Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

ulation over 20%. Clearest indication of CommTssTot^^pn^resopn^on ship should be apparent in whatever action it takes on 6 Steinman applications (Pa., Dela. ) . Common ownership and 1000 uv/m overlaps are substantial. Channels are still plentiful, so overlap issue can't be skirted by granting competitors deemed more qualified. Steinman counsel, George Sutton, said stations plan no joint rates and cited ever-changing, opinion as to what constitutes "satisfactory service" (engineering-wise ) and need for flexibility as economic and related factors change. Now that Commission has at last heard industry spokesmen, it presumably can quit fobbing off long-pending overlap cases — either granting or setting them for hearing. It should also be able to give "yes" or "no" soon to applicants, with no overlap of their own, who are still stranded presumably because' they're involved in comparative hearings with others Stymied by overlap. Some have been waiting for periods now approaching a whole year. SIGHT AMD SOUND FM applications without program plans will be summarily rejected henceforth by FCC. Applications now pending, which lack program analyses, will be dismissed (Vol. 3, No. 7). That’s essence of FCC edict Friday. So it looks like Commission has no intention of “bleaching” Blue Book, for this came right on heels of NAB President Miller’s recommendation to broadcasters, published in this week’s NAB Reports, urging them to accompany program file with written objection to FCC’s jurisdiction. Much-debated 30 kc AM separation in same area is now out where you can hear it and judge whether it warrants new standards (Vol. 3, No. 6). With WTEL-WHAT and WCAM testing 1310-1340 kc separation in Philadelphia-Camden area, WBCC and WWDC testing 1420-1450 kc in Washington area, everyone is invited by FCC in Feb. 27 statement (Public Notice 5032) to listen and comment. Problem, of course, lies largely in receivers: a good one won’t be bothered, but cheap one may be. Dropping its Rochester FM conditional this week, Amalgamated [Clothing Workers] Bcstg. System now has withdrawn all but 2 (New York, Chicago) of its original 6. Union mortality is also emphasized by fact UAWCIO has dropped 2 (Los Angeles, Newark) of its 6. Unity Bcstg. Corp. (ILGWU) is still going strong on all 6, of which 3 have been granted. FMA won’t lay off FM promotion, despite manufacturers’ pleas (Vol. 3, No. 8). Latest activity has Executive Director Bill Bailey scheduled to go out “among ’em” Sunday, asking rhetorical question, “Why Promote FM?” at U of Oklahoma Conference on Radio in Oklahoma City. Focus of speech, at FM session chairmanned by KOZY’s (Kansas City) O. R. Wright, is exhortation for promotion to force reluctant manufacturers’ hands. FMA, at first liaison meeting with FCC this week, also said it welcomed, rather than opposed, educational FM broadcasters (Vol. 3, No. 6). In fact, FMA intimated promotional activities of educators could do FM a lot of good. Not to be outdone by WSM-FM, which was granted 515 kw (Vol. 3, No. 4), comes now KSTP-FM with request for modification to 546 kw, which would make it highestpowered grantee extant. Once highest with mere 320 kw, KSTP-FM proposes to extend 50 uv/m contour to 85-90 miles by using 50 kw transmitter, 8-section Pylon antenna (gain of 12) at height about 600 ft. Request was one of many this week asking increased power, extension of completion dates, or both. Battle over control of KSTP, St. Paul, goes before en banc FCC hearing March 13. Rival group is contesting HubbardAvco deal (Vol. 2, No. 39). Prolific letter writers, these NAB executives — and good ones, too. In Feb. 22 Saturday Review of Literature, Jess Willard, executive v.p., takes A. N. Williams’ Jan. 18 article apart, proving American radio isn’t controlled by “a few advertisers” who figuratively are conspiring against “public interest” (a fiction Willard says being circulated notably by FCC Comr. Durr). And widely published in trade press was Feb. 17 letter of Kenneth Baker, NAB research chief, which satirizes Polltaker Dr. Gallup for Jan. 25 story in Editor & Publisher quoting him as saying, “There is nothing in radio to compare with the ABC statement.” Then there was NAB Attorney Bryce Rea’s recent letter to Washington Post (Vol. 2, No. 51) objecting to its editorial on Blue Book. Comment from sidelines is that letters out of NAB are often better-reasoned-out than some of speeches. Stratovision’s “Chili” Nobles just can’t keep out of the air. Since there’s no TV station as yet in Baltimore, where he’s a Westinghouse researcher, he’s going to reach for programs from WTTG, Washington. He plans to inflate 6-ft war surplus radiosonde balloon with helium, attach 127-ft lead-in wires, attempt to pull in WTTG’s signals. Problem of keeping antenna oriented will be partially solved by attaching tail fin, trimming it to wind. “Regardless how it works,” he says, “it’ll be fun.” DuMont’s WABD couldn’t resume Feb. 24, as scheduled (Vol. 3, No. 2) so it is staying off air another 30 days. It wasn’t able to complete new antenna hookup at Madison Ave. building in time. Philadelphia Inquirer this week got TV extension until September. Similar extension is sought by ABC, Chicago, and until November by Johnstown (Pa.) Tribune. Philco’s “secret” TV (Vol. 3, No. 7) will be featured in Life Magazine picture story on TV, due soon. Secrecy buildup before set is on market was accentuated this week when model was taken to New York under guard, photographed, then put in bank vault. Everyone carried the story, of course. TV survey for Viewtone, released by its advertising agency, Schacter, Fain & Lent, 18 E. 41st St., New York, shows 90% of those interviewed (338 persons at 22 points of demonstration) plan to buy TV sets, but 71% not for a year at least. City College students did job; they also adduced $150-$250 set would be most popular, 12-inch or larger sci'een most desirable. Havens & Martin’s WTVR, Richmond, this week got frequency shift from TV Channel No. 3 to Channel No. 6 (82-88 me), was given extension of completion date to October; make this change in your Supplement No. 18-B.