Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

fact television provides the propitious moment for the radio man to 'save face'." As for radio industry itself, its concern with "cleansing own house" was indicated in frank speech of CBS Chairman Paley at recent NAB convention (Vol. 2, No. 43), which Pundit Gould in Dec. 29 Times conceded "met the issue of program improvement with reasonable forthrightness." On the other hand, status quo forces don't take too kindly to criticism — not even wh?n it is good-humored satire, vis., editorial note in recent issue of Broadcasting: "If Fred Allen, during the frayed-cuff days when he was working vaudeville, had poked as much fun at the medium which provided his cakes-and-cof f ee , as he does today at radio, a long hook would have Slithered out from the wings and dragged him to the exit." (Fred Allen's several burlesques of radio commercials have had industry, no less than public, in stitches.) The serious-minded editors of Broadcasting, so far as we know, haven't yet essayed any comment on Henry Morgan's satiric shafts. — S3GHT AND SOUND . Rules for non-commercial educational FJI broadcasting (Vol. 2, No. 11) were made final this week, incorporatingsome changes suggested since rules were first proposed last March. Several sections — dealing with accreditation, mechanical recordings, engineering — have been revised slightly. Commission will entertain comments and suggestions concerning these sections and if necessary will set date for oral argument. But books will be closed March S. Order (Docket No. 7424) bears Mimeo No. 2921 and we will get a copy for you if requested. For list of non-commercial stations, see Part V, Supplement No. 47. Some FMers performed prodigies in getting on air with jerry-built, low-power equipment for interim operation— but it’s been virtually impossible for stations of any size to comply with full specifications of their CPs within allotted 8 months. Hence, now that older CP-holders’ time is running out, they are applying for, and getting, extensions of completion dates. This week, extensions were given to first batch — WCFC and WJLS-FM, Beckley, W. Va.; VDNE, Birmingham; WBML-FM, Macon, plus pioneer licensees WGNB, Chicago, and WGFM, Schenectady. Dr. Fritz Schroeter’s papers on TV, available (in German)' from Dept, of Commerce’s Office of Technical Services, contain nothing particularly new or startling, in opinion of TV engineers who have seen them — but they may be worth while to some technicians. Ex-Telefunken TV director suggests, among other things, a “neighborhood” relay station to pick up video signals, convert them to lower frequencies, feed them via cable to home sets — thus making possible, he thinks, simpler and cheaper receivers. Other topics are phase modulation, new scanning method, channeling by time division on wide-band carrier. “Closed circuit” TV demonstrators, using newly delivered orthicons, etc., for promotional buildups against day they operate full-fledged stations for which they hold CPs (Supplement No. 18-B), are becoming more and more numerous. Latest reporting “telecasts” of local events are WEAL, Baltimore, Home Show; KSTP, St. Paul, Winter Carnival ; WTMJ, Milwaukee, Home Show; WBEN, Buffalo, Sports & Boat Show. RCA’s Joseph A. Jenkins, production chief, helps stage events for mobile TV units. FCC Bar Assn’s newly elected officers, named Tuesday: Reed T. Rollo, president; Carl I. Wheat, 1st v.p.; Guilford Jamieson, 2nd v.p.; John H. Midlen, secy.; Russell Rowell, treas.; Arthur W. Scharfeld and Neville Miller, new members of executive committee — which also includes Ben S. Fisher, Philip J. Hennessey Jr., R. A. Van Orsdal, Eliot C. Lovett. FM is a new opportunity for the “ordinary man to communicate cheaply and efficiently with vast masses of people.” That’s what Neiv Republic's Thomas Whiteside says Feb. 17 in article titled “Your Radio Is Obsolete.” Aside from usual “liberal” approach to the subject — radio today is ir\ grip of monopoly, FM applicants are mostly (80(4) standard broadcasters or newspaper publishers — Whiteside treats subject objectively, tells story of PennAllen vets (WFMZ, Allentown, Pa.) as example of what can be done by young, inspired small businessmen. Now celebrated W'BAL-Pearson & Allen case is “off again,” won’t start this Tuesday as scheduled. U. S. District Court Judge T. Alan Goldsborough (of John L. Lewis case fame) issued temporary restraining order Thursday, based on Hearst petition for court order expunging references to Baltimore station from Blue Book. FCC attorneys think they have plenty of precedents to persuade court to throw out petition, but up to week’s end hadn’t decided course to pursue. Los Angeles radio dealers will be briefed Feb. 26 and 27, in meetings in Ambassador Hotel, on intricacies and sales aspects of TV sets by RCA crew that did same thing recently in St. Louis, Detroit, Washington. Sometime in March, city will have its “T-Day,” for which RCA will ship several carloads of table model receivers. RCA Camden crew going to L.A. is headed by J. B. Elliott, v.p. in charge of Home Instrument Dept. Silence on wire recorder plans still prevails at Sears Roebuck Chicago office, despite fact Sears’ radio salesmen expect it and rumor has St. George Recording Co., Brooklyn, scheduling May delivery of units to go into Sears’ FM-AM-phonogaph console. Not so shy is Webster-Chicago, which expects volume production of $150 wire recorder in July. First ST A denial in FM was this week’s turndown of Peoria Broadcasting Co. (WMBD). Since only proposed decision is out in Peoria hearing, FCC evidently felt grant of STA, w'hich allows commercial operation, would be jumping the gun. C. M. Runyon Jr., noted radio amateur who worked with Maj. Armstrong on first FM experiments, has been named president of REL, replacing Charles Srebroff; Frank Gunther, v.p., adds duties of treasurer. Chicago’s TV sets now exceed 1,000, so Balaban & Katz’s WBKB went into second rate bracket this week; while sets number 1,000-5,000, basic rate for time and facilities is $200 per hour. Surveys show average of 11.4 viewers per set, home viewer average being 4.5.