Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

KOBE SEEK TV, 2 FROM MEMPHIS: TV applications of Detroit’s WJR and Cleveland's WGA R will be filed shortly, besides a dozen or more known to be in preparation for nearly as many cities. The Dick Richards' stations will add up to 11 the number of ex-applicants reapplying after dropping out during color argument. Incidentally, they will be among the very few CBS affiliates as yet applying for TV (Supp. 18-D and Vol. 3, No. 38-42). Unlike NBC, though it professes to have TV network plans, CBS has not been urging its affiliates into TV nor expanding its own holdings — on grounds it has no manufacturing stake (as have RCA-NBC and DuMont), can't write off inevitable early-year losses to receiver profits. This week's TV applicants were 2 from Memphis, entitled to 5 channels. Scripps-Howard owned but independently operated Memphis Publishing Co. (WMC-Commercial Appeal) asks for Channel No. 4, 13.6 kw visual power, 7.12 aural, studio 169 Madison Ave., transmitter near Highway 70 and Macon Road, antenna 649 ft., estimated cost §149,500, monthly operating cost §12,000, RCA equipment. Bluff City Broadcasting Co., operating local daytime station YVDIA, seeks community outlet on Channel No. 5, 1.44 kw visual power, .72 kw aural, studio 2074 Union Ave., transmitter 1125 University, antenna 380 ft., estimated cost §89,500, monthly operating cost §3,200, DuMont equipment (Acorn package). Company is partnership of J. R. Pepper, ex-owner of YVJPR, Greenville, Miss., and E. R. Ferguson, part owner of YVDSG, Dyersbiirg, Tenn. , both ex-Navy. It's reasonably certain Memphis' WREC will also apply since Hoyt Wooten, its owner, has been evincing considerable interest in TV. FMA ASKS BREAK OH COVERAGE: FMA feels it's a shame FCC, in making new FM grants, should rob FM in some areas of its chance of beating AM at its own game — coverage. Thus, it seeks conference with FCC in effort to get Class B stations in Area II (all but northeastern U. S.) protected to 50 uv/m contours. Present protection is to 1,000 uv/m, same as in crowded Area I where FMA doesn't expect greater protection. Request is a puzzler for FCC, since 50 uv/m protection in tightest Area II cities would mean either no more new grants or finding more channels. FCC is running out of channels but defends new grants as giving more service than is lost in encroaching upon presently authorized 50 uv/m contours. Says FMA President Dillard, "Let's give FM a chance to get going, at least as long as AM did, before we start whittling away station coverage." Chairman of committee to meet with FCC staffers is staunch FM booster C. M. Jansky, newly appointed FMA engineering counsel. MORE DOLLARS iH TV SETS: In those few areas already enjoying TV service ( Supp . 18-D), which include country's top 5 population centers, distributors for certain major manufacturers are actually calculating on higher 1948 dollar volume from TV than from ordinary radio sets. At first blush, this seems hard to swallow, yet it's borne out by (a) very much higher cost of even lowest priced TV units, as compared with table sets, which are bulk of today's production; (b) fact that distributors are disposing of every unit they can get, with backlogs of orders already in evidence — so great is TV's acceptance; (c) fact that many more factories will be in TV production next year (Vol. 3, No. 30, 36, 40), with consequent greater output. TV is enjoying slow but steady, measurable growth, and manufacturers and distributors can gear to specific markets, discernible demand. Last week, for example, Philco's first big promotion in Los Angeles led to reported sales of 1,500 sets, so local distributor is calculating 6,000 for rest of year. For whole country, RCA's Sarnoff forecast 150,000 sets in use by end of this year, which should be exceeded (see 9 mo. figures in Vol. 3, No. 42), and 750,000 by end of 1948 (Vol. 3, No. 38). Philco's James Carmine says his company is currently delivering §900,000 worth of sets per week to distributors. And Farnsworth's v.p. Edward Martin predicts 5,000,000 sets in next 5 years, says TV is "facing a billion dollar market." These figures seem conservative in light of present trends, and opening up of new markets as new stations start. Even now, all but 3 of top 25 U. S. cities (1940 census) have stations in operation, authorized or applied for — with most CPs scheduled to get going sometime next year. The 3 are Kansas City, ranking 19th; Rochester, 23rd; Denver, 24th. It's good guess their channels won't go begging long.