Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

kicks aren't letting grass grow, though — albeit for quite some time it looked as though they were in bad back seat position. Now, listening to CBS executives at last week's TV Clinic for affiliates, in their intense enthusiasm and intensive plans for TV, they sounded for all the world like NBC's Frank Mullen of a year or so ago, even like RCA's David Sarnoff today — only more so. They even gave out that CBS will go into daytime TV early this spring, starting telecasts at 8 a.m. — a field in which DuMont has led way (Vol. 5:3). At meetings with broadcasters and advertisers and agencies through the week, CBS repeated the refrain; "TV is a highly practical advertising' medium now." And to its broadcast affiliates; "Get going in TV — quickly." You can expect CBS's new big-name stars and other shows to go in for more and more simulcasting, a la Arthur Godfrey, We the People, etc. NBC made big splash year ago about simulcasts (Vol. 4;7), but fact remains its rivals are showing way in field of look-and/or-listen, on which eventual broadcast structure may largely rest. ABC hasn't copped off as many TV program hits, or commercials, as its rivals — but it's contentedly rubbing its hands over its foresight (which CBS didn't have) in getting TV outlets of its own in top 5 markets. But rumor won't down that it's "on the block," the trade journal Variety insisting "Ed Noble is anxious to sell." DuMont , of course, goes its own quiet and relatively modest way, confident the whole radio structure must come to TV, strongly entrenched on the profitable mamifacturing side, owning 3 well-placed stations, turning deaf ear to all purchase offers. Mutual is in anomolous position — not yet in TV per se, but with 2 of its major stockholding interests having TV stations in New York (WPIX and the to-bebuilt WOR-TV), latter also having CBS-affiliated station in Washington (WOIC). In Chicago, another stockholder owns WGN-TV, in Boston still another owns WNAC-TV — but these are also CBS-TV and DuMont affiliates. And Cleveland stockholder WHK is presently frozen out of TV because it moved too slow; while Don Lee's KTSL is too far away to cut any ice yet in the network picture. MBS talks about this "nucleus" — but simple fact is that, with 4 other networks getting such a head start, MBS looks like a very poor fifth starter, if indeed there ever is room for a fifth. Mergers of interests, if not property, may take place in ensuing years — quite probable. Meanwhile, first-starter, first firm-believer NBC is still on top, with just about twice as many commercials as all others combined (Vol, 5;4) and with RCA pioneering, brand reputation, know-how and pocketbook staunchly back of it. But pace at which CBS is going to build up talent-program structure for TV as well as AM, ease with which it raised $5,000,000 Prudential loan for expansion (Vol, 5:4), its history of live-wire activity, all betoken continued intense competition. And with no holds barred, apparently — even the possibility CBS may yet have its brand name on TV sets of its own manufacture. TV's 'AWESOME APPETITE' FOR FILMS: Mostly small fry by Hollywood standards, but con vinced their product is vital to TV station operation, some 200 film producers and distributors met in New York's Hotel Biltmore Monday under auspices of Televisor Magazine, complained irritably that the TV industry seems to regard them as stepchildren, yet stood ready to feed TV's awesome appetite for program material. Only dozen or so station folk were registered, attendees being largely from New York. Chief points discussed; (1) Film suppliers are still sweating out contract legalities, via their National Television Film Council. (2) Educating stations about sheer mechanics of smooth film handling and distribution is important task at hand. (3) New, fresh productions cost too much to be amortized by mere 50-odd station in 30odd markets at prices they will now pay. (4) Local stations must continue to look to films for easier programming, greater returns, since they haven't live-program resources of national networks, from which they'd get meager payments anyhow. (5) Film folk will continue to supply stations with film they can afford — good and bad. Note ; Further attesting TV's voracious appetite for film, CBS's Wm. Paley is quoted from Hollywood as estimating that TV in few years will provide market for 5,000 hours of film annually, whereas Hollywood's current total yearly output of features, westerns and shorts runs something less than 650 hours.