Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

of Sept. 1 really should be 50,000 now. Other multi-station cities uniformly report continuing good sales. Other news notes about TV trade; Bendix plans to double its present 100per-day TV output; has begun shipping to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, after concentrating first on home Baltimore and contiguous area. Claims some 25% of its Baltimore installations, most within 12 mi. of transmitters, have no outdoor aerials . . .Westin^house is beginning to move faster into TV, plans 1949 production of at least 100,000 from Sunbury plant ... Tele-Coin Corp.'s new Tele-Video Corp., Upper Darby, Pa. (Vol. 4:42) has acquired Electronic Controls Inc., E. Orange, N.J., and Airdesign Inc., Upper Darby, announces these will supply others as well as parent set maker with TV parts and subassemblies. Tele-Video's executive v.p. is Fred P. Robin, ex-Lynn Television Co. ..New U.S. Television models are 12-in. home consolette with FM, 20 tubes plus 2 rectifiers, for |524.95; 19x25-in. projection console with FM, 35 tubes plus 6 rectifiers, $1,595 ; 22’/2x30-in. projection console with FM, 35 tubes plus 6 rectifiers, $1,795 — latter two commercial models ... Financial writer Robert H. McFetridge, in New York Times article Oct. 24 on how Allen B. DuMont built up present flourishing business out of his tube-making know-how and a $1,000 investment, calls him "the Henry Ford of television." "SiGHT AND New concept of what constitutes networks and network affiliations is growing out of TV and FM, ABC this week announced signing Atlanta’s WSB-TV, also NBC, although coaxial-microwave are still far away, and “feeds” must come via kinescope recordings. CBS headlines TV “network sponsorship” (by Gillette) of Rose Bowl game Jan. 1 over KTTV, Los Angeles, but press release explains film will be rushed to its other affiliates. Continental FM network, linking Eastern stations via offthe-air pickups, announces “first West Coast affiliate,” which will be San Bruno’s KSBR — getting programs via tape recordings. Not so long ago the “live networks” bridled whenever transcription companies referred to their outlets as “networks.” Survey of 1,000 Cleveland set owners, by Ohio Advertising Agency, shows 73% doing less radio listening since TV. Performance of sets satisfied 98%. Screen size satisfied 85%. Addition of magnifier satisfied 10% more. Price ranges: 26% owned $4-500 sets; 19%, $3-400; 19%, $5-600; 11%, $2-300; 8%, $6-700; 6%, under $200; 5%, $7-800; 7%, over $800. No servicing was needed by 47%; 44% needed one checkup; 5% had two; 4% had more. Phone survey during second week of afternoon programming by Baltimore’s WBAL-TV disclosed 52.4% of taverns, 15.4% of TV homes had their sets tuned in 12 noon-5 p.m. Owners not tuned in gave as reasons: too busy with chores, didn’t know programs on, want more children’s shows, more films, more domestic science. Station is backing up new afternoon schedules (Vol. 4:42) with radio, newspaper, direct mail advertising. “You and Television” titles Lyman Bryson intervfew with CBS’s president Frank Stanton Nov. 8, 6:15 p.m. As it did with recent “You and Radio” series, CBS again takes lead in utilizing medium of radio itself to explain to laymen what TV’s all about. Big-screen showing of telecast reports election night is plan of New York’s Paramount Theatre. WPIX coverage will be received from station via coaxial and phone lines, recorded on film, edited, projected at opportune times. Chicago’s WNBQ (NBC) begins its first live programming with election reports Nov. 2; it can receive but can’t yet feed NBC’s Midwest Network. Seems to be season of novel TV angles: Newark furniture store throws 7-in. set in with 3-room suites at $595. Detroit builder tosses one in with each new house. SOUND rv^r- Researcher’s role in TV’ was very ably described by CBS research director Oscar Katz at Pulse Inc. luncheon Thursday. Pointing out how' researchers should be leary of predictions, he told of 1928 survey showing afternoon broadcasting unproductive, but an evening sets-in-use figure of 95%. Organ recitals were most popular program going; comedy shows weren’t even listed in top 10 types. He made good point of fact that TV is first medium to arrive wdth full-blown research facilities waiting for it. And he put his finger on the impact of TV advertising: “If we use print when we can present the real event or activity or article, we are introducing unnecessary brain work for the viewer. He has to convert the printed symbols into word symbols, and then convert the word symbols into his conception of the real thing . , . We can achieve [in TV] a degree of independence from symbols never before approached in a mass advertising medium.” Unlike radio, which kept election returns unsponsored until this year, TV is starting off with sponsorships, these being network sponsors for Nov. 2: Kaiser-Frazer, ABC East and Midwest; Nash Motors, CBS East; NBC, TimeLife East, RCA V^ictor Midwest. DuMont has tied up with Newsweek. Other TV network sponsorship news: Procter & Gamble (Ivory Soap, Duz, Crisco) Nov. 5 starts first TV’ on NBC East; show^ titled I’d Like to See, featuring movies of memorable events of past, Fri., 9-9:30 p.m. Elgin-American has bought 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Night, Nov. 25, on ABC East, with repeat via films on Midwest Nov. 29; variety show’ titled Holiday Star Revue. Arrow Shirts starts Phil Silvers variety revue on NBC Nov. 24, W’ed., 8:30-9 p.m. New station sponsorships: WABD. New York: E. L. Cournand Co. (Walco Tele-Vue Lens), ■'Greatest Fights of the Century.” Sun.. 8-8:05 p.m.. repeats via Teletranscriptions on other stations; Pioneer Scientific Filters (Polaroid filters), half hour of Thu. wrestling matches from Park Arena; Colonial Airlines, partic. in "Swing Into Sports.” Mon.. 8 :30-9 p.m.! starting Nov. 29; Andrea Radio Corp., "Camera Headlines,” starting Nov. 1. Mon. thru Fri.. 1:30-1:40 p.m. WAAM, Baltimore: Johnson Brothers (TV dealers), all spots and local election returns Nov. 2; plus ABC-TV reports sponsored by KaiserFrazer. WTTG, Washington : National Brewing Co., 29 home games of Washington Capitols pro basketball team; Gates Contracting Co., spots following all Capitols’ games; Ross Jewelry Co., wrestling matches. KFI-TV, Los Angeles: Hoffman Radio Corp., Tom Harmon in "Hoffman Huddle” W’ed., 13 weeks. WM.\R-TV, Baltimore: National Brewing Co., polo and wrestling, in addition to Baltimore Colts pro grid games. WCBS-TV. New York: General Electric Lamp Dept., “Dennis James Carnival,” midway background, starting Oct. 31. Sun., 8:30-9 p.m. WPIX, New York: Ehlers Coffee, Nov. 2 election returns.