Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

hand by October, get on air by Christmas. Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s KCPN is having "site troubles," but Harold Hough says "we hope to be testing on the air by fall." W. L. Gleeson says "late fall" for his KARO, Riverside, Cal. , with its exceptionally well located transmitter site on Cucamonga Peak in San Bernardino County. And Earle Anthony's KFI-TV reports its Mt. Wilson building available, negotiations under way for a sound Stage in Hollywood for studio, present plans calling for test operation last of this year or first part of 1948. Also, the Baltimore Sun has already Started on construction of transmitter house and studio, says it will get going by December or January next "if RCA is able to deliver our transmitting equipment." All of the others responding give no prospective starting dates, due to equipment delays, construction difficulties or other reasons. At FCC they reckon that about 20 grantees seem to be content to proceed at "walk gait," using various artifices for stalling and as excuses for extensions of completion dates. As for equipment, RCA has most orders so far reported. From best available sources, we learn that RCA has firm orders for all the foregoing stations, except for Richmond, Cleveland and Riverside, Cal. outlets (DuMont) ; Crosley Cincinnati station (company built); Chicago Tribune station (order not yet placed). In addition, RCA has orders for all of NBC's 4 projected stations, 2 of ABC's 5 projected stations, and for the TV outlets to be built by WBAL, Baltimore; WTCN, Minneapolis; KSTP, St. Paul; KDYL, Salt Lake City; KOB, Albuquerque, N.M. ; KRLD, Dallas; KLAC, Los Angeles. THE PARAMOUNT DuMONT TV STORY: It doesn't look now as though there's going to be any "forced sale" -of Paramount's big stockholdings in DuMont (Vol. 2, No. 51), Simply because FCC has decreed there is enough Paramount control over DuMont, so that they should not get more than limit of 5 TV stations between them (Vol. 3, No. 3, 4, 5). Rather, movie company will probably allow May 18 "divorce deadline" to pass (60 days after color TV decision), hold onto its DuMont stock (at least until better market offers itself) , let FCC drop its pending applications for new TV outlets in Boston, Detroit, Dallas. Likewise, DuMont's Cincinnati and Cleveland applications would go by default. There havei been flurries of interest in depressed DuMont stock on part of certain financial groups, but nothing came of them. Though DuMont lost §1,472,270 in 1946, its manufacturing prospects for this year look good, as reported to stockholders last week. This, plus lack of good offer, seems to impel close-mouthed Paramount to hang on rather than be forced to sell in low market. Paramount already has TV stations in Chicago, Los Angeles; DuMont has them in New York, Washington, with CP for Pittsburgh (Supplement No. 18-C) . That's all they're entitled to, FCC ruled — this despite Commission's manifest eagerness to get TV going as quickly and in as many cities as possible. If Paramount -DuMont applications are dropped, only ones left will be Don Lee's for Los Angeles, San Francisco (held up pending hearing decision on another matter involving Don Lee) ; and Philadelphia's 2 seeking city's sole remaining channel — Daily News Television Inc. and Gimbels (Vol. 3, No. 18). Ths week Commission granted one of Indianapolis' 5 channels to Sarkes Tarzian for community station in Bloomington, Ind. (Vol. 3, No. 11). He got Channel No. 10 ( 192-198 me) with 1 kw visual and aural power, 215 ft. antenna height. Tarzian says he expects to build station for only §38,270. EDUCATIONAL FM— TRYING HARD: "No advertising," is the rule in Government publications — but U. S. Office of Education's School Life for May devotes back page to nicely illustrated ad puffing FM that compares with best any commercial adwriter has done. Its key line is, "Nobody ever does anything about the weather. But FM does." Then, after extolling FM advantages, it addresses this appeal to Mr. Educator: "Are you prepared to take advantage of this new tool? Perhaps you plan to buy new equipment as it becomes available. Be sure your new receiving set per