Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

TelU instantly what they’re actually looking at or listening to, and when, with no human guess-work involved at all. That, in nutshell, is Pwadox, the system devised by ex-Gallup topkick Albert E. Sindlinger with inventor Comdr. Harold N. Reiss, which they’re currently putting through final paces in Philadelphia (Sindlinger & Co., Lewis Tower) before spreading to other cities. It’s a mechanical “instantaneous” method, via phone lines, as against coincidental surveys — not a rating service in any respect. When hard-headed realists like WFIL’s Roger Clipp and Paramount’s Paul Raibourn go overboard for it, as they have (Raibourn is on board, leading to erroneous reports Paramount will buy up the ser\uce) , the ?4,000,000 business which Hooper, Pulse, Neilsen now enjoy looks like it’s due for a new split. TV sponsorship notes: General Mills has signed up Ted Steele to long-term radio-TV contract, will first feature him on New York’s WARD daytime schedule, Mon. thru Fri., 12:30-1 p.m. . . . Mennen Co. sponsoring. Bob Edge Dec. 4 begins Sat. 8:15-8:30 pre-college basketball series on WCBS-TV from Madison Square Garden titled Came Time . . . Lewis-Howe Co.. (Turns) is buying TV spots . . . Chicago Tribune’s WGN-TV started participating Television Matinee, Mon. thru Sat., 2-4 p.m., with 8 TV set makers sponsoring, is discontinuing Sat. night programming . . . RCA Victor assumed sponsorship of Toscanini and NBC Symphony Dec. 4, as it did Nov. 13 concert . . . WJZ-TV began tryout Mon. of Market MelodicB, 10 a.m.-12 noon — household hints, etc., aimed at point-of-sale or shoppers in stores; used New York chain grocery store to observe results. Film producers will have to go lots further than merely buying up TV stations and networks (Vol. 4:48) to compete with TV for mass audiences, TV consultant Richard W. Hubbell told Arizona State College lecture course this week. His thesis: Hollj-wood movie know-how Un’t needed by TV. Film industry’s economics and production methods are “archaic, anachronistic, inefficient.” On other hand, TV’s new techniques can cut Hollywood costs substantially, will force serious changes in structure of film industry. Pub crawlers would rather do their drinking at a TVequipped saloon, but they don’t spend as much — they’re too busy looking at the picture. That’s opinion of Gibb’s Newsletter, tavern trade paper, after survey of 117 bars in New York City, in which 99 bar-owners said TV decreased sales (olthough 103 agreed TV drew customers), 105 confessed they were sorry they ever bought a set. Latter gave as reasons: TV keeps away businessmen who want to talk ousiness, regulars find bar space impossible, “nursers” can ceep going for an hour on one drink, non-viewers are ifraid to talk for fear of disturbing video-watchers. Navy is teaching with TV at Sands Point, L. I., using IE equipment to transmit lectures to remote classes. ’Ians call for transmission, presumably by microwave or oaxial, to Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, II. Y., 4 mi. away, earlj' next year. "Television Has Changed Our Lives” titles article in I'ecember Parents Magazine, which relates what TV has one to habits of family of six. I One more big station rep recognizing commercial exItcnce of TV: John Blair & Co., which has just formed 'lair TV Inc., Wm. H. Weldon, president. 1 Hazards of telecasting, as related by Walter Winchell: Biggest laugh (televiewers didn’t see) on the Texaco ogram [of Nov. 23]. M. Berle made his entrance . . . I tride an old nag, but the lamps had to be hurriedly I used when it started ad-libbing.” Managing director Sir Arthur Fisk, of Electric &. Musical Industries Ltd., big British radio manufacturer, didn’t come away from his recent mission to Canada (Vol. 4:43) with that eagerly-sought order from CBC to install a British-standard TV transmitting system — or even with a plan to market TV receivers there. Like Canadian radio makers (some U. S. subsidiaries), he got bogged down in Canada’s governmental radio snafu, though he was quoted in London afterward as saying, “Someone is going to supply those sets and it may as well be British manufacturers.” He even was willing to make U. S. standard 525-line transmitters for Canada, though British is 405. But he admitted future for British manufacturers in American market is “an unknown quantity.” Note: Obviously spurred by British interest, RMA has set up “TV export promotion committee” chairmanned by Stewart Warner’s James Burke. Letter from FCC to a lady from Twentynine Palms, Cal., as reported by AP: “This will acknowledge receipt of your letter alleging that your home and family is under constant surveillance by ‘television and aerial photography and radar.’ The phenomenon described in your letter is presently unknown to radio science. Accordingly we can be of no assistance to you in this matter.” Upon which the lady observed: “Your education has been sadly neglected!” DuMont Network reports 8 “Teletranscription affiiliates” who now subscribe to off -kinescope films of its programs, says others are negotiating. The 8: WGN-TV, Chicago; KTSL, Los Angeles; WEWS, Cleveland; WJBKTV, Detroit; WSPD-TV, Toledo; KRSC-TV, Seattle; and the soon-to-start WDSU-TV, New Orleans, and KOB-TV, Albuquerque. One for the book: City Attorney T. J. Gentry, Little Rock, Ark., tells convention of National Institute of Municipal Law Officers in Washington Thursday that cities and towns can win new revenue source by taxing radio stations on the generation of electro-magnetic waves — such transmission, he asserted, being separate from the production of electricity. St. Louis Globe-Democrat heralded its FM-only KWGD, with special ad-packed FM-TV section Nov. 15. Station’s layout, unusually expensive and lavish for FMonly operation, includes unique 525-ft. tower, constructed as integral part of 2-story studio-transmitter building. Initial operation will be 40 kw; increase to authorized 218 kw is expected next year. Is TV’ installation permanent fixture or not? That’s troubling some real estate men. In Detroit, a lawyer drew up contract for sale of house, included TV set and installation as part of permanent fixtures along with stove, cupboards, air conditioning, etc. This is believed first such step. Suicide-bent motorists who put TV sets in their cars keep popping up. Latest are in New York, where Greater New Y^rk Safety Council admonishes: “There are enough unnecessary deaths on our highways without adding television as an accessory to the slaughter.” WTMJ-TV’s first birthday was celebrated with 18-p. Milwaukee Journal special TV section Nov. 28, replete with set ads, including full pages of color by Admiral and Stromberg-Carlson. Earlier in week, Schuster & Co. dept, stores ran 8-p. TV section. RMA has issued electrical performance standards for TV relay facilities (TR-106) and has revised designation system for cathode ray tubes (ET-111). RC.V’s Dr. V’ladimir K. Zworykin, inventor of electronic scanning, wins Philadelphia Poor Richard Club’s annual gold medal for 1948, will receive award at Jan. 17 banquet.