Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

HARTIN GODEL’s authoritative news service OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTING ANt> FREQUENCY MODULATION ARTS AND INDUSTRY PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY # RADIO HE3S BMJUI,1519 CGMSTICUT AYL H.&, WASHINGTON G, D.C. TELEPHONE MIOHiSAM 2020 • VOL 3, HO. 31 ‘ August 2, 1947 CBS m FOB CHICAGO TV: Tightening TV situation in Chicago caused CBS this weekend to put in its first TV application since FCC color decision dashed its hopes that uhf TV was here (Vol. 3, No. 12). CBS seeks Chicago TV Channel No. 11, want s to put out 21 kw visual, 22.2 kw aural power, plans to spend $300, OOO on construction. Studio and transmitter will be at site of WBBM-FM's transmitter, 1 North LaSalle St. Other cities are ticketed for CBS video, but which ones officials won’t divulge. It’s not hard to guess that net wants in where it now has AM outlets — Boston (WEEI), Minneapolis (WCCO), St. Louis (KMOX) . TV channels in Washington (WT0P) and Los Angeles (KNX) are all spoken for. Chicago now has one licensee (WBKB-Paramount ) , 3 CP~holders (WENR-ABC, WMAQNBC, WGN-Chicago Tribune) and 2 applicants (WIND and WBBM-CBS) , leaving single channel open. Chicago Times application, which was due to be filed soon, is being held up pending outcome of Marshall Field bid for newspaper (Vol. 3, No. 30). Ex FOB TROPICS — FM: One of FM’s most enthusiastic uncles, consulting engineer C. M. Jansky, and the FCC will show tropical broadcasters an out to their exasperating problem of high noises and poor propagation in the AM band. Wednesday, the 600 delegates to Atlantic City conference will hear Maj . Armstrong's 160 kw Alpine, N.J., station (110 miles) picked up by antenna on 120 ft tower, piped through 7mile, 16,000 cps lines to Atlantic City's 1 kw WBAB-FM and rebroadcast. Since tropical broadcasters are sceptical about FM's range, idea is to show how easily signal can be bounced from station to station without wire lines — which are pretty sketchy in most countries concerned anyway. Should delegates take to FM, it might ease demands (expressed in subcommittee proposal) for additional space in tight high frequency band. Delegation chiefs will be given personal FM sets. Some Continental Network stations plan to carry the program. KOW QUICK IS "SHORTLY"? Now it's all up to AFM Prexy Petrillo to take the shackles off FM — by rescinding his ban on AM-FM music duplication. And he'd better do it soon, or the subject will come up to haunt him again when House Labor subcommittee begins hearings in Hollywood Aug. 4 on labor situation in movie industry. House Labor Committee Chairman Hartley, on eve of departure for Los Angeles Thursday, said that scheduled 3-week Hollywood probe would look not only into "involvement" of the movie industry with TV through the AFM ban on musicians and musical scores for video (Vol. 3, No. 30), but also into Petrillo's "control" of FM broadcasting. Petrillo meeting with representatives of all 4 networks Thursday in Chicago resulted in innocuous statement that "Mr. Petrillo agreed to take the matter under consideration and to announce a decision shortly." Although none would talk, feeling of optimism seems to pervade all ranks. FMers seem particularly elated. Reason for delay in announcing end of AM-FM duplication ban is thought to be for purpose of permitting Petrillo to advise AFM locals of his change of mind, the networks their affiliates of withdrawal of prohibition. Other, more cynical sources, say Petrillo has always been a tough negotiator, probably wants some quid Copyright 1947 by Radio News Bureau