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

4 wasn't much. Then we showed him a machine, costing $400,000, which will be able to exhaust 200-500 per hour. It's just like the first RCA '630' model TV receiver. People said only 2 outfits could make a TV set in those days. Today, there must be 150 making them. " Cuba's Goar Mestre, operating CMQ-TV, Havana, and building 4 other stations, stated flatly; "Compatibility is basic. I can't see using a system that would make people buy additional devices." ❖ ❖ * * Showings continue next week, close down for a week, then resume with demonstrations for public. Network and large-screen tests are planned, dates undecided. FCC is sending Wm. Boese, technical research chief, to RCA's Sept. 17 showing for benefit of NTSC's field-test Panel 16. On Sept. 26, RCA will have 4 Commission engineers — Plummer, Allen, Boese, Chapin — up to Lancaster for inspection of tri-color tube production. Choice of standards for field tests, as recommended by Panel 13, is expected to be approved by whole NTSC at Sept. 18 New York meeting. Zenith's experimental colorcasts should offer one of best opportunities for field testing, since it's only vhf station (Channel 2) permitted to operate without restrictions on hours. FCC has limited RCA, Philco and Crosley to colorcasts during periods outside regular programming hours, because they're using commercial stations. DuMont , however, will be able to supply signals any time, when its New York uhf station gets going. FCC's "open door" to compatible systems is probably more ajar than it has ever been. FCC Chairman Coy's good-natured exchange on color with Folsom, at Bridgeport uhf seminar (see p. 1), is an indication. Coy stood up for FCC's decision, but reiterated Commission would have preferred compatible system if it had been ready. Congressional backing of compatible system is likely to grow as time for resubmission of system to Commission nears. For example. Rep. Charles Wolverton, ranking Republican on Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee, attended Sept. 12 showing. He said: "We are now approaching that for which we have all striven. I never did think the RCA system was inferior." * * * * CBS-Columbia Inc, announced "mass production" of color sets began Sept. 6. President David Cogan reports $500 color-monochrome unit now coming off line at rate of 50-a-day, and "we expect to go up every week." He's still shooting for 500 a-day production, still "hoping for total of 25,000" by year's end, he says — despite competitors' doubts company can make more than 2000-5000. Sample display set is going to all distributors first, Cogan says. Thereafter, production will be channeled to areas with colorcasts. The $250 "slave" unit is due in about 60 days, with $400 color-monochrome set "before year's end." DuMont announced "DuMatic" switch this week, a $19.95 adapter to get black&-white from CBS colorcasts, says it can be installed in an hour. And Raytheon is reported planning $14.95 adapter and "slave" units. Other makers of such adapters, notably Philco , say demand has been negligible. Personal Notes: Thomas H. Dawson returns to CBS TV from Petry Co., where he has been TV director, to head up new separate CBS-TV Spot Sales, rep for WCBSTV, WCAU-TV, KTSL, WTOP-TV, WBTV, KSL-TV, WAFM-TV; George R. Dunham Jr. continues as Eastern sales mgr., Sam Cook Digges as Chicago TV sales mgr Ben Feiner Jr., ex-MGM, returns to CBS Oct. 1 as executive TV producer under v.p. Harry Ackerman, Hollywood . . . James T. Maddigan promoted to ABC-TV news-special events director, succeeded as ABC-radio news director by Donald R. Coe . . . Ernest de la Ossa, NBC personnel director, named member of New York Regional Wage Stabilization Board . . . Frank Cooley, ex-farm program director, WHAS & WHAS-TV, Louisville, now adv.-information director, California Farm Bureau Federation, Berkeley . . . James C. Douglass has resigned as coordinator of TV-radio advertising of Colgate-Palmolive-Peet to become TV-radio v.p., Erwin, Wasey & Co., succeeding C. H. Cottington, resigned . . . Nat Wolff named Young & Rubicam v.p. in charge of TV-radio production under Edward W. Meade, v.p. & TV-radio director . . . David D. Polon named TVradio v.p., R. T, O’Connell agency . . . Charles Harrell named production supervisor, TV-radio dept., Lennen & Mitchell . . . Sylvania Dowling, ex-Young & Rubicam, now TV copy supervisor, Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles. Possible successor to Comr. Frieda Hennock is Atlanta lawyer and former Congresswoman Mrs. Helen Douglas Mankin, according to Billboard’s Washington correspondent Ben Atlas. He says she’s being pushed by India Edwards, Democratic National Committee vice chairman. However, consensus is that inside track is still held by Robert Bartley, House Speaker Sam Rayburn’s nephew and assistant. Miss Hennock’s appointment to New York Federal judgeship (Vol. 7:24 et seq) still hangs fire, no date set for hearing.