Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

IT'S WAYNE COY 8c GEO. STERLING: It's evident the White House means well by FCC, doesn't intend making it political pawn, judging from splendid appointments Friday: Wayne Coy as chairman (vice Denny), George E. Sterling as commissioner (vice Jett). Though Coy will be assailed as New Dealer, having once been an administrative assistant to President Roosevelt, he's really a practical industry man, will quit Washington Post radio directorship (WINX and WINX-FM) for new job, has been active last 3 years in NAB and particularly in FM work. Sterling's surprise elevation from FCC chief engineer maintains what many hope will be a tradition whereby rankers can aspire to top jobs; at 53, he's one of radio's old timers, started as a "ham," has been a career man since 1923, is author of 'Radio Manual," standard textbook. Capable, popular "Jack" Jett, also a career man since 1929, also ex-chief engineer, goes to Baltimore Sun as v.p. in charge of radio, relieving Editor Neil Swanson of radio duties connected with its WMAR-TV, WMAR-FM, WMAR-CP. Baltimore is his home town and, aside from better-than-doubling his salary, he's intrigued by Sun's extensive radio plans, including new building (it has TV station operating, but no studios yet). FCC chief engineer post presumably will go to one of asst, chiefs (John Willoughby, broadcasting; Marion H. Woodward, common carrier; William Krebs, safety; George S. Turner, field), though on basis of sheer ability TV chief Curtis Plummer and AM chief James Barr can't be overlooked. For the political record, Coy is named as an Indiana Democrat for term expiring in 1951; Sterling as a Maine Republican for term expiring in 1950. Next in turn for retirement or resignation is Clifford Durr, Alabama Democrat, term expiring next June. WHAT 1948 MAY BEING FM 8 : TV: Hopes, expectations and forecasts for FM and TV in 1948, as adduced by the reportorial staff of TELEVISION DIGEST & FM REPORTS: That James Caesar Petrillo will get his comeuppance — from Congress, the courts, the public; if he dares pull plug on networks Jan. 31, as he has on recordings, then every listener in the land will feel impact of his heavy hand. That the one biggest obstacle to FM's progress, Petrillo 's ban on AM duplication, will somehow be removed. Also: that FM will become standard in practically all consoles, in more and more, cheaper and cheaper table models; that number of FM stations on air will at least double, swelling total to more than 700; that power increases will improve FM receptivity to its full-range, staticless potential; that FM networking (also TV) will be accelerated by wire lines, microwaves, rebroadcasts. As for TV: That 40 to 50 more stations will go on air in a score or more new cities (see CP list in TV Directory No. 1), thus widening audience, heightening interest, increasing markets — let alone stimulating competitive manufacturing and selling, possibly lower prices, larger screens. That TV will indeed market 600,000 to 800,000 sets, as forecast by RCA's David Sarnoff (Philco's John Ballantyne's year-end forecast was 500,000) and will indeed "approach status of a $500,000,000a-year industry [that] will grow in size with the years." That TV programs will improve apace (there's lots of room), with an assist from the lifting of Petrillo 's ban on live music. That more sponsors, better operating methods, etc. will enable more TV stations to operate "in the black" during Copyright 1947 by Radio News Bureau ./'V