Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

danger of restrictive legislation it invites from Capitol Hill. NAB's part in latest housecleaning move (Vol. 3, No. 11) is still not one of leadership, led "Variety" to observe with characteristic candor under the provocative headline "Comes the Revolution !" : "For years there’s been a hue and cry to 'do something' about the radio industry's public relations problems. Although the NAB is 25 years old and amply financed and staffed, it apparently has been unable to do much because of the split down the middle between big stations and little stations, and between those who are anxious to meet criticism with action and reform as against those who want no 'interference' with their right to take any kind of business and follow any kind of trade practices expediency and inclination suggest. "The Broadcasters Advisory Council will outwardly 'include' the NAB, but as many see it the brainpower will not be with the old trade association but the new. The action of the big advertisers, big agencies and big broadcasters (namely networks) in acting on their own initiative reflects an unwillingness in top industry leadership to allow their values and hopes to be scuttled by the continued practices of the kind of station operators who exercise little or no voluntary censorship of either the amount or kind of advertising they line up. As one' broadcaster summed it up: 'We can no longer laugh off criticisms of the public on the one hand and the telling opposition of the newspapers and magazines on the other, unless we break through the habit of inertia and do-nothingism which has always stopped public relations organization for radio.'" FM CHANNEL WORRIES CONTINUE: No question about it — FM channel separation problem (Vol. 3, No. 11) is really a king-size headache for FCC, broadcasters and set makers. Word from FCC is that they're still collecting facts. But it's increasingly apparent that solution isn't in receivers, since even most expensive types don't do adequate job of separation under all circumstances. As for bunching an area's transmitters together, that's not always practical and may raise other problems. Also, little suburban Class A's must be assured Class B's don't blank them out. So it still looks as if a Class B reallocation is the answer. But how to do it without junking most of present meticuouslv dove-tailed allocation and without losing any (or many) channels? Of course, FCC has Some Slack in those reserved ’channels. But if those are absorbed in extensive' shifting, it will disappoint applicants who've been banking on them for a second chance after being denied in hearings. Other than these "deny-ees," however,, very few seem to be eyeing the reserved channels. Two in Pittsburgh and one in Washington (CBS, which just dropped Minneapolis application) are only ones so far, and no great rush is anticipated at end of reservation (June 30). Class A reservation (Vol. 3, No. 4), incidentally, though not yet officially promulgated, is actually in effect in New York and Los Angeles areas where flock of recent applications already outnumber channels available, reserved or otherwise. Uncertainty on channel separation problem is given as additional reason for freezing now. As if FCC engineers didn't have enough trouble, it appears that some New York FM stations will have to change frequencies, after all (Vol. 3, No. 7), to protect aircraft instrument landing systems (ILS). Engineers of WGYN, WBAM, WNYC-FM are Scheduled to meet next week with FCC, CAA men to iron out problem. Shift, costing "up to $1,000" (probably to be borne by airlines) is likely to hold for a year. Commission has assured airlines future assignments will be tailored to protect ILS. TV AND THE POWER TO TAX: That 20 % Federal amusement tax you pay at theatres, night clubs, etc. v/ould also be levied in public places showing TV programs, if tentative Bureau of Internal Revenue ruling prevails. But TV people, particularly TBA and RMA officials, protesting, came away from parleys with Washington tax officials this week with distinct feeling TV will be exempted, probably placed in same tax-free category as radio, Muzak, juke boxes. Ruling so far is that tax is effec