Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

12 Our story on new vhf propagation discovery — “Scientists Discover New Use for Vhf,” Vol. 8:17 — was picked up by April 3 New York Times which gave it prominent frontpage position and 45 inches of space, crediting our story as source. Wire services and trade papers then carried it. Unfortunately, over-eager reporters and headline writers attached far too much significance to the extremely remote TV angle involved — with such headlines as “New Radio Signal Method Opens Door to Global Video.” According to engineers who should know, the 23-lcw transmitter used so far, employing 3-kc band, would probably have to be replaced with unit of 15,000-25,000 kw output and tremendously efficient antenna before international TV is possible. This, they say, is like building rocket ship foxtrip to the moon — not impossible, but a long way off. Gradual accumulation rather than wholesale deliveries of documents appears to be tack of Dept, of Justice in its “anti-trust probe” of RTMA and 18 TV-i'adio manufacturers in connection with color, FM and patents (Vol. 8:1416) — and it’s now apparent that “vanloads” of documents, such as were indicated in subpoenas, won’t have to be delivered to grand jury by May 12. With i-espect to color and FM, it’s understood govt, attoi-neys are agreeing to stipulations or simple statements, without prejudice to possible later demands for further data. Both govt, and company counsel want more time, hence the agreement for piecemeal data. RCA motion to modify or vacate its subpoena has been set for hearing June 12. TV winners of George Foster Peabody Awards fox1952: Edward R. Mux-row’s See It Now, CBS-TV (he’s 4time winner) ; Gian-Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, NBC-TV; Celanese Theatre, ABC-TV ; What in the World? origiixating on WCAU-TV and piped to CBSTV. Radio awards: Nation’s Nightmare, CBS; Neiv York Times Youth Forum, WQXR; Bob & Ray, NBC; lxxeritorious local public service, KPOJ, Portland, Ore.; Alistair Cooke’s Letter from America, BBC. For meritorious regional service, WSB-TV, Atlanta, won award for Our World Today, and its couixterpart WSB won it for The Pastor’s Study. Investigation of TV-radio, in hunt for “inxnxox-al oxotherwise offensive” programs, appears quite probable, now that House Rules Committee has unanimously reported Gathings Resolution (H. Res. 278) which House is due to vote on shortly. Resolution (Vol. 8:14-15) px-ovides that Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee conduct the investigation, and acting chairman Beckwox-th (D-Tex.) says there’s good chance hearings will be held this session. NARTB will probably offer testimony based on history and intent of its TV Code. Rules Committee also reported H. Res. 596, setting up 15-man select committee to investigate publications for “immoral” content. Twentieth Century-Fox is surveying TV to determine whether it can profitably enter TV film production, said president Spyros Skouras in annual report. MGM v.p. Robert Rubin also told stockholders meeting this week that his company is considering filing TV station applications. Company is now preparing to divox-ce Loew’s theatre operations from film production and distribution divisions pursuant to anti-trust decree. Rubin said it was possible either new company or both would apply for TV licenses. He said MGM has no plans to make TV films or to sell its backlog of theatrical filxxxs to TV. New RCA theatre-TV kinescope tube, announced this week, is designed for optical systems having throw of 80 ft., permitting projection apparatus to be located 20 ft. further from sex-een than older type which was limited to 60-ft. New tube, 7WP4, is 80,000-volt forced-air-cooled type, nxeasux-es 19%-in. in length, 7-in. diameter. Telecasting Holes: Louisville’s WHAS-TV not only handles 4-camera pickup of Kentucky Derby for CBS-TV and Gillette this Saturday, but has worked out separate deal with Churchill Downs to televise 6 stake races during spring meet and to film the feature race each day for telecast during its 6-6:15 p.m. Sportraits show. Sponsor of live stake races is Falls City Brewing Co.; Riggs Motor Co. has bought the filmcasts. Race track operators have been skeptical about TV, but WHAS-TV manager Victor Sholis thinks that “just as we built wrestling here by promoting the gate, we should be able to help attendance at Churchill Downs” . . . NBC research chief Hugh M. Beville Jx-., on basis of April 1 sets-in-use totaling 16,939,100 (for city-by-city count, see Vol. 8:17), estimates 3 out of every 5 families within range of TV stations now have TV sets; this 60% compares with 44% year ago and 21% in April 1950 . . . “Cable Is Coming” section of April 27 Houston Post ran 36 pages, crammed with ads, heralding extension of network service to city July 1 (Vol. 8:12) ; edition also announced new $400,000 TV-radio center which newspaper is building for its KPRC & KPRC-TV . . . More new operas by American composers are promised on NBC-TV during 1952-53 as result of huge success of Gian-Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors; this was promised by president Joseph H. McConnell this week in accepting award of N. Y. Music Critics Circle for commissioning this first opera written especially for TV . . . Northwestern U taking enrollments now for its Summer Radio & TV Institute, 6-week session in collaboration with NBC for advanced students; write Institute at Evanston, 111. . . . WTVN, Columbus, occupies its new “TV Center” at Harmon & Griggs Ave. shortly after May 15. Single application for new TV station filed this week came fx-om KWKC, Abilene, Tex., seeking Channel 9, while 6 amendments to old applications were submitted. At same time, FCC x-etux-ned 6 recently filed applications, for resubmission on new forms. Also, this week, John F. Patt, president of Richards stations, indicated group will file for Toledo, Flint & Bay City, amend Cleveland & Detroit applications to specify uhf. Total pending now stands at 530, of which 43 are uhf. The 6 amendments: joint application of KVOR, Colox-ado Springs & Pueblo, Colo., now asking Channel 11 in Colorado Springs; WVJS, Owensboro, Ky., changed to uhf Channel 14; Mississippi Publishers Corp., Jackson, Miss., Channel 25; WKBN & WFMJ, Youngstown, O., Channel 27 and 33, respectively; WILK, Wilkes-Bax-re, Pa., still seeking Channel 34, but now requesting 250-kw. The 6 returned: KNOE, Monroe, La.; KDAL, Duluth, Minn.; WFRO, Fremont, O.; WAPA, San Juan, P. R.; Gx-eer & Greer, for Albuqxxerque & Santa Fe, N. M. [For further details about foregoing applications, see TV Addenda H-P herewith; for complete list of applications, see TV Factbook No. 11> and Addenda to date.] Public tests of Skiatron Subscriber-Vision coded card subscription TV will be held next September with 300 New York area families as guinea pigs, Skiatron president Arthur Levey said this week. WOR engineering v.p. Jack Poppele, named this week to Skiatron board, will handle negotiations with WOR-TV for prime evening time for the tests. Morning and midnight tests are now being conducted on WOR-TV. Mr. Levey says Paramount and RKO have agreed to supply recent movies for public test, and he is now talking with Justice Dept, to pi-od other moviemakers. Mr. Levey also said: (1) Skiatron plans to ap ply for TV station, probably in Boston, “within 90 days.” (2) Company this fall will demonstrate pilot model of new home TV projection set, utilizing same “ultrasonic” principal as Skiatron theatre-TV system (in place of CR tube) and throwing 3x4-ft. picture “as bright as a movie.” Set should eventually be priced at $200-$250, said Levey.