Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)
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except as one of several means of rural coverage considered by CCBS engineers but found unsatisfactory. The plan, endorsed by all 16 members (all 50-kw outlets), proposes a minimum of 20 clears, each with a 750-kw station. How CCBS intends to overcome the 50-kw power ceiling fixed in the 1938 Senate resolution (by Senator Wheeler) is a moot question at the moment. CCBS feels that if FCC is sold on its plan, it will find the m.eans to secure Congressional relaxation of any power limitation. (Wheeler resolution is not law, merely expresses “sense” of Senate.) With some reshuffling of network affiliations, it is claimed the CCBS plan permits practically the whole country to receive good signals from all 4 networks during night hours. Other changes for Class 1-B and regional outlets, to better day and night groundwave service, are also embraced in the plan.
BUSY WEEK IN AiVI, T0O: Welter of FCC actions this week included 27 new AM grants, 8 proposed decisions granting AMs, 9 changes of station ownership or control (several including FM facilities). Most of AM grants, as usual, were for local low power or daytime outlets in tiny communities — though there was one significant one to owner of Kansas City’s KMBC, authorizing 5 kw daytime on 550 kw in Concordia, Kan., in center of State, desig:-ed purely as farm station with major programs piped from KMBC. Among transfers authorized was $450,000 purchase of WHOM, Jersey City, from Cowles interests by Generoso Pope, publisher of II Progreso Italo-Americano; sale to local interests, for $270,000, of WAZL, Hazelton, Pa., by Steinmans; $700,000 purchase of KJR, Seattle, by Marshall Field interests; purchase of $100,000 mterest in KALL, Salt Lake City, by Salt Lake Telegram and Publisher J. F. Fitzpatrick, conditional upon disposal of latter’s minority interest in KSL; $300,000 sale of WEEU, Reading, Pa., to Hawley Bestg. Co.
WHAT PHICE F3DEL3TY? That old FM-involving argument— ^whether people like high fidelity — flares anew in the professional prints. Sparked by the survey by CBS’s Howard A. Chinn and Philip Eisenberg, concluding most people don’t go for full tonal range, a symposium in the October Proceedings of the I. R. E. goes into a high-dome, psycho-audio disquisition on the subject. And the October Fortune, discusing “Music for the Home,” gives it treatment for the layman that boils down to this: If you’ve got a good ear, and want to satisfy it, you’ve got to pay for it.
Fortune publishes a tabular on 1947 consoles, complete with details on prices, pickup and speaker characteristics, frequency ranges, as claimed by manufacturers. These are the consoles with FM, as listed by Fortune, with price ranges:
Ansley, $350-$800; Eendix, $250-$400; Brunswick, $500; Capehart (and Panamuse), $495-$l,295;
E. C. A., $175-$325; Emerson, $160; Espey Philharmonic, $210; Fada, $150-$200; Farnsworth, $185$225; Fisher, $885-$l,000; GE, $325-$475; Majestic, $425; Meissner, $850; Scott, $1,042; Stromberg ' Carlson, $200-$600; Westinghouse, $257-$309; Zenith, $229-$314. Those also making consoles with • AM only: Ansley, $200-$250; Espey Philharmonic, $180; Farnsworth, $134-$165; GE, $198; Magnavox, $262-$388 (FM optional); Zenith, $146.
Of course, many more are making, or have announced plans to make, FM-AM consoles — not ■ ably Philco, RCA and. Crosley. But details weren’t f available at time Fortune story was written.
TELEVJSION NOTES: TBA elects officers and 3 new direc
tors next Jan. 7. Board Thursday named nominations r committee comprising 3 directors — Allen B. DuMont;
F. J. Bingley, Philco; G. E. Markham, GE. Outgoing officers and directors: J. R. Poppele, WOR, president; : Mr. Bingley, v.p.; O. B. Hanson, asst, secy-treas. Other outgoing directors: Paul Raibourn, Paramount; E. A. , Hayes, Hughes Tool Co. (resigned). Directors with unexpired terms: Ernest H. Vogel, Farnsworth; Curtis W. Mason, EIFI.
TV cartel case of Dept, of Justice (Vol. 1, No. 17) looks considerably weaker, lawyers says, as result of dismissal of case against Scophony Ltd. (British) V/ednesday in Federal district court for lack of jurisdiction. Further long delay in trial of remaining 7 defendants is regarded certain, especially if Justice appeals this week’s decision to U. S. Supreme Court. Also, Justice lost one of spark-plugs in case with recent resignation of Attorney Joseph Borkin.
Scott Radio will introduce a TV companion piece to its present FM-AM-phonograph combination Nov. 7, at New York’s Hotel Pierre; video set, made for Scott by DuMont, will utilize radio console’s audio system through simple attachments.
Look for IBEW to try pushing out NABET at NBC’s WNBT. With IBEW already entrenched at WCBS-TV and lATSE staking a claim in video field, jurisdictional free-for-all is in the wind.
British set makers have been assured by BBC, which is reviving TV with 405-line definition (as against 525 lines here), that they need have no qualms about TV receiver obsolescence for at least 3 years.
Dr. Douglas Ewing, assistant director of MIT’s respected Radiation Laboratory, has been signed by RCA to head its Teleran (TELEvision and Radar Air Navigation) development.
SIGHT AND SOUND: Move is on to postpone scheduled Nov. 11 Washington meeting of steering committee for projected new FM promotional organization (Vol. 2, No. 43); week’s deferment is being asked so as not to disrupt Armistice Day weekend. Chairman Dillard (KOZYWSDC) of Objectives Committee reports heightening interest in project, more broadcasters and manufacturers seeking to join up . . . Fillip to FM given by FCC Acting Chairman Denny at NAB convention (Vol. 2, No. 43) was followed Thursday by an ABC directive authorizing all affiliates to carry certain AM programs (107 in number, all non-musical, hence not coming under Petrillo ban), simultaneously on their FM outlets where they have them . . . Circular polarization has so favorably impressed FCC engineers (Vol. 2, No. 43) that you can look for informal Industry-Commission conference on subject sometime in next two weeks. If no great objections are raised, FM rules may be liberalized for broadcasters who desire to go ahead with that type of transmission.