Music Trade Review
Issue: 1952 Vol. 111 N. 4 - Page 22
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/
RECORDS-ACCESSORIES
Federal Communications Commission Autho-
rizes 2053 New TV Stations in 1291 Territories
The Federal Communications Com-
sion on April 13 lifted its three-and-a-
half-year-old ban on the construction of
new television stations, clearing the way
for the long-awaited expansion of the
industry.
The commission provided for the op-
ening of 2,053 new stations in 1,291
communities in the United States, its
territories and possessions as part of a
long-range plan to bring television to
all. Only 108 stations are now on the
air, capable of reaching less than half
the population of the country.
Moreover, the commission set aside
for exclusive use by non-commercial,
educational interests, channel assign-
ments in 242 communities.
The allotments for education repre-
sent about 11.5 per cent of the nation's
available airways and compare with 209
channels proposed by the commission
in March, 1951.
Local Channels Increased
In New York City the agency allocat-
ed two new channels—making a total
of eight. Channel 25 in the city will be
used for educational purposes and
Channel .31 will be commercially oper-
ated. There will be sixty channels in
New York State, fifteen in New Jersey
and seventeen in Connecticut.
To effect its long-range program of
vast expansion the commission opened'
for further television transmission sev-
enty new channels in the ultra high fre-
quency (U. H. F.) field to augment the
twelve very high frequency (V. H. F.)
channels now in use.
Previous allocations allowed for
about 400 outlets on the twelve chan-
nels, but since Sept. ,30, 1948, new sta-
tion construction has been halted be-
cause the limited very high frequency
band was becoming crowded during the
22
post-war boom of the industry.
"Very high frequency," the name
given the air wave band in which tele-
vision stations operate today, ranges
from 54 to 216 megacycles, the meas-
urement used in differentiating chan-
nels. The new "ultra high frequency"
band ranges over a spectrum from 470
to 890 megacycles.
The new plan, resulting from pro-
tracted hearings, calls for station sep-
arations ranging from 170 miles to 220
miles in very high frequency channels,
and from 155 miles to 205 miles in the
new ultra high frequency channels.
Wider Mileage Separations
The main purpose in opening the
market to the ultra high frequency band
—in which both new New York City
stations would work — is to provide
more television channels. One hundred
and twenty-seven of the 242 channels
for education will be in U. H. F.
To most of the nation's 16.000,000
television set owners, operation of the
dual-band system means they must buy
adapters to get programs broadcast on
ultra high frequency, which has a high-
er frequency range than the present very
high frequency band but does not have
major, if any, technological advantages
over the other.
Estimated costs of the adapters range
from $10 to $50. None is yet on the
market.
Ultimately, as television becomes
widely used on a dual-operation basis,
manufacturers will build sets to receive
very high and ultra high frequency sig-
nals. Or, for some communities in
which only ultra high frequency broad-
casts can be received, makers will sell
exclusively U. H. F. sets.
In thawing its freeze, the commission
said it would allow applicants for sta-
tion grants until July 1 to file their bids,
and generally would act first on those
from larger communities. The over-all
top priority of the whole allocation pro-
gram, the commission emphasized, was
to place at least one television service
in every part of the country.
From now until July 1, too, appli-
cants who already have filed for new
stations must submit new bids on revised
forms. There were 523 applications on
file with the commission today.
When all the new 2,053 stations will
finally be put on the air, as is antici-
pated in the order, remains a matter of
speculation. Experts believe that only a
few stations can be licensed this year
and put to work because of the great
demands expected for choice channels.
Such contentions must be weighed by
the commission a time-consuming hear-
ings.
The major obstruction to a wider ex-
pansion, is the Production Authority's
present bar against the building of color
television sets. This has been in effect
primarily because the making of the sets
would divert many electronic engineers
as well as materials from the defense
'effort. Color television when allowed
can be broadcast on U. H. F. and
V. H. F.
Manufacturers of television equip-
ment will have no trouble equipping
the many new stations.
In addition, conversion equipment to
permit existing sets to get ultra-high-
frequency programs will be readily
available.
This was disclosed by a canvass of
the industry. Actually orders will not
immediately materialize. The F. C. C.
will not begin processing applications
for new stations until July 1. There will
be hearings before assignments are
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 1952
/
RECORDS-ACCESSORIES
Federal Communications Commission Autho-
rizes 2053 New TV Stations in 1291 Territories
The Federal Communications Com-
sion on April 13 lifted its three-and-a-
half-year-old ban on the construction of
new television stations, clearing the way
for the long-awaited expansion of the
industry.
The commission provided for the op-
ening of 2,053 new stations in 1,291
communities in the United States, its
territories and possessions as part of a
long-range plan to bring television to
all. Only 108 stations are now on the
air, capable of reaching less than half
the population of the country.
Moreover, the commission set aside
for exclusive use by non-commercial,
educational interests, channel assign-
ments in 242 communities.
The allotments for education repre-
sent about 11.5 per cent of the nation's
available airways and compare with 209
channels proposed by the commission
in March, 1951.
Local Channels Increased
In New York City the agency allocat-
ed two new channels—making a total
of eight. Channel 25 in the city will be
used for educational purposes and
Channel .31 will be commercially oper-
ated. There will be sixty channels in
New York State, fifteen in New Jersey
and seventeen in Connecticut.
To effect its long-range program of
vast expansion the commission opened'
for further television transmission sev-
enty new channels in the ultra high fre-
quency (U. H. F.) field to augment the
twelve very high frequency (V. H. F.)
channels now in use.
Previous allocations allowed for
about 400 outlets on the twelve chan-
nels, but since Sept. ,30, 1948, new sta-
tion construction has been halted be-
cause the limited very high frequency
band was becoming crowded during the
22
post-war boom of the industry.
"Very high frequency," the name
given the air wave band in which tele-
vision stations operate today, ranges
from 54 to 216 megacycles, the meas-
urement used in differentiating chan-
nels. The new "ultra high frequency"
band ranges over a spectrum from 470
to 890 megacycles.
The new plan, resulting from pro-
tracted hearings, calls for station sep-
arations ranging from 170 miles to 220
miles in very high frequency channels,
and from 155 miles to 205 miles in the
new ultra high frequency channels.
Wider Mileage Separations
The main purpose in opening the
market to the ultra high frequency band
—in which both new New York City
stations would work — is to provide
more television channels. One hundred
and twenty-seven of the 242 channels
for education will be in U. H. F.
To most of the nation's 16.000,000
television set owners, operation of the
dual-band system means they must buy
adapters to get programs broadcast on
ultra high frequency, which has a high-
er frequency range than the present very
high frequency band but does not have
major, if any, technological advantages
over the other.
Estimated costs of the adapters range
from $10 to $50. None is yet on the
market.
Ultimately, as television becomes
widely used on a dual-operation basis,
manufacturers will build sets to receive
very high and ultra high frequency sig-
nals. Or, for some communities in
which only ultra high frequency broad-
casts can be received, makers will sell
exclusively U. H. F. sets.
In thawing its freeze, the commission
said it would allow applicants for sta-
tion grants until July 1 to file their bids,
and generally would act first on those
from larger communities. The over-all
top priority of the whole allocation pro-
gram, the commission emphasized, was
to place at least one television service
in every part of the country.
From now until July 1, too, appli-
cants who already have filed for new
stations must submit new bids on revised
forms. There were 523 applications on
file with the commission today.
When all the new 2,053 stations will
finally be put on the air, as is antici-
pated in the order, remains a matter of
speculation. Experts believe that only a
few stations can be licensed this year
and put to work because of the great
demands expected for choice channels.
Such contentions must be weighed by
the commission a time-consuming hear-
ings.
The major obstruction to a wider ex-
pansion, is the Production Authority's
present bar against the building of color
television sets. This has been in effect
primarily because the making of the sets
would divert many electronic engineers
as well as materials from the defense
'effort. Color television when allowed
can be broadcast on U. H. F. and
V. H. F.
Manufacturers of television equip-
ment will have no trouble equipping
the many new stations.
In addition, conversion equipment to
permit existing sets to get ultra-high-
frequency programs will be readily
available.
This was disclosed by a canvass of
the industry. Actually orders will not
immediately materialize. The F. C. C.
will not begin processing applications
for new stations until July 1. There will
be hearings before assignments are
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 1952
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