Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

FAST VAHISHilJG TV CHAJIKELS-2V: Last time we analyzed TV channel availabilities in top 50 markets of U.S. (Vol. 4, No. 18), we reported only 11 ungranted or unasked for. Today, still using old allocation table (TV Directory No. 3, p. 16), there are exactly two — one each in Columbus, 0. and San Antonio, Tex. And if you turn an analytical eye on proposed new revised allocations (Supp. 58), availabilities in same top markets would appear to be: Columbus, 0., none; Louisville and Birmingham, 1 each; San Antonio and Norf olk-Portsmouth-Nev;port News, 2 each. It must be remembered, though, that the revised allocations are subject to June 29 hearing, object of many objections, so can’t be accepted yet for purposes of this kind of analysis. Total channel assignments to top 50 areas under old allocation is 182 (including now-withdrawn Channel No. 1), whereas it's 184 under new allocations. Point is that channels are going fast, soon will all be assigned; indeed, in many cities there are far more askers than channels, necessitating many local hearings as soon as June 29 issues are resolved. Even in many of the second 50 markets , under old allocations, supply is rapidly diminishing — in fact, demand equals or succeeds supply (as of today) in such set-for-hearing cities as Sacramento, 5 for 3; Fall River-New Bedford, 3 for 1; Des Moines, 5 for 3; Tampa-St. Petersburg, 4 for 3; Flint, 2 for 1; Harrisburg, 2 for 1; Reading, 2 for 1; San Jose, 3 for 1; Fresno, 5 for 4; Atlantic City, 5 for 1; Waterbury, 2 for 1; Charlotte, 3 for 2; Portland, Me., 3 for 2. In second 50 cities, these have this many channels as yet unassigned or unasked for — but applications from many may be expected soon: Spokane, 5; DuluthSuperior, Chattanooga, Witchita, Knoxville, Beaumont-Port Arthur, 4 each; Little Rock, 3; Saginaw-Bay City, Phoenix, Evansville, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Fort Wayne, Charleston, W. Va., 2 each; Fort Worth, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Racine-Xenosha, Peoria, 1 each. Under proposed revision, these changes would be effected: Knoxville 5; Phoenix, Nashville, Charleston, 3 each; Binghamton, South Bend, Huntington-Ashland, Shreveport, 1 each. DEWEY'S SHOW WAS TV's, TOO: Next to the nominations, big story of the GOP convention was TV — whether you were actually there or in your home watching. Telecast operations at the convention itself, plus the vast number of receivers placed at vantage points throughout Philadelphia, so intrigued delegates and politicos that they will return to their homes proclaiming the virtues of TV. Indeed, milling around convention hall, candidate headquarters, hotel reception rooms, etc., we frequently heard wearers of the badges say: "Guess I'll have to get me a television set." For the TV industry as a whole, the big Republican show, the Louis-Walcott fight, the Democratic convention starting July 12, all add up to promotion well worth the half million dollars or so the broadcasters spent (including cancelled commercials) — really a windfall for the set makers and sellers. That they will create new demands for local TV service, stimulate TV trade where service already exists, goes without saying. By next quadrennial convention time we'll look on TV's coverage of 1948 as horse-and-buggy stuff — as indeed it was, in some aspects. On the whole, though, the telecasters did a remarkable job. Chief shortcomings were self-consciousness of reporters and principals, occasional transmitter and line failures — attributable to inexperience, sure to be improved. Four years hence, too, instead of this week's mere 30 TV stations (18 on the various eastern seaboard hookups, remainder via films), hundreds of stations will be telecasting, networks will be integrated, techniques will be licked. And instead of today's 450,000 or so receivers, there will be millions. No need here to describe convention TV setups or report the rival "scoops" and many "firsts" — all subject of plenty of trade paper and newspaper reports. Noteworthy, though, were the observations of some of the columnists: Fred Othman's concern over TV "turning beautiful Republican ladies into witches" (he must have looked at some pretty poor receivers). AP's notation that TV's "merciless lights" distort features (actually, the hot lights were for newsreels, not TV). Robert