STATUS OF TELEVISION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000300730001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/18: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300730001-7
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Germany (Soviet Zone)
Status of Television
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1. In late 1952 distribution of television sets began in the Soviet Zone
of Germany. For some years the peoples'-owned radio industry of the
Soviet Zone has been manufacturing T-2 Leningrad television sets under
Soviet license for delivery, as reparations, to the USSR and the People's
Democracies. The new domestic distribution must not affect export pro-
duction. Only sets manufactured beyond the specified monthly quota may
be distributed within the Soviet Zone; consequently that number is small.
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2. The start of television programs in the Soviet Zone was scheduled for
21 DeceMber 1952 -- Stalin's birthday. At that date, 2,000 sets should
have been distributed, but only about 800 actually had been. The quota
for 1953 is about 40o00 sets. So far, only peoples'-owned plants, schools,
universities, state administrative agencies, cultural centers, Party
offices, state-owned clubs and hotels, as well as a number of important
State and Party officials, are authorized to see television programs.
3. The television center for the Soviet Zone is located in the buildings of
the former aviation test institute in Berlin-Adlershof. 37:lir studios
are in operation; four other studios and one underwater studio are under
construction. The leading personnel are Germans who were active in radio
work before World War II. They resent the Soviet assignment to the center
of several Soviet engineers as official "consultants". Their actual
function is to exercise control.
4. The programs are beamed, through cables, from the television center to
the transmitter located on the tower of the old Berlin town hall. This
is the only television transmitter in operation (March 19527 and it
covers only the Berlin area. The economic plan for the Soviet Zone
includes expansion of the television network to cover the whole Zone by
1955. The first parts of the network will be the links: Berlin-Leipzig-
Dresden; Berlin-Halle-Erfurt; and Berlin-Magdeburg-Brocken. From Brocken,
which is the highest point of the Harz Mountains, programs are to be
beamed to the German Federal Republic. A test transmitter is already in
operation on Brockeh. All of the 14 district capitals of the Soviet Zone
are supposed to have their awn transmitters by 1955. The programs will be
directed exclusively by the Berlin-Adlershof center. The technical
operations of the programs still face difficulties. They are to be trans-
mitted in the sane channel as those of the Northwest-German Radio (Radio
Hamburg), since the Soviet Zone has not yet applied for a transmission
channel with the international authorities. Thus, there may be confusion
in those areas where the beans cross, as in Berlin.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/18: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300730001-7
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/18: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300730001-7
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5. The T-2 Leningrad TV set is the simplest of Soviet models. It can be
used only for television, not radio reception. Its screen is said to
be the smallest used in television today. The number of lines is the sane
as in the West German operation. The Leningrad set costs 3,500 East
Marks at present. Standardization and restriction to one single type set
is to continue through 1953. The nationalized RFT plant in Berlin-Ober-
schoeneweide has, however, installed a test department for the construc-
tion of television sets. One more standard TV model is to be developed.
It will be more expensive but will have an enlarged screen) better image
and, possibly, combination with radio.
6. The slow progress of the Soviet Zone radio industry, which naturally
affects television, has been due mainly to lack of some essential metals
and raw materials, especially in the tube manufacturing industry. The
large demands made on the domestic telephone and telegraph industries
by the military build-up and the expansion of the communications network
have meant that her requirements can receive only secondary consideration.
The original production plan of the Soviet Zone radio industry included
construction and development of approximately 20 new types of sets. This
program has been reduced to five types. This brings up to 15 the total
types of radio sets manufactured in the Soviet Zone. About six types
of simple record players (partly automatic) are manufactured; one model
is equipped for tape recording.
7. The present program schedule indicates that Soviet Zone television is
but another outlet for officti propaganda. It runs two hours daily,
from 8 pm to 10 pa. It includes news reports, a National Forum on
"questions of the socialist reconstruction!' and the "communist struggle
for peace", and a program entitled "Young Builders of Socialise dedi-
cated to schools and the Communist youth organization FAT. There are
also sports reviews and a political cabaret. Transmissions of official
meetings of the Government and the SED Party are planned.
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Security Information
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/07/18: CIA-RDP83-00423R000300730001-7