Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

Crosley (19, 20), DuMont (23), Emerson (27, 28), Farnsworth (28), General Electric (4, 11), Philco (26), RCA (24), Stewart-Warner (24), Stromberg-Carlson (20), Telicon (20), U. S. "Television (20), Viewtone (10). Other brand-name radio manufacturers promising TV sets this year: Admiral 1 ( 7 ) , Colonial (Sylvania) for Sears Roebuck (13, 17, 23), Fada (3), Garod (7), Hallicrafters, Howard (14), Majestic (19), John Meek (14), Motorola (23), Packard-Bell (7), Pilot (14), Sentinel (7), Sparton (4). IT&T's Federal announced last winter it would make TV, then said it wouldn't. Then there are some lesser known companies: Bowers Battery & Spark Plug Co., Reading, Pa. (4); Race Television Co., So. Hackensack, N.J. (14) ; Radio Research & Development Co., Jersey City (5, 7) ; F. W. Sickles Co., Chicopee, Mass., subsidiary of General Instrument Co. (7) ; Remington Radio Corp., White Plains, N.Y. (19); Telequip Radio Co., Chicago (7); Telesonic Corp. of America (formerly Medco), New York; Cage Projects Inc., Upper Montclair, N.J. (23) ; Consolidated Television Corp., New York. KEW COAXIAL RATES TO COME: New York-Washington telecasters alone benefit by "reprieve" in stiff rate structure on coaxial granted Monday by AT&T, on eve of proposed Aug. 1 effective date (Vol. 3, No. 29). But they won't ride coax freeservice gravy train for long. New rate proposals may be expected well before coaxial lines link many other cities with TV outlets ready for intercity service. TV enterprisers naturally were elated, even FCC officials said they were gratified, for no one believes today's TV could pay $40-per-mile base cost plus connection charges (Vol. 3, No. 23). Significance was seen in phraseology of FCC statement Tuesday granting request of company to withdraw proposed tariff "without prejudice to a subsequent filing of tariffs for this service... to permit the telephone company's technical people to undertake further studies with the television Industry. " This is construed to mean company will sit down with TBA, which now includes all the networks as members, to work out policy and a rate structure that will keep everyone happy — possibly on a sliding scale permitting TV to sweat out its salad days. TBA did not file vigorous protest brief its counsel had prepared last week. Plenty of TV elements, however, still think main hope is radio relay. SCUTTLEBUTT AND DQPESTZRS: FCC Chairman Denny isn't saying anything, so all sorts of scuttlebutt is going the Washington rounds some professing to be inside stuff. We can only guess, too, for Denny isn't in town much these days (he’s chairman of the International Telecommunications Conference in Atlantic City, which looks like it's going well into September) , and to all inquiries he turns a deaf ear. Dopesters have him resigning this fall: (1) to form law partnership with Vernon Wilkinson, FCC assistant general counsel, which latter won't comment on except to say they’ve been together ever since their days at Dept, of Justice; (2) to go with a network in executive capacity, which those mentioned absolutely deny. Also, so the oracles have it. President Truman would not be loath to see Denny quit (his logical move while at top and in view of brashly stated purpose of Jones' appointment; Vol. 3, No. 26), so he can name another Democrat more to taste of certain Capitol Hill politicos who haven't liked certain FCC actions unfavorable to themselves and friends (Vol. 3, No. 25). In that connection name of Leonard Reinsch, presidential radio advisor, is most frequently mentioned. Meanwhile, Denny's plans to revamp FCC structure in October, reinstituting division system, were made known. He would set up 3 natural divisions: Broadcast (including AM, FM, TV), Common Carrier, Safety & Special Services — each' with 4 members, each with chairman as ex officio member. Chairmen of respective divisions wouldn't be hard to guess, but GOP victory at polls next year might thrust full chairmanship on newly named Comr. Jones. COAXING FM INTO THE HOME: Pilot Radio Corp. makes no bones about its conviction "AM is on the way out, FM on the way in," so is putting everything it has behind • FM — particularly into its "Pilotuner" (Vol. 3, No. 29) launched with big ads in New York City this week. At impressive demonstration for Washington dealers and