Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

FM-AM GRANTEES STA^D FAST: There’s still no evidence of cold-feetism in either FM or AM, though FM application rate has slowed down — only 22 filing since our Supp. 14-W of 10 v/eeks ago (see Supp. 14-X herewith). During same period, 86 filed for AM. No FCC action on FM this week leaves total FM grants at 998 (65 licenses, 685 CPs, 248 conditionals). Swelling list of AMs licensed or authorized hit 1,909 with 10 granted this week (AM Directory 1-X herewith). Those who get grants continue to stick in spite of dire predictions of large-scale mortality. In nearly 6 months since May 1 A2A freeze ended, only 7 AMs, 9 FMs, gave up ghost, handed in grants. HEX! CITIES DUS TO GST TV: crosiey's WLWT, Cincinnati, already operating as experi mental VV8XCT, should be asking FCC for commercial status soon, this week began mailing program schedules covering its current Tuesday, Thursday night and special events telecasts. So it may be next on commercial TV roster (now 14), opening up that city to TV set promotion and merchandising. Three other stations in 2 more cities are aiming to go on the air before year ends. They are: Baltimore’s WBAL-TV, now scheduled to begin test signals Dec. 8, commercial programs shortly after Jan. 1; Baltimore Sun's WMAR, now installing transmitter, erecting combination TV-FM antenna, promising tests soon but no starting date ; Richmond's WTVR (WMBG) , now building, still expecting to get going "sometime in December," commercial plans somewhat stymied by non-delivery of STL equipment. Baltimore is on New York-Washington coaxial , so WBAL-TV will affiliate with NBC, WMAR with CBS. Though coaxial has been laid through Richmond, WTVR v/on't get network service over it until "late summer or early fall of 1948" since present plans don't call for installation before then of TV terminal equipment, equalizers, repeaters, etc. Note: Wealthy Baltimore Sun, newcomer to radio, got AM grant Friday of 1 kw fulltime on 850 kc. CLEARS GO ALL GUT FOB POWER: Clear Channel Broadcasting Service’s proposed solution to problem of under-served areas — twenty 750-kw stations so placed as to give 4 program services (network) to each of 5 segments of the country — entered showdown phase this week. Whole issue should be decided by FCC reasonably soon since U. S. position at NARBA conference next year would be weakened by lack of definite plan. One more week of testimony, then time for briefs and oral arguments, and the organized clears' 11-year quest (under Attorney Louis G. Caldwell) will be in the laps of the gods. FCC must weigh well-documented CCBS case against strong opposition of organised regionals (99 members of Regional Broadcasters Committee, represented by Attorney Paul D. P. Spearman), bulwarked by NBC and CBS. In essence, opposition argues that losses would offset gains, with particularly adverse effects on occupants of adjacent channels; that present service isn't too bad; that CCBS suggestion regionals, locals, daytimers also hike powers is economically impracticable. CCBS ' s engineering mainstay was Col. Jack DeWitt. of Army shoot-the-moon-byradar fame, of whom an opposition wit quipped: "He's selling his birthright for a mess of wattage." In plumping for "superpower" plan, he told hearing officer Comr. Hyde no one else had come forward with solution except CBS. That network's ulan called for 200 FM stations, supplemented by two 1,000-kw AMs (Vol. 2, No. 17). CCBS Copyright 1947 by Radio News Bureau