Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

ever been denied. FCC was never specifically asked to deny any until last week, when 2 New York applicants jumped WAAW, Newark (Vol. 3, No. 21). Commission doesn't expect most grantees to fulfill specifications of CPs immediately, but it points to the 171 STAs as satisfactory evidence of good faith. Further, FCC believes that a low-power STA operator (whose signal is often disappointing) has much more incentive to complete construction in order to improve signal. As regards new grants, few applications can be worked up for FCC action pending proposed reallocation (Vol. 3, Nos. 19, 20). That fact and the holiday resulted in no grants this week, hence no FM Supplement. COUNTING UP THE FM SETS: Now that So many FM stations are publishing rate cards and selling time, advertising agencies want to know where the FM sets are, by markets . But the simple fact is no one knows exactly — except a f ew live-wire FMerS in a handful of communities who actually have canvassed local distributors. Their figures are usually eyied askance as self-serving (like' those radio censuses of broadcasting's early days). So we asked key manufacturers if they would tell us their postwar distribution by cities. Only 3 agree to divulge this obvious trade secret — and these only after we had pledged not to publish individual figures, only totals. All 3 are major producers, one in mass field, one in class field, one a big but relatively late comer in mass field. Their grand total of sets with FM (all models) was 75,704 up to April 1, 1947; this is only 21.4% of known postwar FM set production up to that date (355,661) as reported by RMA. (Through May 1, incidentally, the figure is 465,917, thanks to April's record production of 112,256, detailed in (Vol. 3, No. 21.) So, for whatever these figures are worth, here's at least part of the FM set distribution up to April 1 in these major centers: New York City area, 13,814; Chicago, 11,977; LoS Angeles, 6,284; Philadelphia, 6,553; Boston, 3,936; Detroit, 5,265; San Francisco-Oakland , 3,451; Pittsburgh, 3,840; Cleveland, 3,957; St. Louis, 4,080; Minneapolis-St. Paul, 3,111; Washington, 2,307; Baltimore, 2,627; Cincinnati, 1,863; Atlanta, 2,639. Understand, now, these aren't full figures, nor are they probably even 21.4% (maybe more, maybe less) but they're the only figures we can get — except for the old FMBI's additional figures on. pre-war FM (low-band) set distribution, which totaled 595,000, broken down thus: New York, 120,000; Chicago, 80,000; Boston, 35,000; Detroit, 25,000; Milwaukee, 21,000; Philadelphia, 20,000; remainder scattered (Vol. 3, No. 1). REACTIONS TO RADIO BILLS: One aspect of White-Wolverton bills (Vol. 3, No. 21) not discerned at last week's first quick reading is this: Proviso limiting ownership of single entities to stations covering not more than 25% of country's population would automatically supersede present FCC limitations on, TV station ownership '(5) , FM ownership (6) . General reactions to bills may be summed up by smiles at FCC, where cocky officials feel it generally endorses current policies ; frowns at NAB, where brass are obviously disappointed, call bill "dangerous and full of ambiguities," say they keenly regret lack of clearcut prohibitions on FCC's powers to look into programming, etc. Said Judge Miller: "Broadcasters will not be satisfied with WhiteWolverton bill as now written." He indicated NAB will seek tightened regulations at hearings ; NAB legislative committee has been called to Washington, June 5. Hearing dates for separate Senate and House Subcommittees haven't been set, are expected to be fixed next week for sometime this session — though Miller suggests no hearings until FCC Chairman Denny, Comrs. Jett and Webster are through with International Telecommunications Conference, possibly in mid-September. Senator White himself heads Senate subcommittee, which includes: Tobey, N.H. ; Moore, Okla. ; Johnson, Colo. ; McFarland, Ariz., latter 2 Democrats. House subcommittee comprises Reps. Howell, 111., chairman; Hall, N.Y. ; O'Hara, Minn. ; Dolliver, Iowa; Scott, Pa. ; Harris, Ark.; Harless, Ariz. ; one more to be named, latter 3 Democrats.