Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

such. FMA will tell network envoys (NBC's Bill Hedges, ABC's Joe McDonald, CBS's Frank White, MBS's Bob Swezey) , it wants nothing less than outright duplication; it's banking on softening attitude of Petrillo as well as laws stiffening radio's back. Rep. Kearns says he thinks "Petrillo 's loosening up, and coming around," but his immediate concern is union chief's promises to "make a deal" relaxing hitherto arbitrary restrictions on educators and service bands. After Congress adjourns July 26, Kearns' labor subcommittee plans hearings "around country," first one in Los Angeles Aug. 4. Among other things, it will probe Petrillo restrictions on TV. — SIGHT AND SOUND New FCC Comr. Robert F. Jones (Vol. 3, No. 25, 28) will resign Congressional seat sometime in August, then be sworn in as Republican member. He's winding up Capitol Hill job now, then plans short vacation. One of reasons he wanted FCC job (which pays $10,000 as against Congressman’s $12,500) was to move family permanently to Washington. Washington’s WQQW, 1 kw daytime on 570 kc, is about to fold after only 7 months — not enough revenue. Some 200 stockholders, sold idea of outlet featuring long-hair music and “tolerated commercials” by Ed Brecher (who at FCC helped write Blue Book), had purchased $131,000 capital stock, loaned $50,000 more on notes. Funds are about gone, so they’ll now consider bids. Licensee also holds CP for FM. The 50 kw FM transmitter race seems to have RCA leading in the stretch, company announcing completion of a pre-production unit this week. It’s not the first 50 kw transmitter built, since Eitel-McCullough has built one to show off their tubes at KSBR, San Bruno, Cal. and Armstrong may have reached 50 kw with his WFMN, Alpine, N. J. But RCA’s claim is the first such from a transmitter maker. . Baltimore may get both WBAL and Baltimore Sun TV stations (Supp. 18-C) on air before year’s end, now that RCA equipment delivery has been promised before summer is over. Radio-Television of Baltimore Inc., city’s other holder of CP for TV (since May, 194G), reported placing order this wreek with RCA, delivery promised next April, meanwhile has acquired 10-acre site on Green Spring Road. Capable, dynamic Leonard F. Cramer becomes executive v.p. of DuMont in changes this week. His supervision of DuMont TV stations (WABD, WTTG) is taken over by Lawrence Phillips, wartime executive v.p. of USO Camp Shows Inc. Rear Admiral Stanley F. Patten, wartime second in command of radio division, Bureau of Ships, is now administrative assistant to Dr. DuMont. Orrin E. Dunlap Jr., in our book the nation’s No. 1 pundit on radio subjects, has been elected RCA v.p. in charge of advertising and publicity. He’s a Harvard grad, veteran radioman, author of notable books in field; since 1940, when he quit radio editorship of New York Times to become information manager of RCA, he’s been public relations advisor to David Sarnoff. Much-delayed Pearson-Alien application for WBAL facilities under Blue Book (Vol. 3, No. 8) is now set for hearing in Baltimore starting Oct. 6, with FCC Comr. Hyde sitting — but WBAL counsel are trying again to get new court injunction. New group of 1 kw daytimers (AM) is forming in Washington under aegis of their attorneys, with object of formulating common policies to be followed before FCC, engaging engineer to represent them jointly at clear channel bearings due to resume in September. Total number of FM stations operating at mid-July was 248, of which — as reported in July “timebuyers’ guide” issue of FM industry’s trade journal, FM Business — 51 are selling time. Full data on commercial activities of 43 of these (service ai’ea maps, estimated number of receivers, rate cards, list of sponsors) are published in the edition, first time such information was ever compiled under one cover. Publication promises to keep subscribers up-tominute with this type data, valuable especially to agencies. First attack on Zenith’s Phone Vision system of payas-you-see TV (Vol. 3, No. 27) came Friday from Farnsworth’s E. A. Nicholas, who said it’s “impractical and unnecessary” since “American people are accustomed to the radio way ... do not pay a tax . . . drop no nickels in slots . . . receive no bills.” He told this to distributors at Chicago convention, where Farnsworth showed its $349.50 table model TV, $497.50 consolette with TV-FM-AM. Flying saucer stories seem to penetrate every publication in the country; resignedly, we fall in line since one turned up with a TV twist. Some excited yokel called Washington’s TV station WNBW to report a big black disc tangled in its tower. The airborne soup-holder, of course, was receiving dish of microwave relay. Communications subcommittee of House Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee (Rep. Howell, chairman) plans no meeting this session on Wolverton Bill, companion to moribund White Bill, nor on Lemke Bill, to add 50 me band to FM allocation (H.Res. 78). Howell has asked NAB and networks to draft amendments they’d like made to radio law. WNBT’s proof-of-performance test, first such submitted to FCC, and a model job, shows 45-50 mi. coverage radius, pattern egg-shaped with long ends in New Jersey and Connecticut; it’s based on present 7 kw transmissions from Empire State, 1,280 ft. high. DuMont’s WABD and NBC’s WNBW, Washington, are now conducting tests. Zenith’s Ted Leitzell does interesting sketch of his boss, Gene McDonald, titled “Two-Fisted Dreamer” in July 13 American Weekly. Zenith’s pay-as-you-look PhoneVision system of TV (Vol. 3, No. 27, 28) also gets good play in July 14 Time, is highly lauded in editorial in July 16 New York Times. CBS's Ed Murrow had enough of being an executive (v.p. for public affairs), so is quitting title, returning soon to mike as newscaster, his duties taken over by program v.p. Davidson Taylor, whose program directorship in turn is assumed by Hubbell Robinson Jr., newly named v.p. Week-end before NAB convention in Atlantic City, or Sept. 12-13, has been fixed as time, Washington’s Hotel Roosevelt as place, for next FMA convention. Hope is to have FCC Chairman Denny speak again. We’ve just received consignment of embossed binders, suitable for maintaining your file of Newsletters and Supplements. They’re available at cost — $2.10.