Current Economic Developments, lot 70 D 467
Current Economic Developments
[Extract]
Issue No. 354
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US International Television Policy
A newly adopted US policy on international television standardization provides for our advocating adoption by other countries of the same technical standards for operation of their television systems as have been adopted by the US or for adoption of standards compatible with ours. This is considered necessary to facilitate the eventual interchange of programs, free interchange of transmitting and receiving equipment, and for greater and more efficient utilization of the radio spectrum. The progress of television development in various parts of the world and its establishment in some countries of the Western Hemisphere have emphasized that the future interests of this country may be jeopardized if the US fails to work actively for compatible television standards and finds itself in an isolated position. This is particularly important so far as other countries of the Western Hemisphere are concerned because it is, of course, technically possible at this time to establish links between those countries which will permit the interchange of programs.
A meeting of the television study group of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) scheduled for May in Stockholm prompted urgent action on our part so that the US delegation would be prepared to present a positive position in support of our television standards or compatible ones. We have had indications that there is certain dissatisfaction with the performance characteristics of the 625 line system now largely utilized in Europe, that there is a tendency to favor the 525 line US standards instead, and that the Netherlands interests will raise this question at the meeting.
Background. The first discussion of television on a government level took place at the CCIR Plenary Assembly at Stockholm in 1948 at which time a television group was set up to study and make recommendations on the possibilities of the international [Page 393] standardization of television systems to facilitate interchange of programs. The study group’s first meeting was held in Zurich in 1949 where four different systems were proposed for worldwide adoption. The 405 line system was in use in the UK, the 525 line system was in use in the US, the 625 line system was used experimentally in and proposed by the Netherlands, and the 819 line system had been adopted as the operating standard in France for a ten-year period. In doing this, however, the French operating agency was also committed to transmit on standards of 441 lines, which had previously been in use in France, for the same period of time.
It was agreed that the four proposed systems should be viewed in operation in order better to appraise their quality of performance, and demonstrations were accordingly held in the US, France, the Netherlands, and the UK in spring, 1950. A study group meeting followed in London at which seven countries of continental Europe declared themselves in favor of the 625 line system advocated by the Dutch and compatible with US standards. These countries invited France and the UK to consider joining them in standardizing television for Europe on the 625 line system. Later in 1950, countries interested in the 625 line system met in Geneva and worked out the complete set of standards based on this system. The UK, US and France were represented.
Results of the television study group’s discussions were submitted to the CCIR Plenary Assembly in 1951 at Geneva. General agreement was reached on many of the component characteristics common to all systems. The majority of the interested continental European countries expressed their interest again in establishing the 625 line system, but the principal users of other systems (including the US) were not in a position to agree to change their established operating standards. The US remained in a favorable position, however, when the decision was taken in favor of the 625 line system because it is compatible with the US system.
Technical Considerations. In approaching the problem of the international standardization of television systems, there are several technical questions which must be weighed. These questions and their significance arise in relation to the three major policy objectives which standardization would bring about: 1) the interchange of programs; 2) the international interchange of equipment and techniques; and 3) the more effective utilization of the radio spectrum.
The direct interchange of programs is not presently feasible between countries separated by extensive water areas. Repeated relaying is required to cover large distances of the order of several hundreds or thousands of miles and such relaying cannot now be [Page 394] accomplished economically over water. There does not seem to be any reasonable prospect that such exchange will be feasible within the foreseeable future. Within regions, such as the European continent or American continents, however, exchange is a practicability. Interchange is not likely to be practical immediately throughout the length of the American land areas, but sufficient interchange between adjacent countries may occur, making uniform standards desirable.
All methods for the direct or instantaneous interchange of programs between television stations require that the several stations involved in the simultaneous broadcast operate on the same standards with regard to the same number of pictures per second and lines per picture. There have been proposals and some experimental work, looking toward equipment which will make possible an immediate translation of program material from one set of standards to another but, in this country at least, there has been no commercial equipment of this type available. However, the experimental work looks promising and it is quite possible that a successful development will occur within the next few years.
At first it would appear that the international sale or exchange of equipment would be facilitated by having international standards. However, this problem is complicated by the existence of electrical power systems of different characteristics in the various countries. Differences in power voltages pose some problems as to interchangeability, but their solution is relatively simple, provided that the differences are anticipated in the design and manufacture of the television equipment. A second and more serious group of problems arises from differences in the frequency of the power stations. These problems are soluble provided they are anticipated at the design stage of the equipment since solution may involve additional filtering, shielding and parts placement in order to minimize the effects of power supply “hum” on the reproduced pictures.
The allocation of frequencies and the efficiency of frequency utilization is affected materially by the selection of television standards. The width of the television channel is determined by many technical factors, and the selection of specific channel widths and transmission specifications is a compromise of many conflicting factors. The distance at which assignments may be duplicated with a tolerable degree of interference between stations also affects selection of standards.
Television in Europe. As a result of adhering to a “hands-off” policy, the US stood to lose its leadership in international television matters without having adopted a positive position on this issue. Television interests in other countries have not been idle. [Page 395] The French and British have been ceaseless in their efforts to promote their systems.
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