Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

14 Willys Motors’ uhf station “package” (Vol. 9:30) will sell for about $100,000, with first delivery tentatively scheduled second quarter 1954. Three more deliveries are planned for third quarter 1954, TV mgr. A. R. Bitter tells us. Package includes Yv'illys-made 1-kw transmitter, as well as complete studio equipment and antenna, to be made for Willys by “a number of other companies in the field.” Although arrangements aren’t complete, it’s expected camera chain will be made by Dage Electronics Corp., Beech Grove, Ind., incorporating vidicon tube (Vol. 9:29). Also included in package will be film chain, console, etc. With most of “bugs” ironed out, prototype model is now being readied for FCC approval. Then it’s slated for delivery to Mt. Pleasant (Mich.) Ch. 47 applicant WCEN (Paul A. Brandt). Transmitters will be manufactured by Willys’ electronics div., 6225 Benore Rd., Toledo. George W. McGee is div. mgr.; Thomas Bender, transmitter design engineer; Richard Gibson, purchasing agent. Merchandising and distribution plans are now being formulated. Willys Motors is subsidiary of Kaiser Mfg. Co. Five applications for new TV stations this week, together with 14 dismissals, bring total pending FCC action to 469. Of this week’s applications, 4 were by principals who previously filed for channels in same or neighboring cities: Hatfield, Ind., Ch. 9, by WVJS, Owensboro, Ky., which relinquished CP for its Ch. 14; Durham, N. C., Ch. 73, by WSSB, which once had application for Ch. 46; Petersburg, Va., Ch. 8, two applications by Petersburg TV Corp. (Thomas G. Tinsley, principal owner) and Southside Virginia Telecasting Corp. (WSSV, principal owner) , each with list of new minority stockholders. Also filed this week was application for San Francisco’s Ch. 2 by group headed by oilman Edwin W. Pauley. [For further details about foregoing applications, see TV Addena 17-L herewith; for complete listings of all grants, new stations, applications, deletions, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 17 with Addenda to date.] Dispute over football TV restrictions flared up anew this week on eve of season’s first big “college football Saturday.” Justice Dept, said it was “stepping in” controversy over NCAA’s grid dimouts, but offered no explanation. Anti-trust officials have been watching situation for last 2 seasons, have deferred action pending outcome of current anti-trust case against National Football League. Sparking this week’s flareup was request by Oklahoma Board of Regents that Notre Dame-Oklahoma game at Norman, Okla. be carried on all TV stations in state. NCAA’s TV committee had given permission for Oklahoma City’s WKY-TV to carry it since rules permit televising “local” games when they’re sellouts. It turned down requests to let game be carried on KOTV, Tulsa, and KSWO-TV, Lawton. Thrilling spot news coverage, far more dramatic than in newspapers, was provided Sept. 23 by CBS-TV & WGNTV, which trained their cameras on woman who perched on 20th-floor ledge of Chicago’s Tribune Tower more than hour in suicide attempt before being rescued when distracted by sight of pet dog; CBS, whose WBBM-TV cameras were trained from studio window across street, fed to network, while WGN-TV, in whose building action took place, filmed it for later showing. Defendants in anti-trust suit to compel 12 leading motion picture makers to release their 16mm films to TV and other non-theatrical outlets (Vol. 8:30,36) were given until Oct. 15 to answer suit in Los Angeles Federal Court. Power increases: RCA this week shipped 10-kw transmitters to KFOR-TV, Lincoln, Neb. (Ch. 10) and KSLTV, Salt Lake City (Ch. 5). GE shipped 12-kw unit to KETX, Tyler, Tex. (Ch. 19). Revival of interest in theatre TV by exhibitors seems to be under way, as result of success of Marciano-La Starza title bout Sept. 25, and no doubt due in some measure to flagging interest in 3-D — which has turned out not to be the salvation the theatremen expected. Heavyweight fight was shown in 45 theatres in 35 cities, and early reports indicated heavy crowds. Preceding day, N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Irving L. Levey refused to grant International Boxing Club injunction banning round-byround fight summaries on New York’s WOV (Vol. 9:38). Judge said it was all right to summarize each round right after it happened, so long as it’s “in the past tense, not a blow-by-blow.” Large number of radio stations summarized fight round-by-round, probably many more than would have done it if IBC hadn’t gone to court. In another important theatre-TV development, sales promotion firm of Cappel, MacDonald & Co. announced it is offering weekly live theatre-TV boxing to theatres every Tuesday, beginning Oct. 27, under arrangement with International Boxing Guild, rival of IBC. Theatres are expected to present fights as “second feature.” Company also plans entertainment programs via theatre TV, under commercial sponsorship like home TV. It expects to spend $5,000,000 promoting theatre TV, with $1,000,000 slated for first year. Leo Rosen, ex-Fabian Theatres theatre-TV consultant, is in charge of theatre TV for firm. Height vs. power, for achieving greatest coverage with least interference, drew comment from FCC chairman Rosel Hyde at ANA Chicago convention this week. When one advertiser on TV panel questioned need of buying time on smaller stations “when some stations cover 175 miles,” Hyde smilingly called attention to fact that cochannel spacing is only 170 mi. in some parts of country; that new stations will tend to reduce long-distance reception. Then, he said, “We haven’t issued any policy statement, but it appears that you can get more coverage with less interference by adding height than by increasing power.” Regarding vhf vs. uhf coverage, he said, “We believe that the allocation provides opportunity for adequate coverage by all stations.” Summer viewing — replacements vs. year-round shows — is analyzed in Advertest survey of N. Y. audience of 11 shows which continued through summer and 11 which used replacements. Of programs continuing through summer: (1) Summer audience was 28% smaller than winter audience. (2) 31% of winter audience didn’t watch in summer. (3) 97% of summer audience also watch in winter, and 3% are new viewers. Of shows with replacements: (1) Replacement audience was 37% smaller than winter program. (2) 59% of winter audience didn’t watch replacement. (3) 65% of replacement audience also watch in winter, 35% are new viewers. Survey also found 2% fewer people watched TV daily this summer than last. Theatre-TV discussion, led by AT&T long lines engineering chief F. A. Cowan, will highlight 74th semiannual convention of Society of Motion Pictures & TV Engineers in New York’s Hotel Statler, Oct. 5-9. Reports at convention will deal with TV films and new developments in movie industry. Keynote speaker will be news commentator Henry J. Taylor. SMPTE’s annual Samuel L. Warner award will be presented to Dr. W. W. Wetzel of Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co. for his contributions to development of magnetic sound recording tapes. TV has replaced checkers and cards as off-duty pastime for firemen, according to UP interview with Chicago fire commissioner Michael J. Corrigan, who laments: “I don’t know of a station in the city that doesn’t have a TV set. You can’t find a good pinochle player for love or money these days. Even the old-timers sit around and watch that darn machine.”