Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

Television WEEKLY JANUARY 4, 1960 IJBRARY © 1960 TRIANGLE PUBLICATIONS, INC. VOL. 16: No. 1 The authoritative service for executives engag^ed in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS FORECAST 1960: Good business and "reform" highlight our annual forecasts for telecasting industry (p. 1). Another record year is predicted for home electronics (p. 17). FCC PROGRAM PROBE RESUMES, with finale expected end of month. Some industry witnesses due this week (p. 6). FCC FUNCTIONS DEBATED at speech & theater teachers' convention, where Sen. Proxmire denounces FCC (p. 6). Advertising FTC STRIKES AGAIN in anti-payola drive, issuing 11 more complaints citing 14 record firms for illegal payoffs (p. 7). Networks NBC'S STATION-SWAP MOVES continue as network prepares to trade its Philadelphia o&o's (p. 9). NET TV GAINS IN OCT.: National ad volume rose 13% in Oct. over Oct. 1958, reflecting net TV gains of 12% from a year ago, 11% for year to date, 5% over Sept. (p. 10). Finance RCA NEVER SOLD MORE: 29% 1959-over-1958 profit increase and 17% sales jump to record high is reported by Sarnoff (p. 22). Manuiaeturing Distribution HOME ELECTRONICS IN '60: Gains seen on all fronts — ^retail sales of 6.1 million TVs, 10% increase in phono sales, 10 million domestic home radios. Imports to rise (p. 17). WINTER TV MARTS to feature added 23-in. sets by most manufacturers. Admiral introduces 23-in. TV at $199.95. Revived Capehart and Sonora lines will be shown (p. 19). Auxiliary Services SKIATRON ACCUSED by SEC of concealing $3-million deficit in Matty Fox's pay-TV operations (p. 12). Film Tape THERMOPLASTIC RECORDING, developed by GE, intrigues TV & movie industries as well as Wall Street. TV engineers warn process still seems far off, won't replace tape (pp. 5 & 13). Other Departments PROGRAMMING (p. 8). STATIONS (p. 11). FOREIGN (p. 12). PERSONALS (p. 16). CONGRESS (p. 16). ETV (p. 24). TV IN 1960 — 'REFORM' & GOOD BUSINESS: Despite hell (Congress) & high water (com peting media), the telecasting industry is headed for another record business year — its 14th in a row. This fact stands out in our staff's forecasts for 1960, gleaned from long personal familiarity with and observation of the broadcast scene, and from discussions with industry leaders. The fury of official & unofficial criticism will continue, but severe repressive measures are unlikely as the industry gives strong indications that it is achieving its goals of correcting program & commercial excesses through its own internal upgrading program. Here, topic by topic, is what we see in telecasting's crystal ball, 1960 model: Congress: New records for number of broadcasting bills introduced and old TV-radio regulatory proposals revived probably will be set by 2nd (or post-quiz) session of 86th Congress which convenes this week. There'll be few more popular subjects for law-drafting, floor speech-making and Congressional Record viewing-with-alarm than TV & radio evils uncovered by House Commerce Legislative Oversight subcommittee. Always-vociferous demands for reform of industry by tightening and/or broadening Federal Communications & Trade Commission Acts will be heard louder & clearer on Capitol Hill. Congressional climate will be bad for broadcasters. Whether this session will set record for legislative action is something else again. Anything could happen, from subjecting networks to direct FCC controls to outlawing of program deceits. But working for broadcasters against enactment of punitive legislation will be steps taken by FCC, FTC and NAB — and 2 big factors on Hill : ( 1 ) Elections. Race for adjournment in time for July political conventions will be on from start of session, in which much business will be left undone. (2) Oversight subcommittee itself. It builds headline momentum for legislation, but has won reputation for not finishing what it starts. If payola