Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

SIGHT AND SOUND / Approved FM equipment was listed by FCC in order released Friday (too late for textual publication but we’ll send you copy if you want it), amending Sec. 1G, 17 and 18 of FM Standards (Supplement No. 9). Transmitters approved were: Collins’ 250w and 1 kw (final), 3 and 10 kw (tentative); Federal’s 1, 3, 10, 20, 50 kw (tentative); Gates 250w and 1 kw (final); GE’s 250w (final), 1, 3, 10, 50 kw (tentative); Harvey’s 250w (final); RCA’s exciter, 250w, .1 kw (final), 3 and 10 kw (tentative); REL’s 250w and 1 kw (tentative); Raytheon’s 250w, 1 and 3 kw (tentative); WE’s 250w, 1, 3, 10, 25, 50 kw (2 models of each, tentative); Westinghouse’s exciter and 1 kw (final), 3, 10 and 50 kw (tentative). Frequency and modulation monitors approved: Doolittle, GE, REL. Taking issue with RMA’s statement several weeks ago that 3 and 10 kw FM transmitters won’t be fully available until the end of 1948 (Vol. 3, No. 15), Federal’s Norman Wunderlich told us this week he can deliver 1, 3 and 10 kw units “so fast it would make your head swim.” That goes for 2-bay to 12-bay antennas, too, as well as for speech input equipment and transmission lines, he said. Federal has a couple of 10 kw transmitters already operating — WELD, Columbus, Ohio, and WEW-FM, St. Louis. Federal also has made up its mind to drop out of domestic field for its radio and TV receivers, and concentrate (through IT&T) on the export market. NBC’s capable Fhil Merryman, who rose from station engineer to manager of planning and development, quits network next week to go into consultant partnership with H. V. Anderson, New Orleans consulting engineer with a Washington association with Chambers & Garrison. Merryman will head New York office, site not yet found, will specialize in station planning and policy, has NBC as first client. Firm will be known as Anderson & Merryman. Petrillo’s ban on FM duplication of AM music programs, among other activities, is expected to be subject of inquiry by Rep. Carroll D. Kearn’s House Labor subcommittee when music czar appears before it “second Monday after Supreme Court hands down Lea Act decision.” Rep. Kearns (R-Pa.), himself an AFM member, said Petrillo hearing will be exploratory — “to get all the facts.” AFM inquiry is part of Committee’s look-see into question of union leadership. All the publicity pother about Senator White’s bill on broadcasting, which he may introduce this month, narrows down to this: that bill in not investigatory, deals about 70% with procedural matters, follows closely previously proposed legislation along lines of 1943 Wheeler-White bill (S-814, 78th Congress). Veteran Maine GOP majority leader isn’t out to “get” anyone. Proposed reduction in TV’s 480-920 me experimental band drew only one objection — from RCA-NBC. TBA attorneys indicated they intend conferring with FCC engineers to try to ameliorate TV’s 50 me loss. Proposals also clip 5 me from fax, add 50 me for industrial, scientific and diathermy equipment. New allocations, which may be made final before month is up, propose 470-475 me for fax, 475-500 to be divided among fax, TV, developmental on an individual area basis, 500-890 for TV, 890-940 me for industry devices. Next big FMA regional confab is scheduled May 28 at Cincinnati’s Hotel Gibson — -for FM broadcasters from Inidana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. Second meeting with RMA committee on FM production (Vol. 3, No. 15), is planned for May 21 at Statler Hotel, Washington. Radio’s Little Ironies: Sad, isn’t it, that ownership of both stations ordered to turn in their licenses next Aug. 31 for misrepresentations to FCC — WOKO, Albany, and WORL, Boston — should be identified with ex-radio commissioners, who certainly should have known better? Funny, too, that everyone got a laugh out of Fred Allen cut-off episode, which NBC deftly turned into a swell publicity gag — everyone, that is, except the blundering v.p. involved and the industry trade journal that editorially saw something sinister in Allen’s flouting of “authority and discipline”? And, contemplating the bleeding heart of New York Timesman Jack Gould, the prophecies of doom by FCC Comr. Cliff Durr, the industry-can-do-no-wrong outpourings of NAB and its spokesmen — it does seem curious how well radio gets along, holds faithful audiences, still does good business at old and new stands. Latest top-flight TV advertisers to be signed: NashKelvinator Corp., presenting Alma Kitchell demonstrating kitchen equipment Wednesday, starting May 7, 8:30-8:45 p.m., on hookup of WNBT, New York; WPTZ, Philadelphia; WTTG, Washington; WRGB, Schenectady. And 35-week series of original di’amatics, “Kraft Television Theater,” starting May 7 on WNBT for Kraft Foods Co., 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Nash agency is Geyer, Newell & Ganger; for Kraft, J. Walter Thompson Co. Detroit Tigers have agreed to allow Detroit News’ WWDT to telecast games twice a -week during home stands, starting in June. And St. Louis Cardinals and Browns have both signed with KSD-TV for all home games, Purity Bakeries sponsoring. Now ever-y city with TV outlet has baseball video schedules (Vol. 3, No. 15, 16), save Washington whose Senators’ management allowed opener to be carried, none since. RCA delivered first 5 kw TV transmitter this week to NBC’s WNBW, Washington, which ought to be ready for tests within month. Camden plant’s W. W. Watts said production line is now operating to produce several transmitters monthly. Technical description is available on request from RCA Victor Division, Camden, N. J. Raytheon got 4 experimental grants this week, in 37004200 me band, to link Los Angeles-San Francisco in microwave relay net of stations at Mt. Pinos, Mt. Hamilton, San Gordino Mountain, San Benito. Big Waltham (Mass.) company, also holder of CP for TV in that city, is also testing New York-Boston and New York-Chicago microwave chains — looking to development for FM and TV as well as other communications. WFIL’s Roger Clipp, who is in TV up to his ears {Philadelphia Inquirer’s RCA equipment due for delivery this summer, construction in Widener Bldg, starting immediately thereafter) , calculates TV will cut heavily into AM’s evening listenership, may even force AM night rates down, but won’t hurt daytime AM. On TV’s part, he told Philadelphia Poor Richard Club recently, it must tailor its rates to budgets of local advertisers. Although still in very preliminary stages, FCC's streamlining of broadcast applications asks for detailed breakdown of proposed program structure for all services but TV. Tentative TV program query just lists 3 questions, all general. Straws in the wind: Electronics Inc., Bowen Bldg., Washington, D. C., advertising in trade press to FMers to invite inquiries about its distribution plan for new FMonly table model set, wholesale price $39 (Vol. 3, No. 14).