Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

38) and Zenith is still plumping for low band. Maj . Armstrong argues: FM needs room for expansion, 44-50 me band has superior qualities for FM networking, long-range reception would permit complete linking of FM networks by relays, eliminating need for wire connections. He repeats charges FCC erred in moving. FM upstairs, bitterly recounts early struggles to establish FM against alleged RCA opposition. EU5IC SITUATION STILL SNAFU: Answer from Jimmy Petrillo, once again, seems to be " K o . " He hasn't yet told FMA so, but he left that "distinct impression" with networks when he resumed talks with them Monday, and trade press reported it as fact. First inkling of negative answer on AM-FM duplication came Tuesday in N ew York Timesman Jack Gould's usually reliable column. Network sources say they haven't much doubt about it. Another AFM executive board meeting is set for Chicago this week end , s o FMA President Dillard's committee is still hopeful, awaits promised reply direct from Petrillo. After committee's cordial conference with Petrillo last week (Vol. 3, No. 40), their hopes and spirits were considerably heightened; but then, say the cynics, so were those of nearly everyone who heard the unpredictable music czar's sometimes ingenuous statements while here for Congress hearings (Vol. 3, No. 28-34). It looks like Petrillo is using AM-FM duplication as one trump in his negotiations with networks on key station contracts, which expire next Jan. 31. His larger quarry is (a) more local employment of musicians on AM and FM, (b) payment on a per-station basis for network music. His consuming fear is diminishing employment as station contracts expire, which he says is already evident since new labor laws. His hope is networks can somehow pressure their affiliates, though no one has suggested a formula. Networks aren't discounting his threat to pull plug on them. So apparently everything now focuses on network negotiations. Joe Padwav's death Wednesday leaves J. Albert Woll as head of Padway & Woll law firm, music union's counsel. Son of AFL v.p. Matthew Woll, he's the man who, as Federal district attorney in Chicago, last year filed original criminal information in WAAF featherbedding case testing Lea Act (Vol. 2, No. 24). Fadway is said to have been inclined latterly to conciliation with radio, showed that attitude at House hearings. Woll is an unknown factor so far as influence on Petrillo is concerned. * # * * At least 50 FM stations (16% of the 192 affiliated with AM) are duplicating musical programs, including network — or were doing so when FMA conducted survey that started Aug. 29, ended this week. FMA naturally isn't revealing their identity, but 17 can be guessed: those listed by Petrillo 's union itself as having separate local contracts (Vol. 3, No. 40). There are others identifiable, like Yankee Network's 2 — but these quit duplicating MBS musical programs this week because, as John Shepard wired us, "We have no ambition to make Mutual and ourselves guinea pigs for the industry, many others of whom are duplicating." Survey results are significant, if perhaps a bit dated. They're composite reports from 236 FM operators in 40 States and D. C. , of whom 192 operate both AM and FM (130 of these on networks) and 44 are FM independents. FMA reports 81% duplicating programs of one sort or another, but 55% saying talks only; 53% stating networks don't permit duplication, 5% stating they do, the rest "don't know"; 92% opining AM-FM duplication will stimulate FM listening; 89% saying denial of network music is delaying FM's development, 10% asserting FM should be programmed entirely independently of AM. Twenty-four stations reported they employed 121 live musicians. And 86% said they're operating at a loss, 8% at profit, 6% breaking even. TZISY LIKED WHAT THEY SAW: TV's impact on Washington's press corps — as result of telecasts of World Series and last Sunday night's White House food appeal — leaves newsmen in no such scoffing mood as they evinced toward parvenu radio during 20' s and early 30' s. Rather, they liked what they saw (crowding National Press Club lounge to watch each Series game), look forward to more of same (what nicer way to cover a political convention, perhaps Congress and UN, even a Presidential speech?). President Truman loaned his personal TV set, an RCA. table model, to White House