served portion of our countr>-. FM will ser\'e large parts of it but cannot reasonably be expected to serve it all. Here our long-range plans look for a revamped AM service to fill in the gaps. Most AM broadcasters are pulling for FM. And well they should. Many local channel operators will, when they get FM, be able for the first time to sit in their homes in the evening and hear their own station [Laughter]. Thus, it is not hard to understand why 579 (65%) of the established AM stations licensed prior to October, 1945 have applied for FM. There are 315 (35%) who have not applied. Of tliese, 215 are locals and I urge them to get their applications in just as fast as they can. Of tlie 100 remaining holdouts, 83 are regionals and 17 are lA and IB clear channels, who may be relying on tlieir higher power to shelter them from FM. They ma> find it won’t work tliat way. I believe they should review their position. I have heard it said that some broadcasters are afraid that FM is a booby trap. They say they have been told that if they get an FM station, then the duopoly rule will spring into play and they will be forced to sell tlieir AM. As we see it today, the AM broadcaster who goes into FM will continue to operate his AM station until FM replaces AM in that area. Today there is one loud discordant note in FM — receivers. While tire manufactiuers have turned out an unprecedented quantity of low-priced AM sets, tlie FM sets have been coming very slowly except from the production lines of several manufacturers who are solidly behind FM. Some say that tire other manufacturers who believe in FM have been handicapped by production difficulties and inabifify to get materials. Others have been lethargic and said “FM can wait— right now tliere is a lush market for cheap AM receivers and I’m going to get my share.” I am convinced, however, that the majority of the manufacturers recognize the role that FM is destined to play in our broadcast structure and will do their part. After all, 12 months from now when we have lumdreds of FM stations on the air, there is going to be a tremendous demand for FM receivers. In fact, if a man lives in a town with 3 AM stations and 3 FM stations do you think he will buy a receiver which can only get half of the stations in town? In a sentence, the way to get FM moving still faster is for you to get stations on the air and the public will demand receivers. I know it’s hard to convince yourself that you should spend money to put on a program that nobody can hear. But it’s even harder to convince the public that it should buy sets when there is nothing to listen to. It’s your next move. Give this new superior broadcast service to the people as soon as possible. ^ ^ Here’s how the FCC looks on TV, as related also by Mr. Denny: “The Commission also sees a bright and important future for television. We are convinced that the American people want television and that they need television. Television will not be simply a luxury entertainment service. Its educational potential is unlimited. It will be the most powei'ful communication tool of them all. Already 41 television stations have been authorized and receiver production lines are in motion.” Denny added he would go into no more detail, in view of Dec. 9 hearing on CBS-suggested uhf color TV standards (Vol. 2, No. 41), after which “we will inform the industry and the public of everything we have learned.” MAE S3DELIGRTS: FCC came to Chicago in force, like mountain coming to Mohamet — and Comrs. Denny, Jett, Hyde and their considerable retinue (not to forget ex-Chairman Larry Fly, on hand only as an observer this time) were besieged with attention. Denny’s panel invitation to the delegates to consult on FM with Cy Braum, FCC chief of FM engineering, resulted in rush of visitors, most with own FM problems. General tenor of inquiries was how FM grantees could get on air, many asking Braum for application form — indicating panel had acted as catalyst for FM. Heartiest laugh of convention came when Denny, talking about Blue Book, remarked that the Commission was no place for sensitive souls, having been “a boot camp to toughen an OPA Administrator.” Toughest remark was NAB President Miller’s, that he wasn’t going to let the broadcasting industry be “pushed around” during his administration. Tough, too, though smiling, was Denny in callattention to provocative adjectives Miller had used in previous speeches to describe Blue Book promulgators, and in declaring that “as applied to Blue Book the cry of ‘free speech’ is a red herring.” Most encouraging remarks were those of both Miller and Denny indicating they eagerly wished a test case of authority implied in Blue Book, and Miller’s announcement he and FCC chairman had agreed to have luncheon at least once monthly to exchange views. And for significant remarks, there was this passage in Comr. Jett’s speech reviewing technological developments: “Although it is reasonably certain that the present allocations will remain in force for many years to come, it cannot be guaranteed that any service will remain permanently