Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

VOL. 16: No. 4 11 Foreign Africa As A TV Market: A growing, quota-free export market for American programs in Tanganyika, the Rhodesias & Kenya is “in the not-too-distant future, and should be explored immediately,” ABC-TV correspondentproducer Helen Jean Rogers told us last week. Most other African countries have, or will have, govt.-controlled TV “similar to France,” she said. Miss Rogers recently returned from Africa, where, while covering 20,000 miles (“mostly in a British jeep”) and shooting 30,000 ft. of film, she was able to observe Africa’s present TV situation. Her film will be seen as an ABC-TV documentary Jan. 31 (see below). Most African areas regard TV as a potential medium for English instruction, and TV is frequently a favorite election promise in the new African nations, said Miss Rogers. However, in apartheid-conscious South Africa, govt, officials oppose the medium “as undesirable in the current state of Africa’s development,” and are “particularly opposed” to visits by American TV journalists, she said. There is a “basic, profound suspicion” of U.S. TV in South Africa, and cabinet members & other officials are “only permitted to be interviewed for British TV.” The only operating TV system in the lower part of Africa is in Western Nigeria where operations began last fall. Govt.-supplied TV sets are provided to schools & other community centers. Programs, produced by England’s commercial firms, include “How to Bathe Children,” “How to Avoid Leprosy,” “Exemplary Nigerians.” * * * Inevitable topical rivalry in the wake of increased world interest in African nationalism is now a scheduling fact. Due on each of the 3 networks within a single fortnight, starting Jan. 31, is a prime-time special on Africa: “The Dark & the Light,” on ABC-TV, Jan. 31; “Freedom Is Sweet & Bitter,” on NBC-TV, Feb. 6; “The Freedom Explosion,” in the CBS Reports series, CBS-TV, Feb. 15. 4: 4= TV Society of South Africa has been formed to fight govt.’s anti-TV policy (Vol. 15:45 p23). It plans to submit a petition for TV to be signed by a half -million persons. The South African govt, contends that TV may be detrimental to children and “the less developed races,” and has banned discussion of TV on the state-owned radio network. The London Observer’s Stanley Uys reports, however, that “the necessary technical tests have been made by the South African Bcstg. Corp. which would enable TV to be speedily introduced if the [South African] Cabinet were to sanction” TV. He adds that local commerce & industry are demanding TV. “Several commercial companies are keen to establish stations, and business sees it as a stimulus to consumption & expanding production. The Federated Chamber of Industries of South Africa recently called on the govt, to allow its introduction.” * * * Kenya’s TV-study commission has recommended introduction of video service in the African territory by mid1961. The commission, appointed by the Kenya govt, in Oct., calls for govt, financing to establish a TV station, says operating costs should be covered by ad revenue. * * * Western Nigeria’s commercial TV stations — at Ibadan & Ikeja (Vol. 15:34) — have designated Intercontinental Services Ltd. (Harry Engel) as their U.S. advertising rep. Owner Radio Nigeria, owned in turn by Reditfusion Ltd. of Britain, will establish a commercial radio station. Auxiliary Services TelePrompTer’s CATV Plans: TelePrompTer Corp., which last month disclosed that it had invested $747,000 in 3 community antenna systems (Vol. 15:49 p4), now reveals that it hopes to spend $2 million more to acquire 10 more systems, a microwave common-carrier service and a CATVequipment manufacturer. In the prospectus for the recent sale of 145,000 shares of common stock through an underwriting group headed by Bear, Stearns & Co., TelePrompTer Corp. discloses it is negotiating for all the assets of Antennavision Inc., Merrill CTV Inc. and Antennavision Service Co., all owned by Bruce Merrill of Phoenix, Ariz. The companies own 10 CATV systems in Cal. & Ariz., as well as a microwave carrier serving 7 of the systems, and the AMECO div. which makes CATV equipment. TelePrompTer previously had bought Antennavision of Silver City (N.M.) from Merrill, and options on CATV systems in Farmington and Rawlins, Wyo., as well as on a microwave system serving Farmington and another system. The firm is also currently negotiating for an option on radio KNDE & KNDE-FM Aztec, N.M., for $52,500 in cash or stock and assumption of $30,000 in liabilities. The prospectus lists these balance-sheet items for the 3 combined CATV companies as of last Aug. 31: Current assets, $114,694 (including $24,000 cash) ; property, plant & equipment, $455,857 (less $218,415 accumulated depreciation); total assets, $378,661. Current liabilities total $111,681, long-term debt $14,629. Earnings statement for the 3 CATV companies for the year ended Aug. 31: 1959 1958 Services, rentals, etc. ... $590,842 $416,960 Net earnings 89,797 32,371 TelePrompTer’s balance-sheet items as of Aug. 31 (figures in parentheses are after pro forma adjustments including recent stock sale and acquisition of the 3 CATV firms): Current assets, $898,994 ($1,617,614); property, plant & equipment, $1,399,394 ($2,211,373) excluding $827,390 accumulated depreciation & amortization; total assets, $1,935,069 ($3,891,189). Current liabilities, $457,798 ($382,798); long-term debt, $473,131 ($3,131). Open-closed-circuit TV system will be installed on the Orient Line’s new 40,000-ton luxury liner Oriana. The Marconi installation will have facilities for complete closedcircuit programming (2 vidicon cameras, 2 film projectors, 2 slide projectors). While in ports of call, the shipboard receivers will be able to tune TV channels on any of the 3 major world-wide TV standards (525, 625 or 405 lines) through means of a converter in the control room which uses the vidicon cameras to reprocess 525 or 625-line telecasts to the British 405-line system. Initially about 60 receivers will be installed in public rooms and first-class cabins; provision is being made for nearly 400 sets. Telemeter Pres. Louis Novins in N.Y. Jan. 21 enlarged on his Oct. statement (Vol. 15:40 pl9) with the information that he is planning Toronto-type pay-TV experiments in “more than 4 but less than 10” U.S. areas. Novins wouldn’t name the locations nor date their starts, because “plans are still in the consideration stage” and there are “possibilities of eliminating certain areas.” Illustrated CATV booklet. Over the TV Horizon, explaining why systems got started & how they work, has been published by the National Community TV Assn., 1111 E St., N.W., Washington 4, D.C. Single copies are available free, 100 for $8 and 5,000 or more for $76 per 1,000.