Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

sets at Filene's dept, store Wednesday, with programs relayed via Bell microwaves from WCBS-TV, New York. And don't overlook possibility CBS may again seek to buy out or into a radio manufacturing concern, possibly Raytheon (also being sought by IT&T ; see Vol. 3, No. 49) which has held oft-extended Waltham CP since May, 1946. This week's applications: CBS, Boston (WEEI), Channel No. 9; WHDH, Boston Herald & Traveler, No. 13; E. Anthony & Son (WNBH, New Bedford), seeking No. 9 in Boston in addition to previously applied for No. 1 in New Bedford; WJW, Cleveland. No. 2; WEBR , Buffalo Courier-Express, No. 7; WTPS-(CP), New Orleans Times-Picayune . No. 7; Erie (Pa. ) Dispatch-Herald, owned by Edward Lamb, Toledo attorney-owner of WTOD, No. 12. Another sidelight on Boston situation: Yankee Network, holding CP for Channel 7, asked FCC for No. 13 instead, proposing transmitter at Sharon would serve Boston, Providence, Worcester, in each of which cities it has AMs. Yankee sets some record plant sights: 129 kw visual and 64.5 kw aural powers (highest yet), 770-ft antenna, $446,200 plant cost. GPiSSH LIGHT FOB TV MICROWAVES: Question whether TVers are going to be allowed to construct and operate their own intercity microwave relays (Vol. 3, No. 50) seems to be working out pretty much to TV's advantage. FCC-industry thinking is to permit non-common carrier hookups temporarily on TV pickup and STL frequencies (68757125 me, 12,700-13,200 me) — but with understanding local TV operators have first priority on such wavelengths if they're wanted for local pickups or STLs. You can expect, very soon, decision on 1000-13,000 me allocations (Vol. 3, No. 6, 46). Meanwhile, RCA this week applied for extension into Washington of Philco's New York-Philadelphia microwave relays, so that NBC network need not rely solely on coaxial (Vol. 3, No. 49). WPTZ tower at Wyndmoor, Pa., will be used to beam to Western Union's at Brandywine, Del. (25 mi.) to Elkne.ck, Md. (27 mi.), thence to Baltimore's WBAL-TV (38 mi.). Then signal will either be beamed to Washington's WNBW or that station might pick up and rebroadcast WBAL-TV signal direct. Same system would work northward. Experiments with direct pickups of one another's signals are already being conducted by Baltimore Sun's WMAR-TV and Washington Star's WMAL-TV. They say it looks like it will work well enough for regular exchanges. EXTENDED TV ALLOCATION DUE: New. TV channel allocation plan won't be ready until well into January, will be far more extensive than no w — but nobody is going to be worse hurt than proposed in original plan (Vol. 3, No. 33). In fact, the 3 cities due to lose channels (Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus) may very well hang on to what they now have (Vol. 3, No. 48). As things are now being worked out: (1) TV inevitably surrenders Channel No. 1 (44-50 me), as originally proposed so is left with 12 channels. (2) New allocation would encompass whole country, including the Territories, not just major markets; so that even communities below 10,000 population will get assignments where possible. (3) Canada wants a TV channel for each of its AM stations, which may mean that, just as Detroit lost Channel 9 to Windsor, Ont. (Vol. 3, No. 27), such other border cities as Buffalo, Seattle, Watertown, N. Y. , Burlington, Vt . , might be affected. As to who's going to get 44-50 me — FM or mobile services — FCC hasn't yet made up its mind, is still studying Maj . Armstrong's scathing rebuttal to Commission experts Norton and Allen. Hope seems to be additional frequencies may be made available in Government bands 162-174 me, thus permitting accommodation of both FM and mobile services — FM at least temporarily. FCC FUMBLES ON HEW YORK FM: FCC backtracked on its New York FM decision this week (Vol. 3, No. 48, 50), set it aside, ordered new oral argument Jan. 12. Situation now is in "anything can happen" stage, so shakeup of some grants isn't inconceivable. Superficially, Commission based action vacating decision on fact Denny and Webster voted without hearing oral argument. But actually, action not only constitutes admission of blunder and apparent conviction decision would never stand up in courts, but provides opportunity to detour several other rough spots pointed up by fighting-mad New York News in its petition for rehearing. These are: Denny's joining NBC before final voting; newspaper issue on which News was denied and which had never been brought up in hearing; Durr's consideration of American Jewish Congress