Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

TV station now, should have several by then, but probably won't have any coax link with East (though possibly GE-Globe Wireless relay will be in operation in time). As Eastern seaboard coaxial stands now, Richmond-Charlotte extensions are operating in telephone service, can easily be equalized for TV — but there's only one Richmond Station projected as yet, none in Charlotte. Pittsburgh extension Should be ready by mid-1948 to serve its stations. Boston is not on coaxial but is due to be linked by radio relay, AT&T tests scheduled to start this spring having been halted by strike ; it should have TV network service by summer of 1948. As for other extensions, AT&T long lines manager L. G. V/oodford told TBA convention last fall that southern transcontinental route through Washington, Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso and on to Los Angeles should be ready by end of 1947, as well as an extension from Charlotte to Miami. On other hand, it looks like "end of 1948" before these routes can be linked up with such cities as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis — all with existing or projected video outlets, listed in our TV Directory (Supplement No. 18-C). Mere fact of coaxial's existence does not insure network service — for TV programs via coaxial have been tested with success (but some loss in definition) only on 500-mile New York-Washington loop-backs thus far. There's a serious equalization problem for any greater distances. Right now it looks like there are definite distance limitations to TV transmission not encountered in using coaxial for much narrower-band telephone' relays. What these limitations are, the AT&T people say they frankly won' t know until tests over longer hauls can be made. O. J. | Jy v m 'o' Meanwhile, TVers aren't overlooking radio relay possibilities for networks which they know will workover short distances (viz. New York-Schenectady) . Only this week, moving to niodernize its New York-Philadelphia relay, on which it has been working long time, Philco filed 5 applications with FCC for a 2-way, simultaneous, microwave system. Links will include New York City; Mt . Rose, N.J., 50 miles from New York; Philadelphia, 37 miles from Mt. Rose. Philco 's plans call for transmitter at Empire State Bldg., New York, for southbound traffic; 2 transmitters at Mt. Rose, for two-way; one a Wyndmoor, Pa., where its WPTZ transmitter is located, for northbound; one at V/PTZ studios in Philadelphia proper, for northbound. Frequencies asked are 1300-1320 and 1380-1400 me — which are in proposed 1000-13000 allocations not expected to be finalised until after International Telecommunications Conference in Atlantic City May 15. At present, Philco 's New York-Philadelphia relay is one-way, picks up NBC's WNBT at Mt. Rose, retransmitting to Wyndmoor. PUBLISHERS LOOK OVEB FAX: Facsimile demonstrations by both Finch and Hogan aroused keen interest among newspaper publishers attending this week's ANPA convention in New York City — heightened, no doubt, by widely publicized demonstrations conducted recently by Jack Knight's Miami Herald (Vol. 3, No. 11), seen by estimated 50,000 persons. Nor was interest lessened by news that Philadelphia Inquirer's WFIL-FM will use same Miami equipment (Hogan) for 5-day promotion starting April 28, is laying out §40,000 for equipment for regular service starting in September. Reaction of publishers, as gauged by our correspondent, ranged from noncommittal to enthusiastic. They were told fax is out of lab, ready for newsrooms; that small newspapers with FM can start service for §8, 000-§10, 000, that equipment in fair quantities will be ready by fall. "NPFS Facsimile Digest," issued by Newspaper Publishers' Faximile Service, 155 Perry St., New York, in format very much like this newsletter, is being distributed to give latest dope on Hogan system, including costs; Finch literature may be obtained from Finch Facsimile, 10 E. 40th St., New York City. Meanwhile, ex-FCC Comr. T. A. M. Craven, now directing Cowles radio interests out of Washington, withdrew WOL's fax application, said he prefers waiting. And RTPB Facsimile Panel (No. 7) after meeting last week, reported it is practically ready to recommend standards to full board, which in turn will submit them to FCC.