Evening star., 1950-11-16
Cout0rdersC Columbia
To Postpone Start Of
Color N Broadcasts
by the Associated Press

S434$kANS, NOFs III lS W.
lumbia Broadcasting System has
lost the first round in a court
fight to begin its commercial
color television programs.
CHS. given the green light by
the Federal Communications
Commission, was blocked yester-
day from starting the color tele-
casts by a three-jpdge panel in
Federal Court.
The judges issued an oral tenn
porary restraining order delaying
CHS from putting on its color
telecasts. scheduled to start Mon
day, for an indefinite period OF
time. CHS started public dem
onstration of its colorcasts last
Monday in New York on an ex-
perimental basis.
Tie court ruled after a two
day hearing in which Radio Corp.
Of America and other television
equipment manufacturers argued
TO halt the CHS telecasts. The
Judges said they needed more
time-possibly another month or
longer-to study the case.
Injunction Ruling Due.
The judges ruled the temporary
restraining order will remain in
force until a ruling is given on in
junction petitions filed by RCA
and other plaintiffs. CHS and the
FEC had sought dismissal of the
petitions or. as an alternative, a
summary Judgment approving the
FEC order.
Attorneys for both sides had
said they would appeal to the
Supreme Court in the event of an
adverse ruling.
In New York, CHS President
Frank Stanton expressed conf
dence the final decision would
favor CHS. He added the de-
cision would not interfere with
CBS's' public demonstrations in
New York on a non-commercial
basis.
Sarnoff Sees Victory for People.
David Sarnoff, RCA board
chairman. commenting on the
ruling, said: "Of course this is
only the first round, but insofar
as 1t represents a victory at this
stage, it is victory for the people
of the United States.
The ruling gives CHS competi-
tors more time in which to i'm
prove their color systems. RCA
contended the CHS color system
was inferior and would cost pres
ent owners Of black-and- white
sets SIS billion to convert to that
system Of color.
The FEC order of October II
approved the CHS color system
and rejected methods demon
strated by RCA and others. Suits
were started by RCA and two
af1liates, the National Broadcast
ing Co. and RCA-Victor Distribu-
ting Corp. Seven other groups
were permitted to intervene as
plaintiffs.
Competitors Gain Time.
The court ruling gives CHS
competitors what they have been
fighting for-more time to prove
they can produce color television
compatible with the present
black-and-wl1ite system - and
could be picked up by present sets
in black-and-white with no added
equipment or adaptation. CHS
color is incompatible-on differ
ent standards-and cannot be re-
ceived satisfactorily on present
sets without added equipment.
Judge j. Earl Major, chief JUS
tice of the United States court
Of Appeals and one of the mem
bers Of the court panel, said "it
is unthinkable that the court hand
down a decision at once in view
of the Importance and complica-
tions of this case"
Addressing his remarks to law
yers at the FEC and CHS table,
he said: 1.-THE court was not con-
vinced by your arguments that it
makes any difference to the pub
lie whether the FEC order be-
comes effective November 20 or
December 90"