According to Alfred H. Morton, Vice-President of NBC in charge of television, there were 1,200 television sets in the New York area as of publication in October 1939. When NBC began its television service to the public on April 30 there were a total of 500 sets in NY.
Morton says that sales of sets will improve as the broadcasts improve, as both did in early September.
Morton says TV won’t compete with movies: “We don’t intend to go into the film business. We believe the film industry will eventually meet us half way, and we think there will be enterprising producers who will see the opportunities in making pictures for television, and who will profit as a result.”
Morton also added that the war would have no effect on TV in the New York area.
Under a separate heading in the same article was a listing of programs scheduled to air on television during the Fall. They included: the Fordham-Waynesburg football game that aired the previous Saturday; the Ronson Lighter Company musical review last Friday; “The Butter and Egg Man” with Helen Twelvetrees next Tuesday.
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