Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

EMERSON'S $450 TV-FM-AM SET: Small-set specialist Emerson told us its first TV production would be a pilot run. And apparently they’re giving it a guinea pig treatment, in Washington at least. They slipped one set almost unheralded into suburban Arlington, and it was sold immediately. It’s a TV-AM-FM console with 10-inch tube, 12-inch speaker. We’ve seen it in action and it looks like a mighty good buy at §450, plus §35 installation, 90-day guarantee. Unusual feature is slanted panel, with tube pointed up at about 45-degree angle. At first, it would seem view from seated position would be distorted — but it isn’t. Dealer claims it allows more viewers. Picture isn’t as good as some we’ve seen, but it’s acceptable; fault may not have been in set. Some of saving (it’s cheaper than anything yet in console) was probably made in quite plain cabinet. Dealer is badgering Emerson for more. HEAVY RUN OF FM APPLICANTS: FM reservation plan’s end June 50 precipitated unusual total of applications for week (29, as listed in Supplement 53-A herewith). Newcomers make New York headache worse than ever, 3 more joining weary crowd. Baltimore area got 2 more. Providence 2, Chicago 1, etc. Noteworthy also is sudden interest of church groups in commercial FM: 9 such applications were filed in last 2 weeks, including 6 from Texas Baptists. Some applicants are puzzled about specifying channels, now required. In some instances there’s no way to tell which were reserved. Only thing to do is compare channels already assigned (Supp. 53 and 53-A) with channels allocated to city (Supp. 52) and specify any frequency not already assigned. Reallocation plan, incidentally, is still being shaken down; 5 New York City stations were given new assignments this week (Supp. 53), as were 6 scattered others (Supp. 53-A). Working hard to get hearings out of its system, FCC issued proposed decision for ClevelandAkron, denying none but giving Elyria applicant Class A instead of requested B. STORING UP THE CATS: There’s just mere chance enough dead cats have been stirred up by Columnist Drew Pearson to create trouble for FCC Nominee Rep. Robert Franklin Jones. In any case, his charges have had effect of holding up favorable report on nomination by favorably disposed Senate committee, meeting Thursday. Pressure from Democratic Senators Johnson (Colo.) and Taylor (Ida.) and from such other sources as American Civil Liberties Union (over signature of ex-FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly) caused committee to order further hearing next Monday on charges Congressman Jones once belonged to Black Legion. He’ll face accusers, who signed affidavits produced by Pearson. Meanwhile, Jones and Pearson all this week engaged in recriminations via radio, columns and press releases — the Congressman bitterly denying accusations and insinuations by alleged political foes in Ohio, threatening legal action against Pearson later. Meanwhile, also, on Thursday court dismissed complaint that had h'alted FCC from hearing Pearson-Alien application for WBAL’s facilities (Vol. 3, No. 8), so that dynamite-laden case should come to FCC hearing soon, it’s "selfish motive" of wanting "fair hearing" in that case that partially impelled Pearson (so he says) to take up cudgels against Jones (Vol. 3, No. 25, 26). SURVEYS FIX CBS TV POLICY: Ever since beating it took on color (Vol. 3, No. 12), CBS has been playing it cagey in TV, has indicated as yet no intention of applying for more low-band stations — but don’t be surprised to see it enter the lists for Chicago soon. Its reasons for concentrating its single station (WCBS-TV, New York) on sports and public events, cutting down almost entirely on studio productions despite big Grand Central space it leases, now become plainer: (1) Surveys show these are what public prefers far and above anything else — and, Upsides, they're less costly to produce ; (2) cost of erecting more TV stations is prohibitive at present stage, especially in light of some §2,000,000 already expended on color. So basic policy is to sweat out TV’s growing pains, then spread out via local affiliations or perhaps station purchases in key cities. Himself a past master at surveys, CBS’s youthful President Frank Stanton has again proved efficacy of his policy of relying on them. He had special Hooper coincidental telephone survey made in metropolitan New York area among 500 TV set owners