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AMs STILL DOMINANT IN FM: There's little comfort to old-line broadcast operators in fact that AM station roster has .just about doubled since V-J Day (total to date: 1,865, of which 513 are CPs). Nor does it look like FCC's policy of encouraging and hastening FM means any letup in AM grants. Actually, more than half (1,031) of the country's AM licensees and CP holders are apparently still leary of FM or unconcerned about it. At least, they haven't applied. But the 834 AMers who are in FM (as against 289 non-AMers) do constitute the lion's share of the 53 FM licensees, 923 grantees, 147 applicants (total: 1,123) who constitute today's FM setup. As for newcomers to radio, AM is still the big attraction — 106 new applications since July 1 (average: about 10 weekly). Only 33 newcomers have declared themselves for FM since July 1 (about 3 weekly).
WHAT'S PSTRILLO's QUID PEQ QUO? Jimmy Petrillo's ultimate intentions toward FM remain shadowed in doubt, even after last Monday's conference of networks with his executive board. All had nothing much to report: Petrillo and board listened, promised to deliberate again, then on Thursday said look for decision in about a week. Strategy may be to await NAB and FMA convention discussions, then perhaps offer "deal" along lines intimated by Congressman Kearns in FMA speech (see story below).
Networks certainly extended themselves — FMers' suspicions to contrary notwithstanding — to get ban lifted. But they're frankly thinking in terms of overall labor situation, especially in light of gains they may have w on under new labor laws when time comes (before Jan. 31 expirations) to negotiate new AFM contracts. Petrillo knows that to permit duplication makes sense, doesn't increase total radio audience but does promise better radio and eventually wider opportunities for his men. He's doubtless angling for some sort of quid pro quo. As FM-operating New York Times stated editorially: "In radio circles Mr. Petrillo has been known as a thoroughgoing realist and, when the chips were down, not lacking in a sense of the practical. Surely, he and his colleagues, . .will recognize that before they can strike a bargain. .. the new industry should have a chance to come into being."
But Petrillo's phobia of "technological unemployment" — even though not borne out by facts and figures — was manifested again this week when his board repeated threat to prohibit AFM members from making new phonograph records after Dec. (Vol. 3, No. 28). Board meets in Chicago Oct. 13 to take this matter up. They're irked over Taft-Hartley restrictions on disposal of royalties collected on records (now amounting to about §1,000,000 a year).
SIZING UP FM AT FMA CONVENTION: Any lingering doubts that most established broadcasters look upon FM as part and parcel of their own domain — regard it as their rightful heritage, though with varying degrees of enthusiasm — are dispelled not only by our AM-FM statistics in this issue but also by current events. As for doing anything to push it along, their relatively meager attendance at FMA's New York convention this week-end may or may not be symptomatic.
The fact is that, whereas next week's NAB convention in Atlantic City has an
Copyright 1947 by Radio News Bureau