Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

4— TELEVISION DIGEST JANUARY 28, 1963 Ratings evoked wroth of Dr. Peter Eldersveld, of Christian Reformed Church. He called them "golden calf" before which broadcasters worship, said ratings have caused dropout of good programs & talented performers. A study by NRB showed that members spent $13,721,901 on TV & radio time in 1961. This included $1,880,163 for TV and $8,747,820 for radio in U.S., $3,093,916 for radio abroad. MINOW'S FAITH IN UHF: FCC Chmn. Minow wrapped up most of his well-known objectives in speech Jan. 22 at Fund for the Republic’s 10th anniversary convocation in N.Y. last week. Among them: (1) More TV stations are answer to many problems — and uhf growth is answer to TV expansion. Uhf will produce nationwide ETV network, make possible nationwide pay-TV. “If pay-TV passes its tests,” he said, “the logical place for it would be in the uhf channels.” Uhf will make possible 4th commercial network, catering to minority audiences. And uhf will produce local outlets in more communities. (2) ETV needs financial support and “private philanthropy has started to meet this need.” (3) Some free time should be made available to candidates because access to air “is in danger of being limited only to the wealthy candidates, or to the not-so-wealthy candidates who are willing to become dependent on special interests to finance their campaigns.” (4) More & better children’s TV programs are emei’g ing. (5) Broadcasters should air more controversy, but “this doesn’t mean tiptoeing with issues like greener grass, milk for children and canoe safety.” (6) A “Citizen’s Advisory Board for Radio & TV” should be created to report annually to Congress, FCC, public. Appearing on same panel, McCann-Erickson’s Pat Weaver said job of communicators is to disseminate knowledge & achievements “to every man on earth at the push of a button and speed of light. . . . Let people see what they can have, and they will work for it.” While Minow found more TV stations a solution to many problems, panelist Barry Bingham, editor & publisher of Louisville CourierJournal & Times, defended newspaper monopoly as “inevitable and here to stay” because of “law of economics.” He said monopoly reduces pressures on papers by advertisers, and “monopoly is less a threat to press excellence than monotony.” Uhf CPs: Ch. 19, Huntsville, Ala., to North Alabama Bcstrs., initial decision becoming final. Ch. 24, Austin, Tex., proposed grant to Austin Bcstg. Co., issued by examiner following withdrawal of competitor Capitol Telecasting. Fine of $2,000 was imposed on radio KISN Vancouver, Wash, by FCC which found station responsible for “willful & repeated” identification misleading public into believing station was licensed solely to Portland. FCC Comr. Lee speaks Feb. 11 at Washington Ad Club luncheon honoring Richard Eaton, owner of upcoming all-Negro uhf WOOK-TV (Ch. 14) Washington. Sale of WDBO-TV (Ch. 6), WDBO (5 kw, 580 kc) & WDBO-FM Orlando, Fla. to Outlet Co., owner of WJARTV & WJAR Providence, R.I., for approximately $6 million, was announced last week by Outlet Pres. Joseph S. (Dody) Sinclair and estate of late William S. Cherry Jr., principal owner of Orlando stations. Preliminary agreement provides sale of all stock of Cherry Bcstg. Co. and involves disposition of Cherry-Plaza Hotel (also owned by Cherry Bcstg.) before closing date. Sale price included “stations & certain other assets.” Announcement stated that Arnold F. Schoen Jr., present WDBO-TV exec, vpgen. mgr., would continue to manage Orlando station. Orlando TV & radio outlets are CBS affiliates; TV station began operation in 1954, was purchased by Cherry group in 1957. FCC was reversed in Court of Appeals last week — which doesn’t happen often. Commission had granted moves of WEAT-TV & WPTV W. Palm Beach to point 12 miles nearer Miami — over objections of WTVJ Miami and without a hearing. Judges Miller, Bastian & Wright ordered case back to FCC for evidentiary hearing, stating that issues presented by WTVJ “were so substantial that the Commission erred in disposing of them in a summary manner.” WTVJ had argued points of coverage, program needs of area, equitable disti’ibution of facilities. Relic “of a dead age” is what CBS Inc. Pres. Dr. Frank Stanton termed American Bar Assn. Canon 35, during address Jan. 23 before N.D. legislature in Bismarck. Stanton also blasted another popular industry target. Sec. 315, which he said “needs to be thrown out” and whose “abortiveness is no longer in dispute.” Stanton urged N.D. Gov. William L. Guy & legislature to set example for other state bodies & Congress by permitting TV-radio coverage of sessions & hearings. Radio WYNR Chicago, one of McLendon group, was ordered by FCC to hearing in Chicago on grounds it misrepresented program plans when application to buy station (then WGES) was filed with Commission. FCC said that McLendon had claimed it would continue substantially same programming but dropped about 32 hours of weekly foreign-language fare some 20 days after taking over station Aug. 8, 1962. Commission said “a serious question is raised as to the licensee’s candor.” Sales Approved: KOAT-TV (Ch. 7) Albuquerque & KVOA-TV (Ch. 4) Tucson, for $3,250,000, to Steinman stations (WGAL-TV Lancaster, Pa., etc.); KPIC-TV (Ch. 22) Los Angeles, for $180,000, to Central Bcstg. Corp. of Cal., principals of which hold interests in radio WENO Madison, Tenn., WGUS, North Augusta, S.C. & WYAM Bessemer, Ala. Sale of KKTV (Ch. 11), KFMH(FM) Colorado Springs, and radio KGHF Pueblo, for $1 million to TeleBroadcasters Inc., was announced by Blackbuim & Co. Sellers were Mr. & Mrs. James D. Russell, Gifford Phillips, Robert Ellis. H. Scott Kilgore is Tele-Broadcasters pres.