Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

for more such in 4 already tied up in New England, 3 in Pennsylvania, others talking about doing same in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois. Empire State Network already has aired own origination — Rochester U's famed symphony orchestra. Nearest station in regional groups have been joining Continental off air from Alpine. It's a slow but economical buildup for which Dillard and his enthusiastic WASH crew have high hopes. THE CASE 0? DAYTIME SKYWAYS: There's daytime skywave, all right — even FCC ' s en gineers admitted it in testimony (by Engineer E. F. Vandivere) and in an exhaustive Study submitted at hearings this week. What Commisison now must decide is whether there's enough of it and whether it's stable' enough to warrant changing present AM Standards ; also to what extent daytime stations really interfere with dominant stations. That'S sum of highly technical 3-day hearing, at which Clear Channel Broadcasting Service's Jack DeWitt carried ball nearly two full days, defending data from attacks by counsel for some daytimers. If new daytime standards are invoked. Some daytime and limited time stations on clears might conceivably have to be removed, besides curbing Commission's present "generosity" in making such grants. : SIGHT AND SOUND ■ ■ -— — — — — There's still hope Senator White won’t insist on June 17 date for hearings on his radio bill (Vol. 3, No. 21, 22), despite his turndown of NAB President Justin Miller’s request for postponement. NAB’s legislative committee, meeting this week, doubted industry case could be ready in time; it will be spearheaded by Judge Miller and Gen. Counsel Don Petty. FCC witnesses will be led by Chairman Denny, Asst. Gen. Counsel Plotkin. Senator White told us Friday he thinks one week of hearings enough, intends to try for legislation this summer, certainly before he retires from Senate next year (he has announced he won't run again.) Two new subcommittee members are ■ Indiana Republican Capehart and Washington Democrat Magnusson. On House side, Rep. Howell s subcommittee meets next week to fix hearing date. Unusual case of a State Legislature passing a resolution protesting possibility of a station grant occurred May 27 when Democratic Rhode Island House of Representatives charged FM applicant Providence Journal-Bulletin with unfair editorial treatment. Politically inspired resolution was forewarded to FCC, claimed station construction had been approved in face of veterans’ housing shortage. FM means 5,000 new stations, let alone better reception, etc., and that means “more program competition, easier access to the microphone by minority groups, and a curb to many radio excesses.” Thus Harland Manchester, Reader’s Digest staffman, in July issue of the magazine “ ’47,” which presumably means reprint soon in Reader’s Digest. FMA’s Bill Bailey told National Assn, of Music Merchants what’s what about FM, how they can merchandise it, in Chicago speech Thursday — best he’s yet made, one you should read (if you’re trying to push FM locally) and get your local radio dealers to read. Write him for copy, or we’ll get it for you. CBS evidently wants Washington FM outlet pretty badly. First, it withdrew Minneapolis application to keep down to 6 limit; now, with proposed grant for Boston under its belt, it decided to drop St. Louis CP, concentrate on prosecution of D. C. application. An FM timebuyers’ guide, first of its kind, will be published in July by FM Business Magazine, 36 Central Park South, New York City. It will list commercial stations, rates, coverage maps, etc., along with lists of sponsors and types of programs they are using. Two books on TV — “Television Techniques” by TV consultant Hoyland Bettinger, and “The Future of Television” by RCA’s Orrin Dunlap, both published by Harper & Bros. — are latest in growing list of video volumes that should be in every TVers’ library. Bettinger’s book is written for those who know TV fundamentals, from producer’s point of view. Chapter on pictorial composition, illustrated by author’s line drawings, make it valuable to general readers. Dunlap’s book is revision of 1942 issue, written in easy, simple style for popular readers. TVers will be interested especially in chapters on “Television and the Movies” and “The Outlook for Sound Broadcasting.” “Small broadcaster, get over your inferiority!” That’s the admonition of New Bedford (Mass.) Standard-Times FM station WFMR, in inaugurating atomic energy series based on Christian Science Monitor articles. Says station’s Edward L. Merritt Jr.: “The idea of sticking to one’s own corner, while the networks and the big boys pick up the real stories, may be cheap, but good stoi’ies, simply presented, don’t have to be expensive.” Industry forces descended en masse (RMA, NAB, FMA) upon the House Ways & Means Committee during Friday hearing, in effort to get excise tax removed from radio. Arguments generally: tax elimination offers only chance of cheaper radios, would give impetus to growth of TV and FM; tax is hard to administer and provides very small fraction (1.5%) of total excise revenue. Broadcast equipment is now part of Raytheon’s Commercial Products Division, all centered in main plants at Waltham, Mass., with Ray C. Ellis, v.p. in charge; Frank S. Horning, sales manager; William A. Gray, asst, sales manager; John H. Beedle, production manager; David D. Coffin, chief engineer; James N. Nye, engineer in charge. Top salary in radio is David Sarnoff’s as RCA president— $132,703 for 1946, as reported this week to SEC. RCA Victor’s Frank Folsom got $75,460, NBC’s Niles Trammell, $30,460. For CBS salaries, see Vol. 3, No. 6. Clear channel hearings, scheduled two weeks ago for July 7 (Vol. 3, No. 20), have again been postponed — this time to Sept. 17. Attorney Louis Caldwell has been under doctor’s orders to “take it easy” this summer. First big deal of newly formed Keith Kiggins & Co., 527 Lexington Ave., New York City, resulted in Gov. Mon Wallgren’s purchase of George Storer’s 8 %% interest in 50 kw KIRO, Seattle, Wash.