Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

indicated attendance of around 3,000, only about 300 attended the FMA sessions. Even these were largely from non-AM stations, sometimes looked upon as the industry's "poor relations." Busy with pre-NAB conventions and meetings of their own, networks hardly turned out at all — only 2 CBS men spotted at Friday's session. Up to our Friday press time, FMA had heard words of praise and encouragement from speakers like Rep. Carroll Kearns, House labor subcommittee chairman; Max Balcoro, RMA president ; Paul Walker, FCC vice chairman. What they said, and what transpired at convention's first day, sums up about like this: PETRILLO AND AM-FM DUPLICATION: This was theme of Congressman Kearns' ad dress. He called Petrillo "a pretty good guy," suggested FMA meet with him and with Petrillo to work something out (which suggestion was immediately pounced upon). Said Kearns, "You're really not too far from what you want." Petrillo, he added, drives a hard bargain but once he gives word lives up to it. He thought Petrillo might be amenable to "deal" to permit free duplication for one or 2 years, then scale of payments; he was sure Petrillo won't permit blanket duplication. Fresh from Hollywood hearings, Kearns predicted movie-TV situation will soon right itself — that Petrillo will come to terms "when the TV people really need and want movies." He saw no great rush now. FM RECEIVING SET SITUATION: Mr. Balcom concerned himself largely with size up of RMA's production figures (as reported in these pages), analyzed them to show they were pretty favorable, showed growing number of table model FMs, constantly increasing proportion of consoles with FM. "Together with TV," he said, "FM offers the greatest incentive to radio set production today." Predicting 2,000,000 FM sets this year, he felt the manufacturers were measuring up. But reaction of his sethungry audience was one of disagreement. At receiver exhibit, conventioneers saw: Hazeltine's FM circuit, called "FreModyne," incorporated in 5 table FM-AM sets and Meek $19.95 tuner (Vol. 3, No. 33). The sets: Olympic's $39.95 (Vol. 3, No. 36); Gilfillan's $49.50; and 3 unpriced models by Regal, Signal, Nobel. Not shown but announced was Howard's new $39.95 set. And Hazeltine reported 30 licensees would have its super-regenerative circuit (reported requiring 300 uv/m for good performance) in sets coming out this fall. Pilot's joy in its $29.95 Pilotuner bubbled over as it revealed production to date of 51,000, delivery of 48,000, announced discontinuance of table AM-FM, gave out plans for a $135-$150 table AM-FMphono and an FM-only portable. But Hazeltine's exhibit was easily No. 1 attraction. Ever alert to promote TV, RCA showed its 641TV console containing AM-FM. Conventional AM-FM table models displayed: Arvin, $74.50; Espey, chassis only, $140; RCA, $79.95 to $95; Stromberg-Carlson (now high-band only), $74.95 to $89; Zenith, $59.95 to $99.95; Meek, $79.95; Approved Electronics' $59.50 FM-only and Electronic Inc.'s $56.95 FM-only Combinette. There were some consoles, too. Surprising was absence of many others now on market. FM STATION AND NETWORK PROGRESS: Comr. Walker repeated FCC's many blessings on FM, predicted that "one year from today the number of FM stations on the air should be upwards of 1, 000. .. about equal the growth [of AM] in a whole quarter century." As Chairman Denny did last year, he warned: "There are some AM broadcasters well able to do so wrho have not yet applied for FM. To these I say, in many communities all the Class B wide coverage channels are already gone. Move with the times. Don't stall yourself into oblivion. " The all-FM Continental Network got going Friday night with first sponsor, Stromberg-Carlson (Vol. 3, No. 34), while banqueteers listened in. Its promoters say they're now preparing for extensions to Chicago and down to the Gulf, perhaps doubling in size in one sweep. Backbone of extensions will be 8,000 cps telephone lines, same as present eastern hookup from Washington to Niagara Falls (Vol. 3, No. No. 32), making possible feeding scores of stations in rib-like radiations. Pending big jump, Jersey City's WFMQ this week became 27th affiliate. Handling details of CN, including 62 pending requests for affiliation, has become fulltime job for