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

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY RADIO NEWS BUREAU, 1519 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W., WASHINGTON 6, D.C. TELEPHONE MICHIGAN 2020 • VOL. 7, NO. 31 August 4, 1951 In this Issue: New Border Station Opens Ripe Market, page 1. TV Films May Supersede Live Networks, page 2. Coast-to-Coast TV Starts Sept. 30, page 3. Haraden Pratt Gets Top Govt. Post, page 3. ' FCC Experts to View NTSC Color Systems, page U. The TV Trade Picture Brightens, page 7. NPA Loosens Materials Straitjacket, page 8. Trade, Financial, Mobilization Notes, pages 9-11. POWER BOOSTS ALL TO EVERYBODY'S GOOD: Up to 10 miles more coverage radius for some TV stations. . .better pictures for many televiewers. . .less interference annoyance... even the more effective use of built-in and indoor antennas. These are immediate benefits assured from TV transmitter power boosts now being authorized by FCC. Acting speedily to implement new FCC policy of permitting maximum powers on temporary basis pending end of freeze. Broadcast Bureau is processing applications as fast as it can. By end of week, it had approved increases for 22 stations in 18 cities — and all or most of 20 remaining applicants, plus others who may file, should be similarly notified in matter of a few more days. (For list of authorizations and applications still pending at end of week, see p. 4. ) For this week's 22 stations, it merely means turning up power outputs of present transmitters — in most cases to 5-kw maximum — to derive benefits of last week's special order (Vol. 7:50 & Supp. 74), which permits maximum effective radiated power (ERF) up to 50 kw. The 3 "community" stations are limited to 1 kw ERF. Majority of the stations will realize significant increases in powers radiated from their antennas as result of boosts granted this week. Some of the hikes, translated into ERF, are little short of spectacular. Miami's WTVJ should get biggest proportionate boost so far — tenfold jump in ERF to approximately 22 kw. One station will reach FCC's maximum of 50 kw ERF — WHA5-TV, Louisville, which was authorized to turn its transmitter output up from .89 to 4.6 kw, instead of 5 kw, which would have shot it through the 50-kw ceiling. That's a 500% hike — from present 9.69 kw. Louisville's other outlet, WAVE-TV, goes from 7 to 25 kw. In New York, WJZ-TV announced it will turn up its power Aug. 9 from 3 to about 16.5 kw, same day it moves from temporary antenna to main TV mast atop Empire State Bldg. WOR-TV gets boost from 9 to about 22 kw. WFIX from 3.6 to 5 kw ERF, Other typical increases in ERF expected as result of this week's actions: WGN-TV, Chicago. 11.2 to 28 kw ; WBKB, Chicago. 11 to 20 kw ; WSM-TV, Nashville. 14.4 to 27 kw ; WHEN, Syracuse. 15 to 27 kw ; KRLD-TV, Dallas, 15.1 to 30 kw ; WXEL, Cleveland, 21 to 25 kw ; WTVN, Columbus, 6 to 19 kw. Note ; It should be emphasized that ERF in TV isn't comparable to AM power. TV powers alone can't be used as criteria for comparison of station service areas — which depend also on related engineering factors, such as antenna location and height and operating frequency. NEW BORDER STATION OPENS RIPE MARKET: Nice new market for TV receivers opens up with start, promised sometime between Sept. 1 & 15. of new station in Matamoros, Mexico, just across border from Brownsville, at southeast tip of Texas. New XELD-TV will operate on Channel 7, be programmed mostly in English — for all practical purposes another American outlet, though licensed by Mexico to Romulo O'Farrill Sr., publisher of Mexico City Novedades, operating XETV there, Latin America's first TV. New 500-watt RCA transmitter has already been delivered, along with studio AUu Copyright 1951 by Radio News Bureau fl WSl