Evening star., 1952-02-03
THE SUNDAY STAR, washington, D. G.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY B. 1864
Theoters Prepare to Do Battle
For Slice Of TeIeWsiion's Air
By Harry MocArthur

major televon battle to be waged IN the nearing
rooms Commission is likely 70 De
hot contest the color fight when it gets under way
March 10 That the date set at weeks END D tne F
the of hearings in the matter channels 1or
theater television
that the end of the freeze TV station licenses que
this month But the end of the freeze viii
bring to the Tv industry The battle lines are now
being for this contest.
side motion picture theater owners who viii ask
the FEC for exclusive Tv cnannea closed nignway N tne
skyfor the DEVELOPMENT Of Nationwide argecreen tnear
theater eevson already here IN the
existing facilities Of the american Telephone Telegraph Co.
It not under FEC supervision because has not been
broadcast the public channels OF which the commission
The theater owners who want Tv own
private claim that costs of sending eeviion
leased wires prohbitve and that these present facilities
adequate needs of theater eeviion
in color.
There Will Be Opposition ApIenN
supporters be expected to
that their proposal is in the public interest in that
it will provide of both entertainment and information
which cannot otherwise provided the
Their plan they will tell the FEC infringement on the
present American system of free television
opposition will be well represented however Some Of tt
almost surely will come from the & t. which is expected
claim that the present facilities it has for rent quite
adequate to the needs Of theater television.
The theater TV also expect some opposition from
big advertising agencies which from sponsored
shows broadcasters which do the
thing.
incidentally worried about private Of the
pubcs channels but for audiences The
channels beng sought according to James l. Fy former FEC
special counsel this matter for the Motion
Picture Association at the top range OF the
quency They not practical for broadcasng the
entertainment journal Variety reports but ideal for pontto
the mcroWave relay systems
An Old Enemy Will Be Present
opposition theater TV at the FEC hearings will
TeleviSion Practices Committee The FPC
that everybody ought to get
free waged its against closedccuit theater TV
apparently the ground that buying teevon set to
the fights automatically buys the right to do So
likely that this argument will make more
battle than has before This is not tear
the little International Boxing Club but matter
the feels there still certain amount Of free enter
prise allowed around here. ~
promoting przehght, musical show football
usually the hope OF turning buck which he
by charging admission is private enterprise for profit
undertaking has right to charge what the
allow be eecast to homes to allow to be
televsed for theaters or to forbid all television.
Still Another Bottle Looms 6
things considered interesting seems lie ahead
for commissioner who contemplated it and then
the fight blamed 1t quite possible
that the Of this coming battle will still be econg through
the FEC chambers when the to take the field
These will be proponents of and subscription
Skaon Phonevon and maybe others
hiding Phonevon supporters already have promised to
petition 1852 channels and the others to
right along
could to hotter contest than the theatef
TV hearings The supporters Of the systems
muster convincing the present broadcasters
their oudt protests for this fight The Telemeter
Skaron and Phonevon people want channels in the regular
television portion of the broadcast spectrum.