Television digest and FM reports (Feb-Dec 1947)

sion Dept, voider young Roger Carlin is now regarded one of company's major assets. And William Morris Jr. , head of the old-line William Morris Agency, seized occasion of recent TBA "TV Clinic" in New York to deliver himself of some pointed warnings to his show-world colleagues. He urged them not to "miss the boat", as legitimate theater folk did in phonograph and movie fields. With some noteworthy exceptions (the Theater Guild, for one), he said showmen aren't very alert to TV — but actors are. Quoth he: "Where it takes 3 pictures .... at least a year and a half to establish a star in motion pictures, television can make a star in one single performance. . . . [ it ] has the same dynamic qualities of vaudeville and added aesthetic feature of the closeup." Note : Though TV is a young, not-yet-self-supporting art, it's already paying through the figurative nose for live artist bookings, will be paying lots more as and when (some agents think soon) big-name bands are freed by Petrillo for TV performances. m WAISTS ADULT PREROGATIVES: FCC has been handling FM with the indecision of a teen-ager's doting parent: "Son, it's about time you did some work around the place" (start construction, get on the air) but "you better be in bed by midnight" (oneyear licenses) . At least, that's the way FMA feels, judging from its letter to FCC this wee k requesting oral argument on proposed staggering of licenses (Vol. 3, No. 51). FMA points to insecurity, expense and just plain nuisance inherent in oneyear licenses. FMA's position was firmly seconded by NAB with these strong words: "Since FM is now established on a full-fledged commercial basis, there is no reason to continue to differentiate in the treatment accorded these two methods of aural broadcasting [AM and FM] . " Notable, too, was pat on the back from RCA's David Sarnoff in year-end statement: "FM continues to demonstrate its value to the public and to the radio industry." SiSHT AMD SOUND Our 1948 AM Directory, revised listing of all 1,966 stations and applicants by States, by Frequencies and by Call Letters, will be in mails to subscribers by next week-end. It’s on more than 200 loose-leaf pages, with opposite pages blank for additions, corrections and changes as reported in new weekly Addenda series starting next week. You’re entitled to one copy; extra copies are $10, binders $2.10. Industry forces are pretty well resigned to inevitability of White Bill (S. 1333) in next Senate session. Group went into huddle with Maine Senator this week (Denny and Russell for NBC, Ream and Gammons for CBS, McDonald for ABC, Petty for NAB, Caldwell for FCC Bar), got it somewhat toned down — though unwelcome program provision stays in. Among major provisions: FCC reorganized into broadcast and common carrier-special services panels; commissionei-s’ salaries upped to $12,500; chairman elected by Commission for 1-year term; commissioners who resign forbidden to practice before FCC until appointment term up, staffers not until year after they leave. Rep. Wolverton’s companion bill in House (H.R. 3595) has no hearings planned yet, but Lemke resolution (II. R. 78) directing FCC to give 50 me back to FM is definitely promised hearing. MBS President Edgar Kobak reports that network’s gross billings at approximately $22,000,000 in 1947, down from record $26,000,000 in 1946. ABC last week reported 1947 gross of $43,548,057, up 7.2 % over 1946’s $40,617,130. Ex-FCC Comr. Kay C. Wakefield has been named chairman of U. S. delegation to International Telecommunications Conference opening in Geneva Jan. 15, sails Dec. 30. GE’s A. A. Brandt, general sales manager, says he expects 1948 billings of TV receivers alone will exceed GE’s total x'adio receiver sales in 1941. Raytheon’s reepaest for third extension of CP it has held since May, 1946 for TV in Waltham (Boston) this time goes to full FCC for scrutiny, as will others suspected of lack of diligence in pursuing plans to construct — among them WJAR, Providence; KRLD, Dallas; KGDM, Stockton, Cal., latter 2 claiming CAA troubles. And ABC told FCC this week, in asking for extension of Detroit CP, that it will build New York outlet first, won’t put others on air until that one’s ready. From Chicago, Leslie Atlass advised FCC he will either sever his relations with CBS (he’s v.p.) or with WIND (he owns 19%) when one or other commences TV operations, provided both are granted. Empire Coil Co., applicant for TV in Waterbury-Hartford area, this week amended to ask for Waterbury only; now all 3 Waterbury applicants are asking to be severed from Hartford hearing and heard alone. Hartford hearing postponed from Jan. 19 to Feb. 16. FM and TV courses, designed to prepare technicians, are included in curriculum of new Radio-Electronics School of New York, 52 Broadway, backed by radio executives and already enjoying 800 enrollment. Neat engineering by Zenith has resulted in new $79.95 FM-AM table model with 8 in. speaker in set only 8%xl5x7%. Compression is achieved by combining speaker and dial in same space. Double-page TV spread in Dec. 27 Christian Science Monitor features coming debut (about March 1) of Westinghouse’s WBZ-TV, Boston, and AT&T’s New York-Boston microwave relay system. Paramount-DuMont TV interlocking ownership issue (Vol. 3, No. 48) will be heard by FCC March 1 instead of Jan. 5, as first scheduled. IvSFO, San Francisco, dropped CP for FM this week, giving as reason desire to concentrate on TV for which it holds Cl’.