Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

IlighliKhling veek’s TV business news: Gimbels of Philadelphia sponsoring its noted “Uncle WIP” program on WIP simultaneously over WCAU-TV, Mon., V ed., 6-6:15 p.m., 13 weeks, jointly with Peirce-Phelps Inc. (Admiral radios); and J. L. Hudson Co. dept, store, Detroit, sponsoring 3 aftenioons of 1948 Olympic swimming competitions on WWJ-TV. WPTZ, Philadelphia, reports M. Buten & Sons, paint manufacturers, offering “Buten Weather Man,” weekend weather conditions in nearby resorts, Thurs., 7:45-7:50 p.m. And July 12 Beau Jack-Ike Williams lightweight championsihp will be sponsored by Ballantine on WFIL-TV and ABC hookup. Meredith Champlain Television Corp. is new name of TV applicant for Albany (formerly Meredith Publishing Co.) — Stephen Rintoul, president, whose 10 kw AM station WXKW is due to go on air there as ABC outlet in latter July; E. H. Meredith, treas., v.p. of Des Moines magazine publishing company. Rintoul’s Champlain Valley Bestg. Corp., WXKW licensee, acquires 20% of new TV company; Meredith interests acquire about 6% of WXWK, which Rintoul continues to control independently of TV project. Alore favorable radio earnings reports: Zenith for fiscal year ending April 30, 1948 did record peacetime volume of $79,406,133, up 38% from preceding year; profit for year was $3,484,514. Motorola’s sales volume first 6 months of current year ran $25,888,000, up 22%; net profits after all charges of $1,550,796 ($1.94 per share) compare wfith $1,379,774 ($1.72) for first half of 1947. “Demand for Philco television receivers is exceeding even our most optimistic forecasts,” reports Philco’s president William Balderston to company stockholders — and first quarter sales reflect it: $58,661,000 vs. $50,187,000 in same period last year, 17% gain attributed to “rapid growth” of TV and gain in refrigerators. Earnings after all charges, including $600,000 for inventory reserve, were $1,958,746 ($1.24 per share) vs. $1,609,754 ($1.10). Captioning 6-page pictorial article on TV “1948 is Television’s Big Boom Year,” July 20 Look Magazine falls for some common errors — tells readers that by end of year there will be “over 100 stations” (actually there w'ill be 45-50 at most) as against today’s 27 (actual figure is 30). By end of 2 years. Look says TV will have audience of 65 million, employ 100,000 persons; within 5 years it will be “one of 10 largest industries of the nation.” DuMont will issue 150,000 shares of 5% preferred stock at $20 which, with current profits, will be used for working capital, if stockholders approve at special meeting July 22. Presently authorized capital stock is 2,440,000 Class A common, of which 1,471,040 are outstanding, and 660,000 Class B, all issued and outstanding, par value of each 10 cents (currently quoted over-counter at around 14). TV makeup men are on hand for Democratic convention— NBC sending expert Dick Smith to do job on politicos; WFIL-TV bringing Max Factor’s Hal King from Hollywood to do same. NBC disclosed that at GOP convention it put makeup on Dewey, Taft, Stassen, Warren before they were interviewed. Sjlvania’s cathode ray expansion plans, also need for more facilities for flourishing receiver tube market, are disclosed in new financing announced this week: (1) bank loan for $14,000,000, (2) plan to sell 200,000 shares of common stock. Part I of NAB’s TV report, titled “The Decision,” is due out in early August. It’s designed to help prospective TV applicants make up minds. Other 2 parts, “Building” aitd “Operating,” will follow. Reports are currently fulltime job of Charles Batson, information chief. Signs of the times: Of 26 members making up NAB’s newly constituted board, 14 are from stations in for TV; Harry Bannister, WWJ-TV, Detroit (on the air) ; 4 CPholders T. A. M. Craven, Cowles-Minneapolis; Clair McCullough, W’GAL, Lancaster; H. W. Slavick, WMC, Memphis; Clyde W. Rembert, KRLD, Dallas. Also 9 applicants: G. Richard Shafto, Surety Broadcasting Co., Charlotte; Hugh B. Terry, KLZ, Denver; Harold Fellows, WEEI, Boston; Henry P. Johnson, WSGN, Birmingham; Howard Lane, WJJD, Chicago; Paul W’. Morency, WTIC, Hartford; Campbell Arnoux, WTAR, Norfolk; Charles C. Caley, WMBD, Peoria; Michael R. Hanna, WHCU, Ithaca, N. Y. Board meets July 22-23 in Washington. Chicago’s WGNB will duplicate its AM affiliate WGN all the way beginning Aug. 25 — quite a blow to proponents of non-duplication, since WGNB and director Marion Claire have been kingpins of independent programming and FM in general. Move is reported as part of Chicago Tribune’s current economy drive. FMA’s Bill Bailey says there’s absolutely nothing to rumors that Miss Claire will now drop her FMA positions (board member, chairman of Region 3, chairman of convention committee). FMA cut loose this week, said it would no longer merely pi'omote FM but would also advise members on “general problems incident to FM operation.” NAB’s Judge Miller said official NAB reaction would have to come from board, but he doubted there would be any; meanw’hile, he said, NAB would continue to assist its members with FM problems. FMA at same time broadened membership appeal by inviting dealers to join. For your convenience in keeping your FM allocation plan (Supp.' No. 52) up to date, we’ve consolidated all changes reported since its issuance last year in Supp. 52-A, herewith. We’ll continue to report subsequent changes in our pink FM Addenda (55 series). You know radio is deep into movies, nearing the hyperbolic jargon of Hollywood, when one NBC affiliate greets NBC-TV’s “kinescope recording” coverage of GOP convention as “The miracle of all ages”! It’s part of buildup NBC is giving its off-tube syndicate service, indicating keen rivalry in this field with DuMont’s “tele-transcriptions” (Vol. 4, No. 22). Next: someone is coming along with TV’s “super-colossal epic of the epochs.” Best bibliography of literature of TV yet done by anybody is 35-page Television Bibliography published by NBC General Library, listing technical and non-technical books, brochures, reprints up to March, 1948; current TV magazine, newsletters, etc. (20) ; magazines partly TV (28) Gallup Poll discloses only 4% of voting public happened to see any part of GOP convention on TV — far out of proportion to intense interest it evoked (Vol. 4, No. 26), certainly emphasing again enormity of potential receiver market. Paramount and Dem.ocratic convention TV pool finally came to agreement: Paramount can show Democratic convention in its New York theater next week, will pay pool rumored $3,000-$5,000 for rights. Worth consulting: Sponsor Magazine’s new feature, starting July, logging “TV Available Live Package Programs,” also its new list of 114 advertising agencies now having TV departments. Recommended for TV servicemen: Philco’s series of instructional pamphlets titled Television Trouble Shooting; also its 140-page The Servichig of Television Receivers, available from Philco Service Division, Philadelphia, $2.25. RCA says its kinescope production will almost double when 40,000 sq. ft. of additional space is made available in Lancaster tube plant addition now under construction.