Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

AHDBEA, GE, PHILCO SHOW TVs: TV sets unveiled this week: 3 models by Andrea, one a table unit with AM-FM priced at $695, the other 2 consoles at $795 and $995, latter with phono, all with 12-inch tubes, all scheduled for July delivery to dealers: C-E’s No. 802 console (Vol. 3, No. 11), including AM-FM-phono, 10-inch tube, which Paul Chamberlain, manager of receiver sales, said is now in production and will Sell at between $750 and $800, starting in June — with July production planned of projection model with 18x24-inch screen; Philco*s still "very secret" sets (Vol. 3, No. 7), given private showing to Philadelphia dealers Thursday, all pledged to refrain from publicity — this as preliminary to showings June 17-19 to distributors at Atlantic City. — — . SJGH7 AND SOUND . — It wasn’t likely FCC Chairman Denny, who heads U. S. delegation to International Telecommunications Conference now in session in Atlantic City, would resign before that assignment was finished — and it looks as though conference will last beyond September. And to our query on repeated rumors and published reports he intends quitting Commission, he wired us Thursday: “No truth to report I have plans to leave Commission after conference.” April was best month yet for TV set production, 7,026 — broken down by RMA auditors as follows: table models, 3,971, down from March’s 5,346 (Vol. 3, No. 15); consoles, 2,329, which includes 87 projection-screen models; console combinations with AM-FM-phono, 726, including 40 projection models. RMA also lists 860 “converters” but nature of these is undisclosed. New York FM decision, as expected, has really turned out to be a lawyers’ field day (Vol. 3, No. 17). Virtually every angle, and there are a lot of them, is being exhausted by most of the 12 proposed denyees. Examples: Division of channels between New York and New Jersey; qualifications of ABC and WPAT; belated grant of extension to CP-holder WAAW, Newark, imminent availability of 4 reserved channels, etc. Looks like one of the sweetest skillets of fish FCC has ever been expected to uncook. Renomination of FCC Comr. Wakefield for 7-year term wert to Senate Wednesday, approved by both California Senators Knowland (Rep.) and Downey (Dem.) — so there won’t be any opposition to confirmation. Pie’s acting chairman of Commission while Chairman Denny is at Atlantic City conference, Vice Chairman Walker home ill (though due back for part-time work next week). Comr. Durr also was out this week, with back injury, but is due to return next week. Daily radio column in New York Times started Monday, devoted to notes about programs, stars, trade news — first by that newspaper in dozen years, bellwether of reemergence of radio editors’ columns in more and more newspapers. Looks like Times’ WQXR, which it calls “longhair station” because it specializes in quality music and programs, will achieve $1,000,000 gross for 1947, reports Variety. Tallest man-made structure in world, tower of KRNTFM, Des Moines (Vol. 3, No. 10), got FCC go-ahead this week when station was granted modification of CP. Guyed tower, 1530 ft. high, will rise from 160 acre plot. Cowles v.p. T. A. M. Craven says he still doesn’t know exactly what it will look like, since architects have yet to submit complete plans. Tower is for FM, ultimately for TV and FX, but not AM, he says. FM-AM table model production should soon get welcome boost from RCA, which will give first showing of 4 models as part of extensive receiver display at National Assn, of Music Merchants convention in Chicago, June 2-5. Air safety being such a hot subject, the proposal to reallocate the solid block 960-1600 me for air navigation shapes up as a pretty tough proposition for TV people to buck in Monday’s hearing. Proposal by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, would move proposed TV pickup band 1295-1425 me to 1750-1880 me. We know of 4 companies (RCA, Philco Federal, GE) which have been developing equipment for the lower band. Philco, at least, is planning to object. RCA, which has 1295-1425 me equipment already 00% developed, is willing to move out if air safety demands; it would, however, like to use low band equipment until air aids are developed (some 2-3 years, RCA estimates). RCA’s big objection to RTCA’s proposal is that it’s too restrictive to allow use of company’s own navigation aid, Teleran. Another angle, kind of fuzzy, is whether RTCA intends STL’s for TV on 1880-2100 me; present allocation proposals don’t. Interference with TV is subject of FCC engineering conference June 10-11 to discuss fixed and mobile operation in 72-76 me band, amateur operation in 50-54 me band, channel-sharing, mobile non-governmental operation in 42-88 me, receiver selectivity, harmonic suppression. Statements from interested parties are called for by June 2. On previous day, Commission holds inter-city TV network conference (Vol. 3, No. 20). On air commercially only few months, Paramount’s Los Angeles TV outlet KTLA (Klaus Landsberg, director) has already had 16 sponsors: Tupman Motors Inc. and Elgin Watch Co., thru J. Walter Thompson; Sears Roebuck, thru The Mayers Co.; Pep Boys, thru Weinberg Agency; Botany Worsted Mills, thru Silverstein-Goldsmith Inc.; Leroy’s Jewelers, thru Glen Gordon Adv. Agency; Acme Beer, thru Brisacher, Van Norden & Staff; Douglas Aircraft, General Electric Supply Corp., RCA Dealers, Stewart-Warner, American Television Laboratories, Barker Bros., Music City, Price Brothers, Richards Radio. CBS officially rejoined TBA Friday, represented by Lawrence W. Lowman and Leonard H. Hole. Meanwhile, TBA was congratulating itself on breaking anti-antenna front of New York real estate interests — City Investing Co. having accepted TBA interim plan for its 14 apartment houses Monday. TBA now hopes other realtors will see light. Scrumptious, is the word for NAB’s new 4-story Washington quarters (former Canadian Embassy Annex, 1771 N St., NW., phone DEcatur 9300) — as befits trade association with $650,000 budget and representing $425,000,000 industry. It was dedicated with housewarming Tuesday. New TV sales manager in GE’s transmitter division is A. F. Wild, who reports to Phil Caldwell, division manager recently upped from that job. Tulsa U’s newly opened FM station IvWGS is gift of 50 kw KVOO’s W. G. Skelly.