Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

Trade Hepori April 19, 1952 NEW TRADE VISTAS-BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY: Neither transmitters, receivers nor uhf converters will be lacking to get new TV services going as soon after July 1 as FCC begins authorizing new stations (Vol. 8:15). Soon thereafter will come the turn of the trade's "have nots" — those distributors and dealers in non-TV areas, or in ill-served areas, who for such a long time have been enviously eyeing their colleagues in the 63 TV areas. But the new stations may be few and far between for awhile, because of the inevitable competition of aspirants for the scarce channels in the small as well as large cities, which means hearings and delay. Best hope for trade lies in FCC's agreement to give non-TV areas first priority (see Vol. 8:15 — Who Gets CPs First?) and in its avowed policy of hastening uhf onto the air. At moment, it looks like some new vhf and uhf stations can be authorized reasonably soon in some smaller communities, where applicants won't outnumber the supply of channels; by end of this year or fore part of next year, these may total enough to account for substantial demand for new receivers. But it would be sheer guesswork to attempt to spell out where and when at this time. You can discount wishful-thinking reports about this or that city getting new TV stations right away; nobody can possibly know before July 1, and even then the bureaucratic wheels will grind too slowly to be sure. $ * * £ We've been deluged with requests for identification of the 28 enterprisers stated in RTMA's recent report on 'The Impact of TV Expansion' (Vol. 8:6) to have taken delivery already of transmitters — as though this assured them first priority. Actually, there are probably more than 28, and we do know a few — but we can state unequivocally that their possession of the transmitters has very little bearing on how soon they can use them. They simply gambled, in purchasing equipment before FCC makes grants, and it's a good guess that, where they get tangled in long legal hearings, they will be asked to "lend" the equipment to luckier ones who do get early grants. Only thing sure is that FCC, very sensitive to political prodding, is just as eager now as you are to see new stations take the air — especially uhf — and promises to speed them as much as possible. Interesting factor — one the Commission didn't take into consideration in color imbroglio — is intensity of interest of the merchandising fraternity; fact is, an amazing number of distributors and retailers have been ordering our printed copies of FCC's final Allocation Report, which may even indicate some are thinking of going into the telecasting business. * # # # We've reported quite fully on transmitter and receiver equipment in recent issues, notably on uhf receiver & converter plans (Vol. 8:11). What's now being talked about is still much the same, and we commend closer re-reading of our survey in that issue of what manufacturers said they have in mind — and particularly the detailed information we gave you on the uhf tuners planned by Standard Coil (Vol. 8:9), Sarkes Tarzian (Vol. 7:40), Mallory (Vol. 7:45). There are some misgivings in the trade about uhf tuners for well-saturated areas now served by vhf (like New York, Los Angeles, Washington). Dealers may not be very optimistic, even if uhf stations are added quickly. But it seems certain demand thenceforth will be for combination vhf-uhf receivers, if not converters to attach to existing sets and costing anywhere from $10 to $50. And there's scant doubt that public will reach out eagerly for new service via uhf if that's the only way they can get any kind of programs. Manufacturers are laying plans rather quietly, but assuring their dealers 7