Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

change films, .just as AP members now exchange news and photos. Also close to UP, NEA-Acme have just formed Acme Teletronix for research into electronic equipment related to news and picture distribution, probably with an eye on RCA's not-yetpublicly-shown "Ultrafax" system capable of flashing pictures or printed matter instantaneously by TV methods (Vol. 3, No. 26). INDUSTRY & CONGRESS v. PETRILLO: Petrillo spotlight turns next on Special Industry Music Committee's organization meeting in Washington Nov. 5 for common front showdown. Then it may focus on Capitol Hill, Congress being due back for special session Nov. 17. Rep. Kearns intimates Petrillo hearings may be reopened, depending on what he and Rep. Hartley agree upon. And Hartley's attitude on Jimmy's latest ravages may be gauged by his remarks Tuesday before American Mining Congress — that Petrillo should be prosecuted under Sherman anti-trust act, "just as it is applied to big business." He may be thinking of new legislation since Supreme Court has ruled labor unions aren't liable to anti-trust laws. FMA petitioned FCC Wednesday for a regulation to penalise stations agreeing not to duplicate network programs. It fears another network deal with union czar in current contract negotiations, again making FM scapegoat — points to survey showing 53% of its members already have understanding with networks not to duplicate (Vol. 3, No. 41). Chain folk say it's attempt to euchre them into fronting for FMers (to which FMers reply, why not?), that FCC hasn't authority anyhow (FMA says it has, under chain rules). FMA holds that even "threat" of such an FCC regulation would suffice to keep networks from agreeing to continuance of AM-FM ban, and if adopted rule would tie their hands even should music czar insist. m DEFENSE 0? TREE80BYNE': Hazeltine's Commodore Jennings B. Dow, expressing sur prise at hearing complaints about company's inexpensive "FreModyne" FM circuit (Vol. 3, No. 37), stoutly maintains performance is good if circuit is built according to specifications. He tells us it's now being used by 17 set makers. Instances of poor performance, he said, must be due to variations introduced by individual manufacturers. Told some people fear circuit has excessive radiation, he asserted Hazeltine tests showed FreModyne no guiltier than any other FM circuit, and that the^e should be no trouble with "reasonable" receiver separation. He feels circuit will suffer fewer growing pains than did early superheterodyne. Manufacturers, of course, have strong and varied opinions about inexpensive FM sets. Sonora's Joseph Gerl told Chicago Electronic League Tuesday, "It will be several years [before] lower priced FM sets with genuine FM quality will be possible." Similarly varied is opinion among FM broadcasters. Said Lester Nafzger of WELD, Columbus, after testing two sample tuners, "We were not favorably impressed ...We would much prefer 1,000 new FM homes per month, with good reception, to 2,000 with half of them creating ill-will for ourselves, the dealers and FM in general." Set against this is view of some FM operators, particularly independents, who feel audiences must be increased even if it means some temporary compromise with quality. BELLWETHERS OF TV PROGRESS: Sum and substance of NBC's new WNBT rate schedule (not a "rate card," they insist), sent to advertisers and agencies this week along with a "Television Progress Report": (a) Rates are quoted on quarterly basis only, without day or night variations, no frequency discounts, typewritten schedule betokening its temporary nature (first 13 weeks of 1948 only). Schedule for second 13 weeks is promised around Jan. 1. Rates will go up apace with increased TV homes. (b) Advertiser or agency may direct own programs, subject to NBC approval, NBC furnishing subordinate program and technical personnel. Art is young, new ideas welcome, sponsors not easy to come by — hence NBC yielded to sponsor-agency pressures. Rates are in 2 categories — transmitter time, program facilities. Time costs 5500 per hour, $400 for 40 minutes, $300 half hour, §250 for 20 minutes, §200 for 10 minutes, §125 for 5 minutes, §125 one minute (film only), §80 for 20 seconds (slide or film). Program facilities start at $1,000 per hour for use of new studio 8-G, §250 an hour for film studio, scaling downward in same proportion as for time