Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

HA8TIN QflDEL’s authoritative news service OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTING AND FREQUENCY MODULATION ARTS AND INDUSTRY PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY U RADIO NEWS BUREAU, 1519 CONNECTICUT AV£. N.W., WASH1HST0N B. D C. TELEPHONE NICU6AX 2020 • VOL 3, HO. 50 December 13, 1947 LAHD HUSH IS OH, 10 MORE APPLY: Again this week, as last, 10 more applicants filed for TV, including Kansas City Star and Dallas News. Applicant list has now swelled to 68 (see TV Directory No. 1, Addenda 1-A, 1-B) — and end of big rush isn't in sight. We can also report probable applications soon from: WJW, Cleveland; WIBC Indianapolis; KPRC, Houston Post; KAIL, Houston; WHDH, Boston Herald-Traveler; WNBH, New Bedford Standard-Times, for Boston; WIOA-FM, Trenton Times. Also, Cleveland Broadcasting Inc., CP holder for PM, AM applicant, wrote FCC this week it will file for TV; firm is headed by Ray T. Miller and Donald W. Hornbeck, local Democratic and Republican party leaders, respectively, who are law partners. This week, Yankee Network asked for change of its Boston channel grant to No. 13 instead of No. 7, stating it wants to be able to throw signal into Providence too. The week's TV applicants and channels requested: WBRC, Birmingham, Ala., Channel No. 4; KROW, Oakland, Cal., No. 11; WKAT, Miami , Fla. , No. 7, petitioning for reinstatement of old application held up for inadequate data; WSBT, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, No. 13 ; WDAF, Kansas City Star, No. 4; WADC, Akron, No. 11, which forces hearing on 2 applicants for 1 channel; WPIT, Pittsburgh, No. 10, forcing hearing on 5 for 3; WEEU, Reading (Pa.) Eagle. No. 5; WFAA, Dallas News, No. 12; L. F. Carrigan, Dallas (not now in radio). No. 10. For details about these applications, see TV Addenda 1-B herewith. MAP TSLLS ONLY PART OF STORY: Note how AT&T couches legends on its new coaxialrelay map (reprinted on insert page herewith) in general terms now — as compared with map published last summer (Vol. 3, No. 24). For most part, circuits previously scheduled for 1947-48 completion are now lumped as "installed or under construction," no dates for starting service given. In some instances, circuits previously set down for 1948 completion ( Charlotte-Atlanta, St. Louis-New Orleans, Detroit-Cincinnati) are now legended "planned for next few years." Even Nev; YorkPhiladelphia-Chicago microwave relay previously earmarked "1947-49" is now down simply as "radio relay systems planned." So it's apparent Bell System isn't going to be held to any schedule by eager-beaver network builders. Even when coaxial connects 2 cities, as Richmond is now connected with Washington, that's no guarantee of early TV hookup. Still needed are terminal equipment, repeaters, etc., so it won't be until late next summer or early fall that Richmond's WTVR, about ready to take air (Vol. 3, No. 49), can join NBC hookup. More than that, coaxial provides only one circuit and it's one-way. All of this means TV enterprisers are being spurred to1 set up relay systems of their own. If FCC doesn't clamp down common carrier provisos, there may be more privately operated sectional circuits set up (like GE's New York-Schenectady, Philco's New York-Philadelphia, WBKB's Chicago-South Bend) and linked with one another to give a semblance of network service. Even now a serious plan is afoot, sparked by WFIL-TV's Roger Clipp, to get up a cross-country network in time for coverage of June-July political conventions in Philadelphia — no less "naturals" for TV than were the 1924 conventions ("Alabama casts its 24 votes for Underwood") for radio. Plan contemplates linking foregoing together, using intermediate stepping-stones Copyright 1947 by Radio News Bureau