Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

phone attachment costing about §5. Phone company (notoriously opposed to attachments in past) would bill viewer per program requested, as for toll calls. Sets would be capable of handling color as well as monochrome, would also be usable for "free" telecast reception off the air. It's McDonald's answer to economics of TV, v/hich for years he has insisted must come from "box office" rather than advertising (Vol. 3, No. 2; Vol. 2, No. 25). He contends big-time shows like Jack Benny, Fred Allen and like would cost $10 million each per year on TV. Some broadcasters, hesitating to go into TV because of continuing cost-of-programs factor (quite aside from big capital outlay for plant), may be inclined to favor Zenith scheme if its multifarious kinks can be ironed out. Example of successful "paid program service" is Muzak, using phone wires to transmit to subscribers. Somewhat similar service might grow up in TV — but if it does, we think it will, like Muzak, parallel rather than displace free off-the-air programs. UHO’3 PLANNIHS WHERE It* TV: Epitomi zing prospective telecasters' reactions to AT&T coaxial rate schedule for intercity TV (Vol. 3, No. 23, 24), is this comment in a letter we've just received from a major broadcaster, onetime applicant for a TV station: "We had been about ready to re-apply for a license when the story of the phone company's proposed rates for program transmissions appeared. This is really a kick in the teeth." Nevertheless, you can expect some more applications soon from cities on coaxial routes — one now in preparation for Chicago Times, one each from Indianapolis and Minneapolis. As for who else will get on air during these last 6 months of this year, we've said repeatedly v/e' d settle for a half dozen more — despite repeated avowals of quick intentions by certain CP holders noted more for their publicity than effort. Our own survey indicates the half dozen will come from among these CP holders who are really building and who, if they're not on air by time stated, certainly should be operating by early 1948: Washington Star's WTVW (WMAL) v/hich hopes to get going in October, and has signed up Georgetown, George Washington U, Redskins home football games in anticipation; Hearst's WWBT, Baltimore (WBAL) , October; Baltimore Sun's WMAR, December; Chicago Tribune's W’GNA (WGN), October; Scripps-Howard ' s WEWS, Cleveland, November; Milwaukee Journal's WTMJ-TV, December. And these say "sometime this fall" : Philadelphia Inquirer's WFIL-TV ; Westinghouse ' s WBZ-TV, Boston; Fort Worth Star-Telegram's KCPN (WBAP) ; Havens & Martin's WTVR (WMBG), Richmond. Philadelphia Inquirer, incidentally, got STA Friday to begin commercial operation any time within 90 days after July 15. That some of other CP holders are stalling (see TV Directory, Supp. 18-C, for full list), using all sorts of excuses, is feeling among FCC observers. Only one was frank enough to say, at recent hearing, that it wouldn't start commercial operation, presumably wouldn't go beyond its present jerry-built experimental operations, until network service v/as available — and that w as KDYL, Salt Lake City, where coax isn't due until 1950-51 (see map published with Vol. 3, No. 24). ALL CUT OF S75? BUT — : Reading between lines of Kansas City Star's letter to FCC, dropping its year-old CP for FM (Supp. 50-K) , you get ‘distinct impression powerful newspaper's hierarchy isn't sold on FM, regards receiver situation too slow for expenditure entailed in building FM adjunct to its regional WDAF, feels (as movies do toward TV) it can jump back into swim if and when time is more propitious. Others among the more than 900 FM grantees have dropped out (9 last year, 13 so far this) but none v/as quite so prominent as Star; in fast-crowding AM, 5 grantees quit last year, 5 so far this year. Kansas City case stands out also because only last week FM enthusiasts KOZY, Kansas City (Dillard) and WIBW, Topeka (Capper) hooked up for exchanges of programs with thought of expanding into regional FM network later; and local KMBC-FM (Arthur Church) is one of country's pioneers. Kansas City Star also withdrew TV application last year, but is considering re-filing. Area is entitled to 9 FM channels (6 already spoken for) and 4 TV (none yet applied for).