Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

hew tv station schedule, 1948: Of the 56 CP holders for TV (TV Directory No. 1), all but 10 have replied to our inquiry as to when they intend going on the air — gnd most say sometime in 1948. Thus, assuming deliveries of equipment to all who really want to get going this year, it's indicated there should be about twoscore more TV stations in operation within next 12 months. They say so, not we; actually, ye'll settle for about 50, transmitter prospects being what they are. Here's the schedule of new TV station openings (start of test patterns) as reported to us; Within next 50-60 days ; WGNA, Chicago; WATV, Newark; WCAU-TV, Philadelphia; WBAL-TV, Baltimore; WTVR, Richmond (latter ready to go except for missing STL). During Feb, or March; WBZ-TV, Boston; WNHC-TV, New Haven; WBEN-TV, Buffalo; KFI-TV, Los Angeles ; WLWT, Cincinnati (latter already operating experimentally but planning commercial debut in February). "Early or late spring" ; WPIX, New York (changed from WLTV) ; WOR-TV, New York; WOIC, Washington; WTVT, Toledo; WTTV, Bloomington, Ind. ; KSTP-TV, St. Paul. "Late spring or early summer" ; WNAC-TV, Boston; KNBH, Los Angeles; WWHB, Indianapolis; WAAM, Baltimore; WBAP-TV, Forth Worth. Summer: WJZ-TV, New York; WNBY, Chicago; WENR-TV, Chicago; KSFO-TV, San Francisco; WTCN-TV, Minneapolis; KARO-TV, Riverside, Cal. Next fall or winter; WHAS-TV, Louisville; KECA-TV, Los Angeles; WDLT, Detroit; WTVJ, Miami; KCPR, San Francisco; WJAC-TV, Johnstown, Pa. "Indefinite" ; KTTV,, Los Angeles ; KLAC-TV, Los Angeles ; KGO-TV, San Francisco ; WXEL, Cleveland; WNBK, Cleveland; WTVO, Detroit; WDTV, Pittsburgh; WMC-TV, Memphis; KGWG, Portland, Ore. ; WRTV, New Orleans; WLWD, Dayton; WLWC, Columbus; WRTB, Waltham, Mass. No reply; KGDM, Stockton, Cal. ; WDEL-TV, Wilmington, Del. ; WOI-TV, Ames, Iowa; KOB-TV, Albuquerque, N. M. ; WJAR-TV, Providence; KRLD-TV, Dallas; KBTV, Dallas; KDYL-TV, Salt Lake City; KRSC-TV, Seattle; Liberty Bcstg. Co. (WAGA) , Atlanta (granted CP this week). Except for KOB-TV, which has RCA equipment delivered, and KDYL, which has an experimental setup, we have no record of any of these having placed even tentative orders for equipment. WHAT THE TV SET BUYER WANTS; Everybody's surveying TV these days, one aspect or another. Latest reported is DuMont's, conducted by Market Research Service among 1,200 "typical" interviewees in New York metropolitan area — 50% men, 50% women; 25% in 20-29 year age group; 35%, 30-44; 40%, 45 or over; 15% in upper income bracket, 30% high-middle, 55% lower-middle; 7% owning TV sets, 45% saying they planned to buy, 49% not planning to buy, 6% undecided. Here's gist of findings, including multiple responses; Asked what 2 type programs they preferred, 69% said sporting events, 43% drama, 40% movies, with special events and news trailing. Noteworthy was fact 57% of women preferred sports. Asked what they regarded most important thing to look for in TV set. 73% said size of picture, 48% said durability of set, 39% said ease on eyes, 35% said reputation of manufacturer, 30% said appearance as furniture. Only 33% of men, 8% of women could describe difference between projection and direct-view receivers. Asked whether they preferred TV in combination with radio, phono or both. 54% said they did, 27% said TV alone would suffice, 19% don't know. (Ask DviMont Television, 515 Madison Ave., New York, to send you fuller summary.) FM SPROUTS IN WELL GRAZED MARKET: Looks like 1947 may go down as year set makers shot their biggest AM wad, then turned to new gimmicks to sell sets, mainly TV and Fact is no one expects 1948 unit production to be as great as 1947 's nearly 18,000,000 (RMA President Max Balcom predicts only about 15,000,000). Yet dollar volume is seen higher, thanks to TV and FM (despite small-AM-set-specialist Emerson's dubious attitude toward TV). And 1948 may well see cheaper FMs get hoped-for production spur (only 1,000,000 FMs in 1947, about three-fourths in consoles). Many a small producer Is already giving cheaper FM a try (Vol. 3, No. 45 et seq). Even some of bigger boys are beginning to talk about more than token pro