U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

Equipment $3.19 million for replacement transmitters and parts. The average age ol am transmitters now in use, the study mentioned, is 7.7 years, with 16.88 years the average life reached before replacement. Turning to other areas, the study stated that during 1960 it was anticipated that each am station would spend an average of $1,690 for studio sound equipment. Another $7-16 was also anticipated for studio furniture and fixtures for each am station. It was pointed out that new stations going on the air during the year would spend an average of $2,101 for sound equipment and .$1,172 for furniture and fixtures. Assets of all am, fm, commercial and educational radio stations in the country totalled approximately $346 million, the study claimed. Of ihis, 43.88 percent, or about $152 million, was in technical equipment, including transmitters, antennas and phasing equipment, studio and speech equipment, and others. The same equipment, if purchased new, according tO' the survey, would cost about $253 million. The total investment on a perslation basis averaged $90,381. Of this sum, an average of $39,659 was for technical equipment at its current condition and value. This is 60 percent of the estimated replace RADIO PRODUCTION (000 Omitted) Year Home Clock Portable Auto Total Value 1922 100 100 $ 5,000 1923 500 500 13,326 1924 1,500 1,500 50,000 1925 2,000 2,000 82,500 1926 1,750 1,750 100,000 1927 2,350 2,350 137,000 1928 3,250 3,250 194,000 1929 4,428 4,428 222,000 1930 3,755 34 3,789 155,432 1931 3,484 110 3,594 104,706 1932 2,301 145 2,446 54,375 1933 3,432 725 4,157 70,269 1934 3,699 780 4,479 94,859 1935 4,840 1,190 6,030 128,399 1936 6,849 1,400 8,249 169,360 1937 6,193 1,890 8,083 165,391 1938 6,342 800 7,142 112,263 1939 8,547 616 1,600 10,763 153,421 1940 8,482 1,219 2,130 11,831 176,627 1941 9,470 1,572 2,600 13,642 233,841 1942* 3,374 573 360 4,307 102,969 1946 13,276 1,069 1,610 15,955 434,244 1947 14,083 2,458 3,459 20,000 650,000 1948 9,630 2,630 4,240 16,500 525,000 1949 5,961 1,843 3,596 11,400 310,000 1950** 7,053 1,675 4,740 13,468 346,128 1951 5,275 777 1,333 4,543 11,928 298,439 1952 3,539 1,929 1,720 3,243 10,431 238,348 1953 3,886 2,041 1,742 5,183 12,852 286,471 1954 2,696 1,875 1,333 4,124 10,028 220,616 1955 2,998 2,244 2,027 6,864 14,133 283,225 1956 3,037 2,311 3,113 5,057 13,518 288,474 1957 3,228 2,516 3,265 5,496 14,505 351,601 1958 2,621 2,038 3,373 3,715 11,747 314,585 1959 3,145 2,794 4,128 5,555 15,622 330,874 Civilian production terminated April 1942. Radio-Phonograph Combinations ore included in figures prior to 1950 only. Statistics supplied by the Electronic Industries Assoc. nicnt cost, it was pointed out. Focusing on fm, the study said "There is every indication that fm has actually turned the corner which has so long been predicted. Beginning in 1958, the long decline in the manufacture of fm receivers turned back up significantly . . . Once fm begins to expand on a larger scale, with a significant increase in receiver sets (fm-only or stereo) , the growth of this phase of broadcasting could snowball with more receiving sets encouraging broadcasters and vice versa." In giving a financial portrait of Im stations, the Collins survey noted that purchases of fm equipment by existing fm stations and by new operations, totalled approximately $3 million per year. One-third ol the existing fm stations intended to make expenditures averaging $10,635 on equipment during the next 12 months. Expected expenditures lor all fm stations for fm ((jnipmctu tluring the next five years would average $13,913. This included those stations which expected to spend nothing, the study stated. Additions and rejjlacements of equipment at existing fm stations would average approximately $2.33 million during the next 12 months, and SI. 88 million during each ol the next five years. Crowing Fm Interest The growing interest in fm is reflected in the attention the medium is getting from broadcast equipment manufacturers. The Gates Radio Company, for example, estimates that the sale of fm transmitters is approaching 10 percent of its total sales volume. Larry Cervone, sales vice president for the firm, explained that "during the past three years, Gates has delivered more than 185 fm transmitters." Most producers of broadcasting equipment are enthusiastic about the sales potential resulting from tw^o developments — stereo multiplexing and aiUomation. Discussing anloiiiiil ion, IUiikikI Wise, president of liiduslii;il Transmitters and -Antennas Inc. (I I A) , stated that "Automation is the key 100 U. S. RADIO AIRFAX 1961