Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

3 turing and merchandising organization is far less restrained than that of RCA. "I'm frankly excited about uhf," TV sales v.p. Fred Ogilbv told us, stating that he has had no adverse reports at all. He's frankly interested in market, but realistic enough to know that the going market can't be any better than signals. And from that standpoint, he observed: "I only hope the rest of the new uhf areas are half as good as Portland. We're shipping sets as fast as rails can carry them." Philco marketeer Henry Bowes, back from Portland Friday, said he accompanied field crew, saw excellent pictures at 20 different spots within city. The crew told him there are some bad spots, he said, but coverage generally is good. Acceptable pictures have been received in Salem, 40-mi. southward, and even 10 miles beyond. Good pictures can be had on built-in aerials in town, said Bowes. All over the area there's great enthusiasm for TV and uhf — and Bowes says we can look for some more uhf applicants in that area as result of KPTV's showing. From still another reliable source, whom we're not at liberty to name: "We got excellent reception up to and within 21-28 mile radius, then 'snow' up to 40. We found few blind spots, except behind hills and directly under the transmitter — conditions the engineers can lick. Buildings and trees weren't as bad as we first thought they would be. We're amazed by the results so far, though engineering data must be awaited for any true evaluations." * * * Are the networks and reps lukewarm towards uhf? There's good reason to say many are, on basis of what their station-relations men (usually mere armchair technicians) have been telling uhf grantees and prospective grantees. But fact is that Portland's KPTV not only is NBC-affiliated already but is being represented in national spot field by NBC-TV spot sales. And CBS-TV signed first affiliation this week with uhf — WHUM-IV, Reading, Pa., due Dec. 1 — while ABC-TV signed WICC-TV, Bridgeport, due Jan. 1 or thereabouts. 3 MORE CPs AS FCC GIRDS FOR HEARINGS: Commission made 3 more uhf grants this week, officially added 5 new vhf channels and one uhf to its allocation table — and prepared to grease the skids for competitive hearings, which begin next week. FCC reached 42nd city on Group A priority list, 115th on Group B, but passed over some applications on B list — in Trenton, N.J. and Lorain, 0. — because their processing hadn't been completed. This week's grants: Youngstown, Polan Industries, Channel 21; Harrisburg, Pa. , WHP, Channel 55; Ann Arbor, Mich., WPAG, Channel 20. Polan already holds uhf grant for Ashland, Ky. Commission acted on 20 competitive applications, notifying them that hearings are required. They are in Lebanon, Pa., Harlingen, Tex., Sioux City, la., Manchester, N.H., Springfield, 111., Columbus, Ga. , Wichita, Kan., Portland, Ore. Thus far FCC has granted 63 CPs, 12 of which have been vhf. Another 13 applications were filed this week, bringing total pending to 744. fFor this week's grants, applications, etc., see Addenda 15-K herewith.] * * # * Grant to Polan Industries was challenged both within and without Commission. CP was issued fast on heels of FCC's Sept. 19 decision rejecting petition by Youngstown grantee WFMJ-TV to change from Channel 73 to 21 (Vol. 8:38). Comrs. Walker and Bartley dissented from grant to Polan, charging it was made too quickly and didn't give WFMJ-TV "an opportunity to take such action as it desired in the light of the Commission's action [turning down] its petition." Another application for the same channel was filed this week by Valley Television Co. (Youngstown auto dealer Albert B. Wagner) — after grant had been made to Polan. Attorney Paul Segal then filed petition for reconsideration of Polan grant. Five of the applicants set aside this week for hearing were also notified to be prepared to answer questions concerning their corporate authority to construct and operate a TV station. Commission added new channels to allocation table through these actions: (1) Changed boundary of Zone III so as to include Jackson, Miss., formerly