On the Way

Color television, the industry's answer to 3-D, was off to a hopeful start. The Federal Communications Commission, assembled in Manhattan last week for a look at the latest in color TV, saw the result of months of work by the National Television System Committee, representing major manufacturers and networks, whose job it was to develop compatible color j standards that FCC would approve.

To show what could be done. NBC, CBS and Du Mont each took a turn transmitting scenes ordered by FCC: NBC ran off a short variety show, then bounced | some color pictures to Washington, D.C. and back, alternating between coaxial cable and microwave relay: CBS concentrated on a brief outdoor scene; Du Mont showed some ultra high frequency color slides: NBC finished up with its own outdoor pickup. Hovering tensely over FCC during the programs was a Hues Who of experts, executives, engineers and designers. Among them: RCA Board Chairman David Sarnoff. who kept his eyes fixed on CBS's new color tube ("No comment"), and CBS President Frank Stanton, who watched his own set from 15 feet away with a pair of high-powered binoculars.

For the most part, the showing was a success. FCC was "impressed." Said Chairman Rosel H. Hyde: "It is not unreasonable to expect that the commission will approve compatible color TV standards by Christmas." Commented FCC Commissioner Frieda Hennock: "Color doesn't make you look as fat as black and white."

Now that FCC approval is at hand, intermural wrangling among manufacturers and networks will get hotter. RCA claims to have the best transmitting system; CBS, which introduced a new receiver tube two weeks ago, insists it is better than RCA's tube and furthermore, easier to massproduce. What does it all mean to televiewers? Color TV sets may be on the market by next fall; screens will be small (about 14 inches) at first; prices (on early sets) about $700 to $1,000.

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