Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

'ihdlo Section of TEIEVISIOI! DIGEST and FM REPORTS July 17, 1948 NEW DESIDERATA i'l STATiOIJ DEALS: Commonplace questions in conversations and nego tiations looking toward sales and purchases of broadcasting stations; "I'd like to buy that [AiM] station, but what are the TV possibilities?" "The market's good, the price seems right, but can it support TV too?" "What's the TV allocation there?" These random but typical quotes tell their own story — a story of AM broadcasters pulling out because they don't think they can stand the costly TV gaff; of new enterprisers buying into A.M but with thought of getting TV, too. Examples of latter; Warner Brothers-Thackrey deal (Vol. 4, No. 26) ; Washington Post-WTOP (Vol. 4, No. 21); Meredith-WXKW, Albany (Vol. 4, No. 28); Stern-WDSU, New Orleans (Vol. 4, No. 24). FCG records show 56 AM stations changed hands last year; they're still being bought and sold but at slower pace now. This new TV factor entering into AM evaluations tends generally to depress prices — plus the diminishing prospects of getting TV permits, the prospective high cost of adding TV, the need of AM supporting TV in inceptive stages out of profits that might otherwise go for taxes. All in all, this business of exporting TV too is quite a headache for radio's busy-bee (and j quite prosperous) station brokers. And they've had little or no opportunity of mak ij ing deals for sale of existing TV stations; too few of them yet. j WILL HISTORY REPEAT IN TV-FM? When Zenith's veteran sales chief H. C. Bonfig told ( National Electrical Retailers Assn. Tuesday that huge capital investment and tech f nical know-how needed for TV and FM set production will drive "fringe" manufacturers ^ out, he ought to know what he's talking about. During his 25 years in radio, he said, he saw exactly 788 radio names vanish, big and little (remember Atwater Kent, Kolster, Kodel, etc?). He counted 50 in last 2 years alone. He dubbed as mere "handlers of merchandise" the lads merely skilled with "soldering iron and pliers" • who set selves up as manufacturers, said TV-FM require even higher degree of skill | than radio, with dealers backing up sales with installation and servicing. 1 Bonfig 's own company, though a radio pioneer and leader in FM, is one of few | big-names not yet in TV — won't be until fall. But it's a fact new names and new f products are cropping out almost daily in TV receiver field (not so many in FM) , i some sparked by young enterprisers who got electronics training in last war. We've J noticed this especially in preparing revision of our Directory of Television Manu j facturers & Receiving Sets (Supp. No. 57) published last January. To the 31 setmakers, 5 kit-makers, 11 prospective set-makers then listed, we already find we'll have to add at least 25 more companies, let alone dozens of nev; models. Besides, we're querying scores of others reported from various sources as producing or plan ^ ning to produce TVs — though heaven only knows where they can get cathode ray tubes! New revised directory will be ready for you in month or so; meanwhile, we'll be glad to send any subscriber a typewritten list of the aforementioned 25. TRANSIT FM TESTS IN ST. LOUIS: Budding transit radio idea (Vol. 4, No. 5, 22) is really catching on — latest city to get hot on FM's potentially rich revenue source v being St. Louis. There, local Public Service Co. (1,000 vehicles) and St. Louis ~ Star-Times' KXOK-FM start tests next month on 20 trolleys and buses, equipment to come from Hulbert Taft's Transit Radio Inc., Union Trust Bldg., Cincinnati. Station { ’* will program from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Public Service Co. of St. Louis is : subsidiary of National City Lines, holding franchises in more than 40 cities (in I eluding Los Angeles, Oakland, Spokane) — hence special significance of these tests. f In Cincinnati area, Taft has already equipped 100 vehicles of Northern Kentucky I Green Lines, will have 400 buses and trolleys of Cincinnati system equipped by raidAugust. His WCTS(FM) started regular programs last Saturday, has more than 25 accounts already signed - Including 4 dept, stores, grocery chain, hotel, etc.