Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1953)
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HIGHER-POWERED UHF transmitter now under development by RCA probably won’t be available until next May. Long-awaited tetrode-powered plant, using A-2500 power tube (Vol. 9:36,44), will be x-ated at least 12% kw, possibly 15. Prototype model is slated to be shown before May. Meanwhile, Standard Electi-onics now has prototype 1-kw uhf transmitter, plans to show higher powered model this summer.
No new transmitter shipments were reported by any company this week, but 2 more existing stations have increased their power outputs. WALA-TV, Mobile, Ala. (Ch. 10) went from 22 to 112-kw ERP; WOC-TV, Davenport, la. (Ch. 5) from 22.9 to 100 kw. GE’s WRGB plans to switch Jan. 4 from Ch. 4 to 6, up output from 16.3 to 93 kw.
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In our continuing survey of upcoming new stations, these were the reports received this week:
KBIZ-TV, Kirksville, Mo. (Ch. 3) hasn’t ordered equipment or begun construction yet, but hopes to get going in 5-6 months, reports owner-gen. mgr. James J. Conroy who also controls WBIZ, Eau Claire & WLCX, La Crosse, Wis. CP was granted last week after KBIZ Inc. switched application from Ch. 15 in Ottumwa, la. Rep not yet chosen.
KQED, Berkeley-San Francisco (Ch. 9, educational) expects to get converted KPIX transmitter before Jan. 1, still awaits other equipment, now hopes to get going by March or April, reports gen. mgr. James Day. It’s planning initial $150,000 fund drive and concurrent campaign for 6800 $10-a-year dues-paying members — a membership goal equal to 2% of potential audience, which it’s estimated would place station on self-sustaining basis.
WMUR-TV, Manchester, N. H. (Ch. 9) didn't make pi-omised Xmas debut, now hopes for Jan. 15 tests, with RCA equipment due shortly. It’s going to adapt fonner FM tower for TV. Rep will be Weed.
WSEE, Erie, Pa. (Ch. 35) has ordered 12-kw GE transmitter for Jan. delivery, begins construction any day now, plans March tests, goes commercial in April, reports v.p.gen. mgr. Charles E. Denny. Rep not yet chosen.
WCET, Cincinnati (Ch. 48, educational), granted Dec. 2 to Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation, has oi’dered RCA equipment, hopes to begin construction Jan. 15, plans debut after April 1, 1954, according to gen. mgr. Uberto I. Neely.
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CKCK-TV, Regina, Sask. (Ch. 2), equipment not specified, plans July 1 tests, Sept. 1 programming, according to mgr. H. A. Crittenden. Weed will be U. S. rep; AllCanada Television in Dominion.
CFPA-TV, Port Arthur, Ont. (Ch. 2), recommended by CBC Dec. 7— tantamount to a grant— hasn’t ordered equipment as yet, plans to buy unused City Fire Hall located at highest point in city for studio-transmitter house, hopes to begin next Sept. 3, reports owner Ralph H. Parker. Rep not yet chosen.
CHCH-TV, Hamilton, Ont. (Ch. 11) reports delay in equipment deliveries, now plans April start with RCA transmitter, according to gen. mgr. Kenneth D. Soble, who heads group of 3 local radio stations which combined to get grant. Temporary rate card quotes $300 hourly base rate. Reps will be Adam Young for U. S. and All-Canada Television.
New Rider books: UHF TV Antennas & Converters, by Allan Lytel (128 pp., $1.80); Audio Repi-oduction, by David Fidelman (240 pp., $3.50) ; How to Troubleshoot a TV Receiver, by J. Richard Johnson (128 pp., $1.80) ; and Vol. 12 of Rider TV Manual series.
Seeking “realistic” depreciation base for taxes on uhf station equipment, Uhf TV Assn, counsel Wm. A. Roberts has requested meeting with Internal Revenue officials. In letter to John II. Fahrenbach, Revenue Service public utilities engineering chief, Robei’ts wrote: “The extremely expensive transmitter equipment [for] uhf stations is obsolete almost when installed, and with no certainty as to the time when ‘maximum’ powers in the oi'der of 50 kw or above will be available . . . Uhf broadcasters, having invested heavily, are confronted with great insecurity commercially, instability in their revenue and the certainty of obsolescence in their initial installations . . . The uncertainties of the impact of color TV in accelerating obsolescence of transmitting equipment require flexibility of depreciation rates.”
Annual “Mike” awards by McCall’s Magazine: outstanding woman in TV & radio, Helen Tullis, blind announcer of WMAR-TV, Baltimore, for rehabilitation series, As You Can See; service to women, Beulah Donohue, WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, for Your Family’s Health sei-ies, and Marian Gifford, WHAS-TV, Louisville, for maternity series, Good Living; service to youth, Judith Waller, NBC-TV, Chicago, for development of Ding Dong School, and Jean Sullivan, KMTV, Omaha, for programs on mentally handicapped children on Woman’s View; community service, Bea Johnson, KMBC(AM), Kansas City, for traffic safety reminders on Happy Home, and Dolly Banks, WHAT (AM), Philadelphia, for better understanding of Negro problems.
Background of every FCC employe, as of July 1, 1953, is included in 180-page supplement to annual report to Congress submitted by Commission this week under requirements of McFarland Act. Henceforth, annual report will cover only employes added or dropped during year. Report includes information on date and place of birth, salary, education, employment history, other “pertinent biographical data and experience.” It’s first such submission by FCC, and Commission is believed to be only govt, agency required to make such report.
You’ll never guess who said this: “I think TV is terrific. The more we have the more we like it.” That was National Football League commissioner Bert Bell, commenting on NFL-DuMont deal, which, he said “created thousands of new fans” and helped to make 1953 an alltime record year for pro football. Bell and members of his league went to court last year to defend League’s right to restrict members’ football telecasts in recent anti-trust case (Vol. 7:41, 9:46), in which foi-mal court order is still pending.
Legal action to tear down old WOR-TV tower on the Palisades in N. Bergen, N. J., overlooking New York City, was thi-eatened this week by town’s public safety commissioner Patrick Sullivan. WOR-TV moved transmitter to Empire State Bldg. Dec. 12, retained 760-ft. tower in Jersey for standby. Sullivan said tower, in heavily populated area, is possible aircraft hazai’d, added he would give WOR-TV opportunity to remove it before taking steps to have it l'azed as a menace.
Rep. Robert L. Condon (D-Cal.) was denied court order Dec. 21 in demanding time from KGO-TV, San Francisco, to reply to testimony befoi-e House Un-Ameiican Activities Committee alleging he had attended a closed Communist party meeting in 1948. Though he claimed a verbal agreement with station for time for public answer to chai’ge, court ruled no “oral contract” existed and denied court order for proposed telecast.
“Determination of VHF Superturnstile Antenna Gains” is new 70-p. book by RCA’s M. R. Johns, available from Broadcast Equipment Section, RCA, Camden.