Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

Wyatt Building • Washington 5, D. C. * Telephone Sterling 3-1755 * Vol. 15: No. 1 SUMMARY -INDEX OF THE WEEK'S NEWS — January 3, 1959 FMs INCREASE APACE WITH AMs during last year, with WHITNEY PARTNER SUGGESTS Time Inc. — judging from 571 out of 686 grantees now on air. AM total is 3423, Fortune article — must be embarrassed by so "unstable up from 3289 year before (p. 1). & shoddy" a medium as TV, should sell stations (p. 5). EIDOPHOR COLOR EXCELLENT, but equipment makers question size of market. 20th Century-Fox's Skouras sees vast potential for theatres (pp. 2 & 10). FCC BARS VHF BOOSTERS in final action, gives 90 days for filing of applications for uhf translators. Decision welcomed by CATV operators (pp. 2 & 9). SWEEPING 'REFORM' OF FCC urged by House probers in final report. It calls for stringent legislation, further investigation of TV-radio areas (pp. 3 & 5). TV DOESN'T HURT CHILDREN so long as viewing is limited to 20 hours weekly — but they con get too much, soys Northwestern U's Dr. Witty (p. 4). ANPA ATTACKS TV ADVERTISING in a no-holds-barred presentation by slide film (p. 8). PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE submits communications report to OCDM Director Hoegh. Most of TASO's work finished as Dr. Town sends report to board (p. 9). Manufacturing-Distribution-Finanee INDUSTRY LEADERS FORECAST good 1959 TV-radio & related trade, with modest upturn now, good year — but no boom. Essence of their statements (p. 11). RCA SHIFTING EMPHASIS from entertainment electronics to defense & industrial electronics, reflected in 4th quarter business upturn (p. 14). LOG OF TV STATIONS BY STATES & CITIES: You liked our Log of TV Stations so well, as published as a Newsletter spread in mid-1958, that we’ve decided to update it as a New Year Supplement herewith. We’ve printed it separately this time on white stock so that you can hang it on your wall or fasten it to your desk for handy reference. This Log, corrected to Jan. 1, 1959, is really the same one that appears, in reduced size, on the 34x22-in. Map of Television Stations and Network Routes, which will be included again with the 1959 Spring-Summer Edition of Television Factbook (No. 28), due in latter March. Since the Log’s last publication, there have been more than a dozen new stations added in the U.S., Territories and Canada; also quite a few other changes and corrections. You will note that the new Log indicates (with asterisks) the new starters expected in early 1959; and (with daggers) the educational non-commercial stations. Extra copies are available at 2 for $1, or 10 for $3.50. INCREASE IN FMs AS ANs MOUNT TO 3423: Nearly 100 new FM stations were authorized during 1958 — 34 going on the air to bring year-end total to 571. That was one of the most significant developments in radio broadcasting last year, when once again the total of AM stations went up substantially. AMs increased by 134 to an all-time high of 3423. Aggregate of more than 4000 AM-FM stations compares with 545 TVs. Accounting for the upsurge in FMs are the growing subsidiary services now available from radio — notably background music and storecasting — plus the boom in hi-fi and stereo. It’s also noteworthy that some AM daytimers, unable to obtain night hours, are turning to FM for after-dark operation. Growth of AMs has been a continuous process since war, stations more than tripling in number since 1945. Most of them are locals, many are daytimers; even the crossroads radio stations, thanks to low costs, are generally profitable. Of the 5423 AMs authorized as year ended, 3318 are on the air and 105 are CP holders. Exact number of FM grantees at year’s end was 686, with 571 on air; year