Television began 1941 still in the experimental stage, but the FCC continued to study whether it should lift its ban on commercials. The TV industry got together and made 22 recommendations to the Commission involving transmission of pictures and sound, and on what frequencies.
Commercialization had been postponed indefinitely in 1940 because the FCC wasn’t happy with an RCA power play, advertising new sets which meant RCA was setting the standard for transmissions. When the FCC held hearings in March 1941, RCA pulled another power play. It wanted commercialization delayed because DuMont came up with a system the commissioners liked, and RCA wasn’t ready to change and put it in place.
Great gobs of industry print space was devoted to this, but you’ll read only some basic stories below. CBS, by the way, was continuing to push its colour system. RCA counter-moved by saying, uh, we have a system, too, yeah, that’s it. But we can’t tell you about it or demonstrate it (as CBS had done before the Commissioners).
As March 1941 closed, the Commissioners went away to ponder what to do. (As Variety pointed out on April 2, there were factions on the FCC, too. Such is the nature of politics).
Meanwhile, on the air, in New York, NBC’s W2XBS continued irregular broadcasts, either sports events live from Madison Square Garden or films (most of them starring Sally Blane). CBS’ W2XAB continued testing. DuMont's W2XWV wasn’t ready to go on the air.
Here are some listings for W2XBS. If there’s reference to a test pattern, the copy comes from the New York Herald Tribune. Otherwise, the schedule is from the Daily News.
Wednesday, January 1, 1941
For the first time in its long and colorful history, the Mummers’ Parade was televised yesterday [1], and broadcast over a 50-mile area [on W3XE]. A large wooden platform was built out from a window of Council’s chamber on the fourth floor of City Hall, facing N. Broad st., for the television camera. Transmitting apparatus all but filled the big room. The parade pictures were relayed to the Philco plant from a special sending station in City Hall tower. Three screens were set u in the Council chamber. (Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 2)
Saturday, January 4, 1941
W2XBS, New York (video, 51.25 mcs.; audio, 55.75 mcs.)
8:15—Collegiate Basketball—Fordham-North Carolina; LIU-Michigan State.
Sunday, January 5, 1941
8:30—Film—“The Quitter” (1929) with Ben Lyon.
Wednesday, January 8, 1941
8:15—Collegiate Basketball—CCNY-St. John’s; NYU-Manhattan.
Thursday, January 9, 1941
Color television of living objects in a direct pickup was demonstrated publicly yesterday [9] for the first time by the Columbia Broadcasting System. The pictures, in bright, natural hues, were picked up by a television camera in the C. B. S. laboratories on the fifth floor of 485 Madison Avenue, transmitted by coaxial cable under Fifty-second Street and reproduced In a studio of the new C. B. S. building at 49 East Fifty Second Street.
The demonstration followed by four months a C. B. S. showing of color television in which the objects were televised by scanning a motion-picture film. In yesterday’s direct pickup of original objects a vari-colored globe was set spinning without any “break-up” of the colors. Confetti appeared on the screen, with the various hues distinct and vivid. A girl was pictured. Seen afterward her complexion and the color of her hair were the same as appeared on the screen.
A black-and-white television set showed the same program, but the objects appeared dull and gray in comparison with the color screen. Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, chief television engineer at C. B. S., said that today color television “is in the laboratory, but with the co—operation of the industry, I do not think it will be there long.” The first demonstration yesterday was for the press. Other demonstrations were given for members of the Institute of Radio Engineers, which is holding its sixteenth annual convention at the Hotel Pennsylvania. (NY Herald Tribune, Jan. 10)
Friday, January 10, 1941
8:30—Film—“City Park” (1934) with Sally Blane.
Sunday, January 12, 1941
7:10—Test Pattern.
8:30—Hockey—N.Y. Rangers vs. N.Y. Americans.
Tuesday, January 14, 1941
PRESERVING the status quo of three television projects in Los Angeles, the FCC on Jan. 14 granted motions to dismiss proceedings instituted by CBS against FCC authorization of visual broadcast facilities for Earle C. Anthony Inc. and Hughes Productions Division of Hughes Tool Co. The Jan. 14 action leaves all three parties with facilities previously authorized.
By its action the FCC granted a motion to dismiss petitions for re-hearing filed Dec. 6, 1940, by CBS and directed against the FCC action of Nov. 15, 1940, granting the application of Earle C. Anthony Inc. for a construction permit for a television station in Los Angeles to operate on television channel No. 6, and making final its conditional grant of June 18, 1940, to Hughes Productions Division of Hughes Tool Co. for a television construction permit in Los Angeles to operate on Channel No. 2 instead of Channel No. 3, as had been requested. The FCC also granted withdrawal of a request by CBS for hearing on its own application for a television construction permit in Los Angeles on Channel No. 3 instead of Channel No. 8, as granted Nov. 15, 1940. (Broadcasting, Jan. 20, 1941)
Wednesday, January 15, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Film—“Happiness C.O.D.” (1935) with Donald Meek.
Friday, January 17, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
Sunday, January 19, 1941
7:40—Test Pattern.
8:40—Hockey—N.Y. Americans vs. Toronto.
Monday, January 20, 1941
HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 20. (UP)—Erection of the nation’s highest television antenna began today on a 1700-foot mountain top overlooking Hollywood.
The antenna, 300 foot steel tower, will rise atop Mt. Lee and furnish a vertical clearance of nearly half a mile for transmission of synchronized images and sound from the new 100,000 studio of television Station W6XAO. Programs are expected to reach approximately 500 home tele-receivers.
A 4,000,000 candlepower beacon at the point of the tower will guide airplanes to nearby landing fields.
Thomas S. Lee, radio chain operator, is building the television establishment.
Tuesday, January 21, 1941
FARNSWORTH Television & Radio Corp., Fort Wayne, Ind., on Jan. 21 was granted a construction permit for a new research and experimental television station to operate on Channel No. 3 (66-72 mc). This station will use 1,000 watts oral and visual power. (Broadcasting, Jan. 27)
Wednesday, January 22, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Film—“The Marines Are Here” (1938) with June Travis.
Friday, January 24, 1941
11:00—Test Pattern.
Noon—Variety Program.
An exhibition of theatre screen television, another RCA development, at the New Yorker Theatre, revealed that scenes could be expanded to fifteen by twenty-foot dimensions and still retain quality comparable with that of a home receiver. A steel-barreled projector over the edge of the balcony casts the images on the stage screen sixty feet away.
An hour program patterned after a vaudeville bill was scheduled to illustrate the apparatus. Marie-Jeanne, ballerina; Jean Dickinson, soprano, and Al Trahan, comedian, performed their turns before the electric cameras in what turned out to be a first-class show. (NY Times, Feb. 2)
Officials of the Federal Communications Commission will attend the broadcast from the studios of N. B. C. at Radio City, New York.
Col. George J. Schulz, regimental commander of the 198th, will command the units of the regiment. The subject of the broadcast will be the picturization of activities at the defense training center.
The 15-minute broadcast from Camp Upton will be a part of a two-hour program.
Col. C. W. Baird, commanding officer, Camp Upton, and Lieut.-Col. H. C. Brentzer, commanding officer, 122nd Reception Center, will take part.
Actual scenes of army life, including arrival of selectees, recruit drill instruction, and action of a trained gun crew will be presented. (Wilmington Journal, Jan. 21)
In an effort to convince the Federal Communications Commission that television is sufficiently advanced to merit commercialization, the leading organizations fostering the art staged demonstrations here yesterday [24] of its latest developments for members of the commission. The National Television System Committee, formed by the Radio Manufacture Association to pave the way for the entrance of the advertiser into television, also saw the demonstrations.
Television successfully met the test of inclement weather and unstable light conditions when scenes from Camp Upton at Yaphank, L. I., sixty-eight miles distant, were flashed to Radio City over an automatic radio relay as part of the Radio Corporation of America demonstration. The pictures were picked up at the camp by a mobile unit, which routed them to the automatic relay system, consisting of unattended stations that “bounce” television images across the countryside without the use of wire connections. Observers agreed that little definition or brilliance was lost in the reproduced scenes, despite the distance.
National Network Is Aim
The FCC members, who came to the showings as a preliminary to receiving a progress report from the manufacturers’ committee Monday in Washington, were told that the relay towers, as designed for future use, are expected to dot the landscape to make possible inter-city television and eventually a network on a national scale.
Theatre screen television also received major attention during the RCA portion of the tour and 15 by 20 foot pictures were shown at the New Yorker Theatre, in West Fifty-fourth Street. The scenes were comparable in quality with those shown on a home receiver.
At the theatre, Camp Upton again was picked up, and while the scenes were not as strict in detail as those viewed previously on a small screen, the enlarged pictures were applauded by the engineers. In addition, the announcer’s image was projected on the screen with clarity after having been transmitted over a 102-mile relay. The picture was picked up at Radio City and flashed to the relay system’s amplifying unit at Hauppauge, fifty-one miles distant, and returned to New York.
A new multisonic sound system developed for use with the large television screen was employed. It permits movement of sound with action on the screen, rotation of sound around the walls of the auditorium and emanation of sound from any one desired point in the theatre. A play “K-7,” which contained bombing scenes, was used to illustrate the system.
New Receiver Used
The R. C. A. demonstration at Radio City was picked up on a new design of home-television receiver utilizing a 13 1/2 by 18 inch picture, which was introduced publicly for the first time. Women’s hair, wallpaper designs and other similar details were brought out in striking clarity.
A demonstration over coaxial cable, or television “pipe,” was given by the Bell Telephone Laboratories at 463 West Street. It consisted of test patterns and some movie shorts that were transmitted from an adjoining studio, and also over a line to Philadelphia. While the Images had only to travel about fifty feet from the local studio, they had to pass through 200-odd miles of cable when they were transmitted to Philadelphia and back to the local screen.
At the New York headquarters of the Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, Inc., at 515 Madison Avenue, television was demonstrated with 625-line definition. The present standard is 441 lines. The object was to prove that the Du Mont system precludes obsolescence of television receivers, no matter at which standard images are telecast.
The FCC members will continue their tour today by visiting the Columbia Broadcasting System at 485 Madison Avenue, where they will inspect television in colors before returning to Washington. (NY Times, Jan. 25)
Saturday, January 25, 1941
Television in color, based on the developments made by Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, Columbia Broadcasting System chief television engineer, and his staff, was viewed at 485 Madison Avenue. Programs were televised both from films and “live” studio shows.
Dr. Goldmark also demonstrated a new system of studio lighting—from fluorescent bulbs—which is said greatly to reduce the heat television actors normally are subjected to with other types of illumination. After the color test the FCC members returned to Washington, where tomorrow television hearings are scheduled to begin, looking to the commercialization of television. (NY Times, Jan. 26)
Monday, January 27, 1941
Washington.—The National Television Systems Committee yesterday [27] presented to the FCC 22 standards forming a basis for co-ordinated television. Chairman W. R. G. Baker, of the NTSC. stated that the committee believes that these standards provide for a nationally co-ordinated television service.
Color television, the report says, is not ready for commercialization, but the importance of color to art makes continued tests advisable. The commission will hold hearings later of detailed inquiry on the question of adopting the committees recommendations. (Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 28)
Tuesday, January 28, 1941
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday [28] scheduled a hearing on March 20 to consider engineering standards proposed for television and to determine whether visual broadcasting should be placed on a commercial basis.
The hearing was announced following receipt of a report of engineers representing the radio manufacturing industry as to television standards. This report adheres rather closely to the previous recommendations of the Radio Manufacturers Association, which was rejected by the FCC more than a year ago.
The National Television System Committeee’s report stated that the adoption of the standards it proposed would “make possible the creation, in the public interest, of a nationally coordinated television service and at the same time will insure continued development of the art.”
All of the major experimenters in the visual broadcasting field except the Allen B. Du.Mont Laboratories, Inc., are understood to be willing to adopt these standards. (Washington Post, Jan. 29)
Wednesday, January 29, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:10—Test Pattern.
8:10—Collegiate Basketball—LIU-Butler; St. Francis-Rhode Island State.
Actions of the Federal Radio Commission, Jan. 29
TELEVISION RENEWALS—W2XAB, New York; W2XBT. W2XBU, W2XBS, New York; W6XBU, Los Angeles; W2XVT, Passaic, N.J.; W9XZV, Chicago. Licenses extended to 3-1-41 pending action on renewals—W3XE, W3XP, Philadelphia; W2XI, New Scotland, N.Y.; W3XAD, W3XEP, Camden, N.J. Licenses extended to 3-1-41 pending receipt of renewal applications—W2XB, W2XH, Schenectady; W9UI, Iowa City.
NEW, May Department Stores Co., Los Angeles, granted extension time to supply experimental television program to W6XMC (CP only) for 60 days from 1-14-41. (Broadcasting, Feb. 3)
Friday, January 31, 1941
8:30—Wrestling Matches.
Saturday, February 1, 1941
Those exciting Millrose Games, which officially opened this season’s track meets, were both seen and heard over the air last [Saturday] night. WINS, which had received special permission from the FCC to operate after its allotted time, picked up most of the event, beginning at 9. WHN opened its mike at Madison Square Garden at 9:30 and WMCA at 10. NBC’s television station W2XBS began telecasting from there at 8:30, giving set owners box seats at one of the most thrilling sports items of the year. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Feb. 2).
Tuesday, February 4, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:40—Test Pattern.
8:10—Hockey—N.Y. Americans vs. New York Rangers.
If you like sports in the loudspeaker, Bert Lee’s account of the Americans-Rangers hockey clash should have been interesting (WHN-9:30). And if you happen to own a television set, you might have caught it via NBC’s televised relay. Hockey stubbornly stays the toughest of all sports to be compressed into camera limits. However, the man at the camera controls did a swell job of following the puck. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Feb. 5)
Wednesday, February 5, 1941
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, Feb. 5
NEW, LeRoy’s Jewelers, Los Angeles; FCC on own motion modified conditional grant for television station to substitute Channel No. 13 for No. 10; CBS, Los Angeles, granted extention to 5-1-41 for filing program of research for television station. (Broadcasting, Feb. 10)
Friday, February 7, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling Matches at Jamaica Arena.
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, Feb. 7
NEW, R. B. Eaton, granted continuance hearing television application. (Broadcasting, Feb. 10)
Saturday, February 8, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:10—Test Pattern.
8:10—Collegiate Basketball—LIU-Duquesne; CCNY-Fordham.
Wednesday, February 12, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Film—“Numbered Women” (1938) with Sally Blane, Lloyd Hughes.
Friday, February 14, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:10—Test Pattern.
8:10—Collegiate Basketball—NYU-Notre Dame; Manhattan-St. Francis.
Saturday, February 15, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—N.Y. Athletic Club Track Meet.
Wednesday, February 19, 1941
Friday, February 21, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, February 22, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Track Meet at Madison Square Garden.
Both radio and television picked up the National A.A.U. track meet at Madison Square Garden. WINS (9), WHN (9:15), WABC (9:45) and WHN (10) carried vivid verbal descriptions . . . but W2XBS beat them all with its clear pictures (8:30), reflected on the screens of the city’s television sets. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Feb. 23)
Monday, February 24, 1941
CHICAGO, March 1.—Balaban & Katz began construction on its television antennae last Monday (24). It will be on top of the State-Lake Theater Building, on whose top floor the B & K transmitter is located. (Billboard, Mar. 8)
Tuesday, February 25, 1941
A franchise has been granted for the operation of a television and frequency modulation station under the name of Metropolitan Television, Inc., to be owned by Bloomingdale Bros. and Abraham & Strauss, Inc., Brooklyn, it was made known today by Ira A. Hischmann, vice-president of Bloomingdale’s.
Mr. Hirschmann further made known that the Washington Institute of Technology has been retained as engineers in the construction of the station, which is planned at the Hotel Pierre. Dr. Frank G. Kear is the engineer representing the institute.
A program formula has already been worked out, Mr. Hirschmann added, calling for public activities, public information, merchandise presentation and demonstrations of the application of education. Experimental broadcasts are planned for within the next few months, but this depends upon the ability, because of the defense program, of the company to obtain necessary equipment. Mr. Hirschmann stated that it his belief that television is the future means of presenting a message on goods effectively. How soon, he said, he could not at this time fortell. (Women’s Wear Daily, Feb. 25)
Thursday, February 27, 1941
Washington.—The FCC yesterday [27] issued a detailed list of the proposed standards for commercialized television, in preparedness for the hearing to be held March 20 which will be open for suggestions and criticisms. Those proposing to testify must notify the FCC by March 15.
One proposed rule provides that all motion picture films employed in telecasts must be described at such for the start of the program. Other rules state that no person may own more than one television station that would serve the same area, that licenses be issued for one year, and that stations must maintain a regular program for five hours a day except on Sunday. (Hollywood Reporter, Feb. 28)
Actions of the Federal Radio Commission, Feb. 27
W6XHH, W6XHT, Los Angeles—Modification CP new television stations to extend commencement date. (Broadcasting, Mar. 3)
Friday, February 28, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, March 1, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Track Meet at Madison Square Garden.
INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Madison Square Garden
Saturday (1), 8 p.m.
W2XBS-NBC, New York
Telecasting is still on the quietus, experimental activity by NBC practically standing by and only occasionally warming up the equipment with films. For the past three Saturday evenings, however, track events at Madison Square Garden have been televised. Last Saturday (1) the indoor Intercollegiate Championships were covered by NBC’s mobile unit, proving satisfactory diversion to track fans who operated receiving sets instead of being at the Garden.
Officials of the meet held to schedule with the result that the program was run off promptly. Men at the television microphones spotted the standout contestants, the camera closely following the leaders around the track. Comment of the announcers made the program exciting. The scoring of points was frequently tabulated and towards the finish there was no doubt but that Fordham would win the meet. Pole vaulter and broadjumpers had an edge because directly in front of the camera.
NBC unit had Jack Fraser on descriptive comment, with Ray Forrest doing the regular announcing. Burke Crotty in charge of producing and Hal See, engineer. Monday (3) same unit televised the Golden Gloves boxing finals, also at the Garden. Ibee. (Variety, Mar. 5)
Columbus’ history-making voyage to America will be depicted in full color television at the CBS building today at 1 P. M. for the benefit of representatives of foreign countries attending the conference of The School of the Air of the Americas. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Mar. 1)
Monday, March 3, 1941
8:00—Finals of N.Y. Golden Gloves.
ALLEN B. DU MONT Television Laboratories is demonstrating television with 625 lines, 15 frames, each Wednesday and Friday afternoon through March 20 in the company’s studios at 515 Madison Ave., New York. (Broadcasting, Mar. 3)
Saturday, March 8, 1941
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Knights of Columbus Track Meet at Madison Square Garden.
Those who have television receivers didn’t have to walk or drive through the snow to Madison Square Garden to see the classic annual Knights of Columbia Track Meet. All they had to do was to twirl a few dials, glance at the mirror and presto! there they were in a ringside seat. W2XBS’ telecast of the proceedings (8:30) gave them a first class close-up of every event. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Mar. 9)
Wednesday, March 12, 1941
7:00—Test Pattern.
8:00—Boxing—Eastern Golden Gloves Finals from Madison Square Garden.
Thousands of broadcasting fans in the New York area not only heard but saw The News’ Eastern Golden Glove Finals at Madison Square Garden last night. For W2XBS, NBC's television station, telecast the event beginning at 8, with the dynamic Sam Taub at the mike. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Mar. 13)
Plans for the establishment of frequency modulation and television broadcasting facilities by the Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., atop the 50 story One La Salle Street building, 1 North La Salle street, were disclosed yesterday [12]. The broadcasting company has entered into an option agreement with the One La Salle Street Company, owner of the building, giving it the right to negotiate a 10 year lease of the roof of the structure. It is planned to build a 100 foot tower on the top of the building which now rises 529 feet above the sidewalk. (Chi Trib, Mar. 13)
Friday, March 14, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, March 14
W9XBK, Chicago—Granted temporary authority operate two transmitter units for television. (Broadcasting, Mar. 17)
Sunday, March 16, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Film— “The Numbered Woman” (1938) with Sally Blane.
Monday, March 17, 1941
NBC HAS CONFIRMED a report that it recently broadcast a television program in color, using live talent for the program, but the network's television executives refused to disclose any details of the experimental telecast. CBS last year broadcast a film program in full color and has more recently demonstrated color pickups of live talent with the pictures fed from the cameras to the receivers by cable, as the CBS video transmitter is out of service while being re-equipped for broadcasting on its new channel. (Broadcasting, Mar. 17)
Tuesday, March 18, 1941
Hollywood, March 18. Lewis Allen Weiss shoved off for Washington to grab a commercial television license for the Don Lee network’s W6XAO. He’s on the books for the first handout.
Understood that engineers working on a set of standards for the past two years will stand pat on 441 lines and 30 frames per second in their report to the Federal Communications Commission at the hearing Thursday in Washington. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Wednesday, March 19, 1941
7:10—Test pattern.
8:10—Basketball—R. I. State vs. Seton Hall; L. I. University vs. Westminster.
Thursday, March 20, 1941
WAShINGTON, March 20—Hearings were begun by the Federal Communications Commission today on proposed standards in television and a possible date for commercial operation.
Reporting for the National Television System Committee, of which he is chairman, Dr. W. R. G. Baker of the General Electric Company said that in the light of new information revisions of the recommendations made in a committee report submitted in January had been agreed upon.
The committee now recommends that when tests have proved one system superior, the commission’s standards be narrowed to require the commercial use of that system, that all eighteen instead of seven channels, previously recommended, be set aside for television, and that in scanning, the standard number of lines should be 525, interlaced two to one, instead of 441, as recommended in the January report, and that the standard frame frequency should be 30 a second.
Other witnesses heard today were Paul Porter, Adrian Murphy and Dr. Peter Goldmark of the Columbia Broadcasting System, David B. Smith of the Philco Radio Corporation, Donald J. Fink, editor of Electronic Magazine, and Allen B. Dumont of the Dumont Laboratories. (NY Times, Mar. 20)
Washington.—Speaking yesterday [20] at the FCC hearing on standards and commercialization of television, Adrian Murphy, director of that branch for CBS, declared that he hoped that there will be some film companies which will take pictures exclusively for television use. He had seen few movies that would be suitable, he said, and, although so far, the telecasting companies have been able to get films for small fees, it is impossible to say what the price will be when the art becomes more popular and in more general use. He added that there had been some reluctance on the part of the picture business to supply films.
Murphy advocated that sets be made to receive both color and black and white. Otherwise, he said, color will be at a great disadvantage even though it has greater appeal to the public. He opposed the regulation requiring television licensees to put on programs five hours a day and recommended that no specific number of hours be set. Five hours a day would surpassed he said when television is further developed, but it is impossible now. “There is no chance for broadcasters to get any appreciable amount of income for some time,” he asserted, “even if the television rates are five times as high as regular radio rates. Broadcasters will be able to spend only about $100 an hour for television programs now, and I couldn’t produce an interesting program for that.”
The question of color television may delay its commercialization, it was hinted yesterday. Representatives of the industry said that the color angle is not ready and some felt that this might case the FCC to hold up the approval of commercialization. (Hollywood Reporter, Mar. 21)
Friday, March 21, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
WASHINGTON, March 22 (AP)—Immediate commercialization of television was asked yesterday [21] by witnesses appearing before the Federal Communications Commission.
The Commission is conducting hearings on engineering standards for television with a view to fixing a date for the start of commercial operations.
Allen B. Du Mont, head of Du Mont Laboratories, said he thought the industry had had enough experience to warrant immediate commercialization.
Another witness, Edward M. Martin, counsel for Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation, Fort Wayne, Ind., expressed similar views.
A. N. Morton, Vice-President of the National Broadcasting Company, opposed a proposal to require 30 hours television broadcasting weekly. This, he send, would impose a heavy burden on radiocasters in the beginning. He suggested a minimum of 10 hours a week, to be increased as circumstances permit.
Members of the Federal Communications Commission were startled late yesterday [21] to hear officials of the Radio Corporation of America testify that R. C. A.-N. B. C. is not as well prepared for commercial television now as it was a year ago.
Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, chief engineer of R. C. A., suggested that the FCC adopt television standards recommended by the National Television System Committee, a group representing the industry, but that it delay commercialization. Chairman James L. Fly expressed astonishment at what he termed a change in attitude of R. C. A., but other members of the FCC interpreted Dr. Jolliffe’s testimony as meaning that R. C. A. was not prepared to market television receivers as it was a year ago. At that time the FCC stepped in to rescind a previous order.
Plant Doing Defense Work
R. C. A. is no longer manufacturing or marketing television sets. Jolliffe said, and its Camden plant is engaged to a limited degree in defense work.
N. B. C. television transmissions have been reduced from 10 to 12 hours a week to 6 to 8 hours, he said.
Moreover, he testified, the industry does not know what effect the national defense program and priorities may have on the manufacture of visual broadcasting transmitters and receivers.
Chairman Fly questioned A. H. Morton, N. B. C. vice president in charge of television, as to why nine months have elapsed since N. B. C. was given a permit to erect a Washington television transmitter and nothing had been done.
Dismantling Tower
Morton said a tower had been obtained only recently and was being dismantled to bring to the National Capital.
Spokesmen for the Columbia Broadcasting System said the network was willing for the FCC to adopt standards and set a date for commercialization of television, but contended the industry would have to develop gradually and that the public should not be led to expect too much at the outset.
Other industry representatives urged the commission to permit television to go on a commercial basis at once, although the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories continued to Insist that its more flexible standards are preferable to those recommended by the committee representing the majority of manufacturers.
Edward M. Martin, Washington attorney, representing the Farnsworth Television Corporation, told the commission that television should be of military value now and should aid in the economic rehabilitation of the country when peace comes.
The commission recessed the hearing until 10 o’clock Monday. (James D. Secrest, Washington Post, Mar. 22)
Monday, March 24, 1941
8:00—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WASHINGTON, March 24—Immediate standardization and authorization of television broadcasting was urged by all the witnesses at today’s final hearing before the Federal Communications Commission.
The radio industry is ready to go ahead, its representatives assured the commission, but before anything can be done, it must have definite standards and authority to proceed, and a known date on which television broadcasting is to be placed on a commercial basis.
An interval between authorization and effective operation is essential if commercial broadcasting is to “get off to a good start,” the witnesses told the commission.
Previously the date had been fixed as last Sept. 1, but the date was later withdrawn.
The refusal of any witness to name a date, or to assert his willingness to begin commercialized broadcasting without any delay, was characterized as illogical by James Lawrence Fly, chairman of the commission, in view of their protests at the cancellation of its “green light” order last year.
Taking issue especially with the attitude of the National Broadcasting Company, as stated by its representatives, Mr. Fly demanded “why not now.” and was told in reply by A. H. Morton and Dr. C. B. Jolliffe that NBC “would like to go ahead, and would go ahead, when others do.”
Without fixing any date, NBC’s representatives recommended that commercialized television broadcasting begin “as soon as the demand for commercial television stations exceeds the capacity of channels one through seven.” Edward M. Martin, attorney for the Farnsworth Radio and Television Company of Indiana, told the commission that Farnsworth expects to design and produce television sets in accord with approved standards and have them ready within 120 days from authorization of such standards by the commission.
The standards recommended in the revised report to the commission of the National Television System Committee were accepted, with a few suggested amendments. (New York Times, Mar. 25)
Tuesday, March 25, 1941
BALABAN & KATZ Corp., big motion picture theatre operators and licensee of W91BK and W9XBT, television stations in Chicago, was granted a construction permit March 25 for a new experimental television station in Chicago to operate with 10 watts fulltime on 384,000-396,000 kc. or Group channel, A5 emission. (Broadcasting, Mar. 31)
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Films—“Background of News in Greece” and “Feud of the West” (1936) with Hoot Gibson.
Friday, March 28, 1941
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Monday, March 31, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
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