Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

“Experimental" telecast of Metropolitan Opera — uchnically experimental in that it has never been done be[*re and requires special setup, commercially in that Metjpolitan is permitting AM sponsor Texaco to sponsor also [0 ABC-TV — will mark another TV milestone Monday cght, Nov. 29. Opera is Verdi’s “Otello.” Seven cameras Iiill be used, commentator will be Milton Cross, show will i»n from 7:45 pre-opening until around 11 o’clock closing. ABC hookup will comprise WJZ-TV, WNAC-TV, WFILIV’, WAAM-TV, WMAI^TV. i WPIX is definitely not for sale, hasn’t been offered [ (or sale, nor have any offers been made — so says New York ^cws president F. M. Flynn in Nov, 24 statement replying D Variety report. WPIX losses were heavier than antici;ated, he admitted, but operational losses (with more than (0 sponsors now) are being cut. “We are determined,” he .cated, “to build a strong, local independent station,” This txeek, 3 WPIX directors (Mr, Flynn, editor Richard Clarke, nanager Robert Coe) were named to Chicago Tribune's VGN board, 2 WGN officers (v.p. Chesser Campbell, manjger Frank Schreiber) to WPIX board, FMA moves Dec. 1 to 526 Dupont Circle Bldg., Washiagton. Association has called board meeting for Dec. 10-11 is Chicago’s Hotel Sheraton, inviting Inland Daily Press Assn, to hear discussion of transit FM, storecasting, FX. Eeport that “NAB plans to absorb FMA,” headlined in Nov. 26 Radio Daily, is based on “malicious rumor,” “out cf whole cloth,” say officials of both groups. FCC probably won’t meet next week because members rill sit en banc on hearing over dispute between national spot sales reps and networks, starting Monday, due to run most of week. Troposphere conference Tuesday-Thursday, resumed TV “line” rate hearing, AM and common carrier eases, augur busy calendar after dull Thanksgiving week. Washington political pundit Marquis Childs, in his \’ov. 27 syndicate dispatch, contemplates TV — and, though seeing it merely in its “swaddling clothes,” finds it good, iocuments its “revolution already in progress” with what ke sees it doing to family habits, talks of its “promises to vork undreamed-of changes in our way of life.” Seven columns of TV’ receiving set news in current Vcu’ Yorker is gauge of video’s Xmas potential, if nothing dse. Piece culls data on direct view and projection models, nostly lists top bracket makes (RCA, DuMont, Magnavox, Brunswick, Capehart, Scott, Fisher). Gillette sponsors Array-Navy game, telecast Saturday ;(Nov. 27) on NBC-East for fourth year. CBS-TV^ reports Jallantine Ale will sponsor Ray Robinson-Steve Belloise Tournament of Champions bout from Jersey City, Thu., i3ec. 9, 9:45 p.m. Among noteworthy new TV station ponsorships reported: VCAU-TV. Philadelphia: American Stores, "Modem Living — American I’lan." Tue. & Thn.. 8-8:30 p.m.; Stanlcy-Wamer. 4 two-min. trailers f film "An Innoient Affair”: film ann. by Barr’s Jewelers Inc. (ihain), Irlanger Beer, Royal Typewriters, Swank Jewelry, Ladies Home Dumal. ;VMAR-TV, Baltimore: Hecht Bros. dept, store with Bendbc Radio, o-sponsoring "Sunpapers Television News,” 10-min. local newsreel, wice nightly. Sun. thru Fri.; Sun Oil Co., "Curious Camera,” mann-strect show, Mon., 8:15-8:30 p.m. jlDYL-TV, Salt Lake City: Programs for Wolfe's Sportsman’s Store, l.rthur Murray School of Dance, B. F. Goodrich Co.; spots for RCA, .dmiral, Hoffman radio dealers, local Sears Rocbucle. U'NBW, Washington: GE Supply Co., "Your Weatherman,” Tue. thru I at., 6 min.; Raleigh Haberdasher, "NBC Washington Newsreel,” 8 ! eekly. U’PIX. New York: Chesterfield, all 1949 home games of N. Y. Giants ' aseball team; Sunset Appliance Stores, 14 N. Y. Rovers hockey games Madison Square Garden (Schaefer's Beer sponsors Rangers games). IVLWT, Cincinnati: Baldwin Co. (organs), semi<lass!cal musical “’It’s aldwin by Request," Sun., 10-10:65 p.m. 'k'BKB, Chicago: Delta Air Lines, 13 film spots to promote new hicago-Miami flights. ■ STP-TV, St. Paul: Motorola and Acme Laundry, high school basketall spots. tCBS-TV. New York: Seidenberg Cigar Co.. "Yesterday’s Newsreel,," 5-min. (Produced by Ziv TV; also being offered other stations). STATUS OF CPs FOR TV STATIONS Held about 2 years; see story, p. 1 For ownership, see TV Directory No. 5 and Addenda WOlC, Washington, CP issued April 26, 1946, fifth extension expires Jan. 16, 1949. Now building, has announced it will start in January. WJAR-TV. Providence, CP issued May 16, 1946, fourth extension expires Feb. 16, 1949. Now building, expects to be on air by then. WRTB, Waltham, Mass., CP issued May 16, 1946, second extension expired Jan. 16, 1948, third pending. Station cited by FCC fur lack of diligence (VoL 4:42). KRON-TV, San Francisco, CP issued July 18, 1946, third extension expired Sept. 18, 1948, fourth pending. Reports early January start. WJAC-TV, Johnstown, Pa., CP issued Aug. 29, 1946, third extension expired Oct. 81, fourth pending. KRLD-TV. Dallas, CP issued Sept. 12. 1946, due to zoning and CAA troubles got extensions to May 1, 1949. WOl-TV. Ames, Iowa, CP issued Sept. 19, 1946, second extension expires Feb. 14, 1949. WHAS-TV, Louisville. CP issued Sept. 19, 1946, third extension expires Nov. 80, fourth pending. Sale of WHAS to Crosley pending FCC approval (VoL 4:40). WTCN-TV, Minneapolis, CP issued Oct. 8, 1946, third extension expires Nov. 30, fourth pending. Reports it will start early next year. WUTV, Indianapolis, CP issued Oct. 10, 1946, third extension expires Dec. 10. Built, but not yet ready for commercial operation. KPIX, San Francisco, CP issued Oct 17, 1946, second extension expired Nov. 13. third pending. Now being completed, starts in December. WLWC, Columbus, O., CP issued Nov. 21, 1946, second extension expires Dec. 16. Starts operating in February. KABO, Riverside, Cal., CP issued Dec. 19, 1946. Still holder of CP for Channel No. 1, which FCC has deleted. CP likely to be withdrawn since no allocations now available. KECA-TV, Los Angeles, CP issued Dec. 20, 1946, third extension expires Dec. 81. Now being installed, starts operating in January. KTTV, Los Angeles, CP issued Dec. 20, 1946, t^ird extension expires Dec. 31. Now being completed, starts operating Jan. 1. KNBH, Los Angeles, CP issued Dec. 20, 1946, fourth extension expires Dec. 16. Nearly completed, starts operating in January. KGDM-TV, Stockton, Cal., CP issued Jan. 9, 1947, due to site troubles got extensions to Mar. 31, 1949. KGO-TV, San Francisco, CP issued Jan. 9, 1947, third extension expires Dec. 31. Reports transmitter installation starts in December. WDTV, Pittsburgh, CP issued Jan. 16, 1947, fourth extension expires Nov. 80. Now being completed, starts operating Jan. 12. WRTV, New Orleans. CP issued Jan. 16, 1947, third extension expired Sept. 16. fourth pending. Cited by FCC (Vol. 4:43). TV’ personnel notes: ABC’s radio-TV program v. p. Charles C. (Bud) Barry succeeds Don Searle, resigned, as Western Division v. p. in Hollywood, and West Coast production chief J. Donald Wilson comes to New York as program chief . . . Robert VV’. Galvin, 26, son of Motorola’s president Paul Galvin, named executive v. p. of Motorola . . . Jack Fricker, ex-KSTP chief engineer, has rejoined his old chief Hector Skifter, president of Airborne Instruments Laboratory . . . Paul Adanti, ex-VV’RGB, Schenectady, has been named general manager of Meredith’s nowbuilding WHEN, Syracuse; Wm. H. Bell, from Meredith Publishing Co., commercial manager . . . James M. Toney, from Chicago RCA distributor organization, now ad manager of RCA Victor Home Instrument Dept., succeeding Jack AV’illiams, now general sales-merchandise manager of RCA Victor Record Dept. . . . Manager of Dayton’s VV^LWD (Crosley), due in spring, is John T. Murphy, exNBC station relations . . . Harvey Marlowe has resigned as program manager of WPIX; James S. Pollack is acting. Good way to build TV’ circulation: Detroit Edison offered its employes, at cost, 7-in. table model set (Teletone) and 1,100 took advantage of offer. Promotion was designed to benefit dealer sales by a “quick scattering of sets throughout the community.” Power company adds: “VV’e believe each set sold to our employes vdll result in 4 to 6 sales by dealers.” Knoxville’s WROL (5 kw, 620 kc, NBC) has been sold for reported $500,000 to Knoxville Journal, owner of FM station WKPB. Thick section on TV’ theory for NAB’s Engineering Handbook, furnished by RCA, is being readied for distribution. VV’ecd & Co. has been named reps for Paramount’s TV stations WBKB, Chicago, and KTL.A., Los Angeles.