Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

3 consultancy," headquartered in Washington, to fight anti-network actions by Govt. Suggested as possible head of such a group was ex-Sen. Charles E. Potter (R-Mich. ) , onetime chief of Senate Commerce communications subcommittee. Plan is receiving serious consideration of only one network — at the most. AB-PT pres. Leonard Goldenson told us he hadn't iconsulted with Potter, hadn't heard of any "joint consultancy" or association, and "I don't know anything more about it than I read in the paper" — a reference to the published "trial balloon" story. NBC hasn't talked with Potter, either. The idea of a 3-network lobby had been suggested to NBC toppers several weeks ago, but it's known it never received much consideration pro or con. NBC feels the idea of any such close 3-network operation raises several serious questions, giving cause for extreme caution. CBS top-level executives are merely saying "No comment." CUBAN TV WELCOMES NEW REGIME: couldn't be happier if his name were Telecastro. That sums up attitude of Cuba's dominant broadcasting interests toward the leader of the revolutionary group which now controls the government. They foresee continued operation at the same stand under Fidel Castro's new regime, but with one difference — freedom of speech. In contrast to the muchcriticized military trials which have been sending scores before the firing squad, one of President Urrutia's first official acts was to lift the oppressive censorship regulations which had burdened Cuba's TV and radio stations since 1952. Progressively tightened, these had established Batista government as only source of news, limited the number of newscasts permitted, banned criticism of officials. Abel Mestre, chairman of dominant CMQ TV & radio networks and president of Federacion de Radioemissoras de Cuba (Cuban Federation of Broadcasters), told us by telephone: "For the first time in many years, we are optimistic about the future. We no longer fear. There is no censorship, and free enterprise is being restored." Ownership of Cuba's 23 TV stations eind satellites probably will continue unchanged, he predicted, and he told us he foresaw little near-future change in licensing policies. He conceded that it's too early to tell for sure — the new Minister of Communications took office Jan. 12 and has yet to issue any pronotincements on broadcasting. He's yotmg Enrique Oltuski, a recent graduate of U of Miami and familiar with U.S. methods. All Cuban broadcasting sources we contacted said they expect new government to live up to international treaty commitments such as NARBA. All Havana stations are now on air, we were told by representatives of major Cuba broadcast interests — though some went dark temporarily and all others underwent numerous schedule interruptions during the days of chaos in Havana. Satellite stations in Oriente province (Holguin and Santiago) are still cut off. One Oriente TV tower was blown up in the fighting. * 5(! * * Some radio broadcasters didn't fare so well as their telecasting confreres. Stations owned by members of the former Batista government — and this includes the once mighty Circuito Nacional network (CNC) and Union Radio — have been taken over by new regime and are operated under name of "Rebel Radio." The Mestre brothers — Goar, Abel & Luis — owners of big CMQ network with key station in Havana and 7 satellites connected by private microwave, have long been known as staunch opponents of Batista regime. Their large Havana station building, in fact, served as headquarters for Castro's rebels when they began arriving in the capital city. Because of this close access to prime "interview material" and because CMQ-TV is city's best-equipped station, it served as origination point for Cuban pickups by all 3 U.S. networks, though CMQ is NBC affiliate. Big Telemundo network, through its TV chief Antonio Bernabei, echoed Mestre 's sentiments, reporting "a general tendency of complete freedom of speech." He said there had been no interference from federal authorities since early days of changeover, when new government had sent a representative to inspect station operation.