Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

Record Details:

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NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 40 TELEVISION DIGEST-7 • • MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, FINANCE FCC NOT KIDDING ON ALLCHANNEL: FCC last week took official note of rumors, innuendos and foot-dragging among set manufacturers by releasing statement which said, in no uncertain terms: (1) It is committed to uhf and will not abandon it. (2) It intends to enforce all -channel law. (3) It has no intention of postponing law’s April 30 effective date. Some industry leaders, meanwhile, are becoming increasingly concerned about potential uhf tuner emergency next spring. All-channel set sales have not increased as anticipated— and instead of gradual rise in percentage of all-channel sets, many feel there will be mad rush in April to increase allchannel sets from about 25% to the required 100% of production. If this should happen, they fear temporary shortage of tuners could cause major dislocation. Last few weeks have seen increase in tempo of rumors that Commission will abandon uhf for close-spaced vhf assignments, or that it will be receptive to petition for postponement of effective date of all-channel law while it ponders various channel allocation proposals. These rumors are based on pure misinformation, lack of information and wishful thinking. Some of these arise from fact that FCC is hearing arguments on short-spaced vhf drop-ins (see p. 2), others from existence [ of proposal for reallocation in vhf bands by Bureau of Standards’ Kenneth Norton (Vol. 3:37 p9). Commission finally decided rumors and half-truths had reached such pitch it was time to set record straight, which it did in letter to EIA, approved by full Commission, and released this week. Here is full text: I "It has recently come to our attention through the activities of the Committee for Full Development of AllChannel Broadcasting that some question has been raised as to whether the Commission is contemplating general changes in TV broadcast allocations which would affect implementation of the all-channel TV receiver requirements. "We wish to advise you explicitly by this letter that the Commission has no intention of deviating from its decision to encourage full utilization of the uhf channels for TV broadcasting. We do not intend to initiate any general changes in the principles of the table of channel assignments, including mileage separation requirements, for TV stations, nor do we anticipate any change in the date (April j 30, 1964) after which TV broadcast receivers manufactured must be capable of receiving all TV broadcast channels. ’We hope that this information will dispel any uncertainty as to the Commission’s intentions to I maintain its present TV allocations policies." I Even if serious tuner shortages should arise, it’s highly unlikely that FCC will seriously entertain any petition for postponing April 30 deadline. Commission feels that since date was set far enough in advance, and since it was recommended by industry itself, any hardship will be of industry's own making. Tuner manufacturers say they’re prepared to step up uhf tuner output to 7-million-a-year rate by April 30, if it can be done in orderly fashion. But, said one, "we just physically can't increase our production fourfold in one month. Our facilities are ready, but we must have time to recruit and train workers. We were led to believe that there’ d be a gradual increase in all-channel sets, up to the 100% point by April 30. Now we can see no sign of it. It looks like it’s going to come in one ovei> night jump— on April 30." Set manufacturers concede it does look that way— but, they ask, what can they do as long as dealers keep ordering vhf sets? Said one industry leader, just returned from swing around the country: "The dealers couldn’t care less. They just tell us they’ll face that problem when they get to it. Meanwhile, we can’t shove all-channel sets down their throats. " Tuner makers are hard-pressed even to find out clues to future demand for their product. There are many new elements in this highly competitive field. Japanese firms are now in it with both feet.