Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

LEGION LOOKS AT FfV!: Now comes the American Legion with a dossier, based largely on news stories in the radio trade press and reports in radical publications, warning against .“subversive ami unAmerican” organizations seeking to gain a foothold in radio via FM. Whereas left-wingers have had plenty to say and write about FM, this is the first outcry against labor-libcral-consumer groups seeking — and securing — FM grants. In particular, it mentions as “needing watching”: Peoples Radio Foundation and National Maritime Union, New York; Metropolitan Broadcasting Co., Washington; and multiple applicants UAW-CIO, Amalgamated Clothing Workers, International Ladies Garment Workers. It suggests local Legion chapters screen applicants, call the attention of the Legion’s Americanism Commission to “doubtful” cases. The report comes in 14 mimeographed pages, titled “Monthly Analysis: Subversive Groups and Their Activities,” September 1946, and emanates from the Legion’s national headquarters, Indianapolis. Recent publications in behalf of left-wingers seeking to get into radio, says the report, were the CIO-PAC “Radio Handbook” which recommends that “progressive forces” get on air through FM, and Eugene Konecky’s booklet “Monopoly Steals FM”, published by Provisional Committee for Democracy in Radio, composition of which cannot be ascertained. Konecky is a onetime employe of WOW, Omaha, helped found Peoples Radio Foundation. FIRST PGST-WAR mBM: Very likely to become distinguished as FM’s first post-war licensee, KPFM (Broadcasters Oregon Ltd., no AM), Portland, started program tests Tuesday, should be ready for license Nov. 22. Normally, stations are allowed 90 days for equipment tests, 30 days for program test. But now that FCC doesn’t demand field strength measurements for a year, equipment can be tested in fraction of 90 days. A big reason for KPFM’s speed is availability of equipment necessary to achieve its 1..5 kw power. There may be other FM beavers just as eager, but their CPs specify powers for which transmittei's just aren’t around (though Federal, at NAB convention, reported its 10 kw job about ready for deliverj'-, with 15 orders to be shipped) . Coming into view, too, is WINC-FM, Winchester, Va. (Richard Field Lewis Jr.), scheduled to start equipment tests Thursday and to radiate 15 kw. Meanwhile, STA-hoIders who feel they could sell time if legally permissible can go ahead. There’s nothing in the rules that says they can’t. As attorneys view it, unless wording of the STA specifically prohibits selling time, salesmen can start trotting. And if they have success of Roy Hofheinz (KTHT-FM, Houston) they’ll be happy (Vol. 2, No. 34). TELEVISION NOTES: RMA figures on TV set pro duction for September are first with any perceptible weight — 3,242, contrasted with 225 reported in year’s first 8 months. Mystery to us (and to RMA, which gets figures anonymously from bonded accounting agency) is that some 3.000 were “private brand,” i..e, made by manufacturer on order from someone else who puts own trademai'k on them .... October production figures are expected to leap, relatively, in view of RCA’s line now being released . . . .“TDay” is how RCA has denominated Nov. 3, date of release of full-page ads in New York and other areas getting service, urging public to go to dealers to see demonstrations of new TV sets. Press will be told all about company’s TV merchandising plans (including immediate marketing of 10” tube model at $350, 7” at $225) at N.Y. conference Oct. 30 .... pickups of public events are becoming so commonplace now, that the fact NBC’s WNBT used 5 cameras to cover opening sessions of United Nations Assembly Wednesday, with Philadelphia’s WPTZ also carrying it, was taken as a matter of routine. As it did during Security Council meetings at Hunter College last spring, RCA provided receivers for press and overflow audiences .... New York Herald Tribune Forum next v/eek will be televised, too, with WNBT, WPTZ, WRGB, WTTG all carr^dng it ... . TV test equipment, consisting of sync generator, monoscope camera and distribution amplifier, is now being made available by RCA; equipment not only is useful for station operators, but assures mass production of sets and transmitters, comipany says .... Another of the Frank Mansfield market surveys for Sylvania, reporting 45.1% of 9,603,000 families ' thinking of buying a TV set, calculates the market thus: 1947, 420,000 sets; 1948, 780,000; 1949, 1,200,000; 1950. 1.500.000 .... CPs for two new experimental TV stations were granted by FCC this week — to North Jersey Broadcasting Co. Inc. (WPAT, Paterson) for Clifton, N.J., a reinstatement of a previous grant (W'2XNJ); Allen B. DuMont Labs., Channel No. 13 (210-216 me), 40 rvatts, for New York. Los Angeles Times was also granted extension of completion date for new experimental TV station to April 20, 1947 .... DuMont hearing for TV in Pittsburgh, scheduled for Oct. 23, was continued without date, depending on results of Paramount inquiry .... C. E. “Chili” Nobles, Westinghouse’s young Slratovision idea man, is one of subjects in “Interesting People” pictorial section of November American Magazine .... As week ended, no appearances had yet been filed for participation in the uhf color TV standards hearing set for Dec. 9 (Supplement No. 45) ; FCC staffers say some inquiries indicating forthcoming filing have been made.