Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

changing programs for some time. And the following promoters have achieved various stages of progress toward FM hookups in their respective States: E. Z. Jones, WBBB-FM, Burlington, N. C. ; Paul Wagner, WCSI, Columbus, Ind. ; David Taft, WCTS, Cincinnati; Matthew Bonebrake, KOCY-FM, Oklahoma 'City ; Edward Wheeler, WEAW, Evanston, 111. ; W. E. Ware, KSWI-FM, Council Bluffs, Iowa. JSiHIKfi THE TV PARADE: Washington Star's WMAL-TV is working furiously to meet Oct. 5 starting date, which will make it 13th commercial TV station on the air, give capital third outlet (Supp. 18-D) — just as many as New York. Building on American U campus is completed, transmitter installed, 400-ft tower up, transmission lines being laid. Aim is to meet sponsor commitments, which include Philco distributor's purchase of Georgetown and George Washington U home grid games, Amoco 's Redskin pro games. If Manager Kenneth Berkeley and staff make it, they will set some sort of record, for RCA delivered transmitter only last Sept. 10. This week's new TV applications numbered 3 — and others are in the works. Yankee Network (WONS) filed for Hartford; Balboa Radio Corp. (AM-FM permit holder) for San Diego, Cal. ; Louis G. Baltimore (WBRE) for Wilkes-Barre , Pa. Yankee's advent assures hearing inasmuch as 4 now seek Hartford-New Britain area's 2 channels, and another entry from New Britain may be expected. Yankee asks for Channel No. 8 (180-186 me), 28.9 kw visual power, 14.45 kw aural, stipulates RCA transmitter located on Deercliff Road, Avon, proposed $190,552 plant investment would link up with projected Boston outlet also sought (Vol. 3, No. 23). Empire Coil Co. which sparked TV rush in Hartford by being first to apply this week asked to amend for Channel 12 (now assigned Waterbury) , offered to move antenna site to cover both Hartford and Waterbury. San Diego principals are banker Emil Klicka, Consolidated-Vultee executive Charles T. Leigh, attorney J. A. Donnelly, port director J. W. Brennan, radioman Paul L. Dodd. They ask for Channel 6 (82-88 me), 18.25 kw visual power, 9.125 kw aural, stipulate RCA equipment except for GE antenna, only $58,250 additional plant investment to projected AM-FM facilities, $3,000 per month operating cost. Wilkes-Barre application, from a 250-watt NBC outlet, designates no specific channel, because of uncertainty of Scranton-Wilkes-Barre allocations due to possible deletion of Channel No. 1 (Vol. 3, No. 33-38). Old application had guessed $83,500 installation cost, which will now need considerable revision. So eager is enthusiastic Mr. Baltimore to show off TV to homefolks, that he has also asked FCC permission to utilize borrowed RCA microwave relay unit to pick up New Y'ork telecasts, then beam them down from mountain 2.5 miles from town (planned site of TV transmitter) for exhibit at county's Century of Progress Exposition, Oct. 7-11. Similar stunt is planned by Chicago's WBKB in connection with its Notre Dame home game telecasts via mobile unit from South Bend: it also proposes to beam microwave signals to South Bend auditorium for benefit of overflow crowds. EKaiE’S A HOT OHS! Power companies in little Connecticut communities of Norwich (pop. 23,652) and Wallingford (pop. 11,425), within TV tuning range of New York, are actually levying monthly fees ($1.26 and $2.50, respectively) on TV set owners on assumption: (a) TV sets draw too much power at peak night drain periods, thus putting heavier than normal load on generating systems ; (b) lighting goes up way above normal when sets are on! Fact that customer pays for additional power doesn't seem to cut much ice. Actually, one of country's biggest, Chicago's Consolidated Edison, is engaged in promotion of TV set sales to help build up power loads , has figures showing there's profit in it for utilities (Vol. 2, No. 51). Norwich fee was instituted May 1, was first publicized by Electronics Magazine's Don Fink. RMA set division executive committee (Paul Galvin, chairman), at meeting Oct. 14 in New York's Hotel Roosevelt, will decide what to do about it. Note : Chicago Electric Assn has estimated average TV set (used 3.4 hours per day) consumes 267 kilowatthours per year, which at Washington's relatively low household power rates would mean about $5.50 per year, probably somewhat more in most other cities.