Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

Committee's findings on: FCC's allocations criteria, program trends, program control, prospects of program financing by Govt, and other non-profit sources, legislation needed. "I think TV is too vital to the future of America," he said, "to be relegated at this time, without further study by Congress, to the custody of any govt, agency or bureau. Without implying any criticism of the FCC...for which I have the very highest regard, I suggest that the Congress [should] inform itself..." Sen. Benton also plugged Fhonevision and Subscriber-Vision, saying; "I suggest that there is nothing at all out of tune with our system of free enterprise in the suggestion that radio and TV might sell its service, instead of giving it away... I happen to believe it is a major business opportunity..." Chiming in on Sen. Benton's educational pitch were Sen. John Bricker (R-Ohio) and Sen. Lester Hunt (D-Wyo.). Opposition to vhf education reservations is coming from some educators themselves. U of Kansas City president is reported to have consulted with city's applicants and v/ritten FCC that university didn't expect to get into TV for many years, thus would be satisfied with uhf reservations. Pro-reservation comment by one of TV's well-placed "ins" — WBEN-TV's A. H. Kirchhofer, whose Channel 4 would remain intact — as quoted in TV News, Buffalo: "The provision for educational channels is a forward-looking step. I hope the educational institutions will be more successful in their utilisation than they were with AM or FM. . . " BRIDGEPORT WINNING UHF 'CONVERTS': Another visit to Bridgeport, which is turning out to be the "nursery of uhf," thanks to the RCA-NBC "guinea pig" station (Vol. 6:5 et seq), reveals that just about every set and tuner maker and many of his brothers of the broadcasting business have been to town to run tests. Our junket this week was mainly to have look at Crosley's new "Ultratuner" (see page 5), but we took occasion to check on what others have done in and around Bridgeport. By and large, the reports are favorable. Unusual focal point of activity is Bridgeport home of Rudy Frank, promotion manager of New Haven's WELI (AM), owned by veteran broadcaster Col. Harry Wilder, of Syracuse, who founded WSYR-TV there. Mr. Frank is an absolute convert to uhf, as is his boss, general manager Richard Davis, who told us he and his engineers are thoroughly convinced of uhf potential. This conviction isn't based on mere theory, say Messrs. Davis and Frank. Their engineers have conducted over 500 measurements in station wagon, checked converters in 14 homes, over many months. They're satisfied v;ith what they've seen. Mr. Davis can't understand why more broadcasters don't get excited about uhf. "We don't want to cover all of New England," he says. "If we can deliver 20-25 miles, and I know uhf can do it, that's good enough for us. A clear channel AM station may claim a lot of area, but its listeners are close to home. Same will apply to TV." Mr. Frank has had samples of almost everyone's converters — including Zenith, RCA, GE, Crosley, Philco. Engineers have been running in and out of his house ever since the uhf test station went on air more than year ago (Vol. 5:53). Of converters he's had, some of them early models, he says GE's was best but would cost too much to build; Zenith's demanded very strong signal; RCA' s drifted most. Philco loaned its single-channel 2x3x4-in. converter (Vol. 6:15), which employed rather expensive crystal. But Frank says RCA ' s Wenyuan Pan was fascinated with Philco device, worked up one using 300 crystal which could sell for |2. We saw first-rate uhf pictures on Philco 16-in. set, to which Frank attached different converters. Uhf images were vastly better than vhf from New York stations, 50 miles away, v/hose signals may be rated tolerable. WELI management is so hepped up about uhf that it placed first order with GE for its 5-kw transmitter and helical antenna (Vol. 7:12). Davis has written his