Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

broadcasting (Vol. 2, No. 33). As for Federal policy, it's plainly aimed at day when most, if not all, local and regional broadcasting will be via FM ; and when AM channels will be confined to superpower for longer distance coverage. Denny's all-out endorsement of FM wasn't quite so detailed as at last year's NAB convention (Vol. 2, No. 43), but he did say Wednesday: "I urge AM broadcasters who have not applied for FM [there are more than 1,000 of them; Vol. 3, No. 37] to reexamine their position." PETRILLO TIGHTENS THE SCREWS: Everybody seems nonplussed by Petrillo's latest manueuver — his own locals no less than a radio industry that at first was flabbergasted, then roused to fighting fever. In barring live music from FM's Continental Network, on which Stromberg-Carlson sponsored 50-piece Rochester Symphony at full union network pay scale, music czar cuts off newly created work for AFM cardholders. His arbitrary attitude also apparently glims prospect of any immediate lifting of AM-FM duplication ban. Best guess seems to be Petrillo purposely timed this tactic with NAB convention, and on eve of new contract negotiations with networks, to demonstrate defiance of new labor laws — also as an object lesson that he can pull plug on AM as easily as he has stifled FM. Indeed, crackdown on big networks may be next move in Petrillo's open attitude of "Congress be damned" and "public be damned." Union locals in Washington and Rochester, CN key cities, got unexpected instructions by phone Wednesday, but let that night's show go on, putting edict into effect Thursday. As one union head put it, "Ours not to reason why." As for Congressman Kearns, who last week saw settlement of FM duplication in sight (Vol. 3, No. 37), he frankly told us, when reached at his Pennsylvania summer home, "I can't understand it. It baffles me. It doesn't make sense." He said he hopes to see Petrillo in Chicago Monday, still expects to get him together with FMA committee named last week to confer on duplication issue. If this effort flops, if Petrillo persists in arbitrary course, you can expect real fireworks when he is called back 'before Kearns' House Labor subcommittee. Kearns certainly has tried hard to be friendly — almost too much so, some think. It's pretty well agreed Petrillo is now, more than ever, an over-all industry problem and time has come for showdown. NAB convention passed resolution — pressed by Shepard, Asch, Damm — declaring duplication ban unjustified, urging broadcasters to insist on right to duplicate. But even more important, stunning news brought NAB, FMA, network topkicks into huddle at Atlantic City, with all agreeing industry must stand together. They decided to call in TBA and transcription companies (threatened with stoppage of all recording) for united front in Congress and perhaps courts. Also, John Shepard let it be known Yankee Network is duplicating MBS programs on its 2 FM outlets. In another city, independent stations are duplicating, ignoring union invoices for standby fees (obvious enough featherbedding to invite court test). Many other stations, network and independent, are also reported duplicating. And scrappy FMA, leaving no stone unturned, has asked FCC to rule netv/orks cannot forbid affiliates from duplicating, or at least to hold hearing on whether it should issue such a rule. SET PRODUCTION CONVALESCING: TV and FM set production has been hypoed, but RMA's official figures won't reflect hiked production until next month. August tabulations show both on way up after traditional summer slump, but nothing noteworthy yet. TV for month was 12,283, up 2,276 from July; total for year so far: 68,679. FM was 72,014, up 1,365; total for year: 588,226. Tuner makers still aren't reporting figures, although Pilot alone says it has made 51,000. Breakdown of TV types : 7,984 table models, 2,273 consoles without phono, 2,026 consoles v/ith phono (of consoles, 110 were projection). FM breakdown: 8,653 table models, 63,361 consoles. Total sets of all kinds: 1,265,835. Production first 8 months of 1947: 11,031,935. [For July figures, see Vol. 3, No. 34.]