Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

TV SYNCHRO IDEA EXCITES FCC-JTAC: FCC and JTAC engineers journeyed to Princeton this week, left there tremendously impressed with RCA*s palliative for tropospheric interference to TV — synchronisation. System, you'll remember (Vol. 4:46), reduces effects of co-channel interference by locking interfering stations' carrier frequencies in step, eliminating horisontal black bars ("Venetian blind") from received picture. For demonstrations. New York's WNBT and Washington's WNBW were synchronized from Princeton on channel No. 4, using ordinary Class C phone lines, rather than microwave as before. What's more, RCA says there's nothing difficult about hooking up any number of stations, coast-to-coast if necessary. All you need is a station, probably unattended, somewhere between synchronized TV stations, equipped with electronic gear costing possibly no more than $1,000, plus phone lines to one station. For the technically minded, operation is explained as follows: "Signals from New York and Washington are compared in the phase discriminator at the output of the two receivers located in Princeton. The information regarding relationship of the two carriers is carried as frequency modulation of the 1,000 cycle tone by telephone line to New York. The frequency shift of this tone is utilised to shift the phase of the New York carrier to maintain a fixed phase relationship between New York and Washington carriers as observed at Princeton." We're told the system, though not complex, is extremely ingenious. Just how much interference can be cleared up by synchronisation hasn't yet been finally determined, but RCA says: "...improvement corresponding to a reduction in interfering signal by a factor of about 10 times in voltage may be reasonably expected." In any event, system holds excellent promise of at least salvaging 150mile co-channel separation. Samples of questions yet to be answered: (1) Will it work as well on all TV channels as it does on No. 4? (2) How about stations located at corners of a triangle? System will be presented at FCC's tropospheric conference next week (Nov. 30-Dec. 1-2), as will such plans and devices, of course, as directional transmitting and receiving antennas. For example, we've heard of one rather simple receiving antenna with a front-to-back ratio of 20-to-l ; that can cut out a lot of interference. Engineering conferences, in Dept, of Commerce Auditorium, should really be informal, as intended, what with Technical Information Div. chief Ed Allen, rather than a commissioner, presiding. So far, 43 appearances have been filed by attorneys and engineers representing various groups of clients. But a great many more will be on hand, each with the right to throw in information or ideas. SIGHT AND SOUND More straws in the wind (Vol. 4:47): Sterling Drugs Inc. (Bayer Aspirin, Castoria, Dr. Lyons, etc.), reports iV. Y. Herald Tribune business columnist Harvey E. Runner Nov. 23, will soon lop off $1,000,000 of its $6,000,000 radio advertising budget, put it in newspapers and magazines pending growth of TV. Meanwhile, it has bought WABD's half-hour daytime Dennis James show 5 days weekly. Spot radio is also to be added. Writes Runner: “Mr. Hill [president James Hill, Jr.,] declared that in New York City TV had made so much progress that people with such sets were no longer listening to their radios . . . [this is] the primary reason which prompted the company to act now to reduce its radio advertising and to step up its plans for TV.” Expansion note: Philco announced this week it is acquiring Elcctromaster Inc., Mt. Clemens, Mich (electric ranges, heaters, etc.), will pay for it with 68,212% shares of its authorized but unissued stock (around 40). At same time, besides declaring quarterly common stock dividend of 50c, Philco declared year-end dividend of 7 shares of common for each 100 now outstanding. Decision to pay in stock instead of cash, said president Wm. Balderston, was prompted by need to conserve cash for TV-refrigerator expansion, particularly more TV plant facilities. Pertinent question arising out of long-term, lump-sum, capital gains contracts currently being dished out to top radio stars (Jack Benny signed to go over to CBS Jan. 2 after 17 years on NBC); Will these stars pay out on radio only, if TV really takes command of home entertainment, as predicted, and if they don’t happen to have telegenic “it”? Having lost Amos ’n’ Andy and Jack Benny already, standing to lose some others, NBC is protesting legality of deals whereby artists contract with own producing corporations, then sell corporations, pay only 25% capital gains tax rather than regular income ta.x. Treasury is being asked to rule, some Congressmen expressing concern. Brisk activity in ABC shares on New York Stock Exchange this week was attributed directly to news of proposed purchase by 20th Century-Fox (see story, p. 2). ABC marketed 500,000 shares last summer and also borrowed $5,000,000 on 4% notes due May 1, 1960, its only long-term debt, in order to finance TV expansion (Vol. 4:8,19). If your binders are getting jam-packed, we can furnish you more (at cost price, $2.50). In fact, we suggest you keep separate files of Newsletters and Supplements rather than cram all into one binder.