Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

S— TELEVISION DIGEST FEBHUABY 4, 1963 WNDT's Gould on ETV's Prospects: Educational tv has made “remarkable progress” in 10 years but is still an infant, according to Samuel B. Gould, pres, of educational WNDT (Ch. 13) N.Y. Speaking last week on “Television and the American Values” before Institute of Contemporary Arts in Washington, he said a minority of respectable size is emerging, seeking programs of “high purpose & merit.” This minority could become major audience, exerting powerful influence on TV, he contended. Freedom of both educational & commercial TV to seek truth is hampered by numerous pressures — commercial, govt., political — but if medium is to be effective it must have freedom to air controversial issues, Gould told group. Citing recent Nixon-Hiss furor on ABC-TV, he said WNDT had similar difficulties for allowing pro-Castroite to appear on a panel during Cuban crisis. In news conference preceding address, Gould contended $32 million federal aid-to-ETV bill was “good start” but doubted whether it’s enough to have much effect. Boosted by all-channel-set law, ETV will build 200-300 more outlets within 10 years, he said. Creation of Kansas ETV agency to begin development of state system has been recommended to Legislative Council by Committee on Education. In 84-page study. Educational Television Status and Prospects, group suggests agency have initial financing of at least $1 million to get first outlet on air. Committee urged that as soon as practicable, state apply to FCC for stations, employ exec, dir., appropriate $6,752,877 capital costs and $710,000 operating costs for first 2 years. Document is Publication No. 239, available from Research Dept., Kansas Legislative Council, Topeka. House Small Business Committee will be headed by Rep. Evins (D-Tenn.), who replaces Rep. Patman (DTex.); latter becomes chmn. of Banking & Currency Committee. New chmn. for Subcommittee 6, which handles probes of small business advertising opportunities in TV, hasn’t yet been designated. Former Chmn. Alford (D-Ark.) resigned to make unsuccessful bid for Governor. Ad agency came to rescue of educational KQED San Francisco, which planned to drop Open End discussion program due to lack of funds. Guild, Bascom & Bonfigli Inc. announced it would underwrite program — ^with no commercials. Chmn. David Bascom said ad agencies have “moral responsibility” to contribute to betterment of communications. Two foreign-language ETV series will be distributed in U.S. by McGraw-Hill Book Co. under exclusive agreement signed with Independent TV Corp. Series are French From France and Id La France, produced by Associated TV Ltd., England. N.J. ETV development biU has been signed by Gov. Richard Hughes, N.J.E.T.V. Corp. Pres. Orville J. Sather said legislation assures state a complete ETV network within 3-6 years. Group plans first station in Glen Ridge by fall. Importance of spot TV in introducing new products is outlined in new Katz Agency publication, “Launching Your New Product,” available from Katz Spot TV Sales Development Dept., 666 Fifth Ave., N.Y. 19. Radio Nord, highly successful “pirate” commercial broadcaster which operated off Stockholm for several years until Swedish authorities imposed restrictions on advertisers that forced it to quit, has been re-equipped in Ostend and is reported readying to operate in the waters between England and northern PYance, throwing signals also into Belgium & Holland. Allegedly backed with Texas money (said to be Murchisons), ship is named Magda Maria, has operated 10 miles offshore, thus escaped both national & international regulation. Another such, Panamanian carrier ship Nele which carried Belgian “pirate” radio known as Uilenspiegel, is reported from Holland, which also had taken legislative action to curb its operation, to have been driven ashore in a heavy gale recently and silenced; moreover, its owner, George de Caluwe, of Antwerp, has died. Its 6-kw allegedly gave it 80-mi. coverage and, like its lower-powered counterpart off Sweden, it was reputed to be big money-maker but thorn in side of govt. -owned Dutch & Belgian radio systems which were irked by popularity of its programs. Foreign TV-radio personnel who come to U.S. under exchange programs should receive more comprehensive training than they get, according to U.S. Advisory (Commission on Information. In 18th annual report to (Congress, Commission headed by (Cox Stations’ Exec. Dir. J. Leonard Reinsch also urged sending more U.S. experts abroad to provide on-the-job training in use of basic technical facilities. Report lauded performance of USIA in 1962, particularly during Cuban crisis. Launching of Syncom L Hughes Aircraft’s high-altitude communications satellite (Vol. 2:42 p4) has been postponed until at least Feb. 13. Satellite will have one phone channel, no TV, will be orbited mainly to test positioning. NASA spokesman attributed delay in launching to technical difficulties at station aboard Navy ship in Lagos harbor, Nigeria. First Indonesian TV station, RRI-TV, has started in Djakarta, transmitting 2 hours nightly. Operators hope to expand to 8 hours daily, covering 13 cities, using 625-line system. RRI estimates about 5,000 sets in country, mostly Japanese-made. Govt, hopes to have 100,000 in use by end of 1963. First Gabon TV service will begin in April, initial programming limited to educational & news shows. Receivers will be located in viewing centers for mass coverage. Govt. of former French West African territory has signed contract for installation with French firm Societe FYancaise des Techniques. Canadian-made TV set sales rose 21% to 289,000 during first 9 months of 1962, TvB of Canada reports. Sales for year will be estimated 430,000, 2nd only to 1957’s 457,700. TV households reached 4,157,700 in 1962, up 131,200 over previous year. BBC claims it’s ahead of rival ITA TV network in audience. In Oct.-Dec. 1962, BBC said, it pulled 52% of viewers with sets equipped to pick up both channels. This is first time since 1955 that the non-commercial network has surpassed its commercial rival. Marconi has received $1,820,000 contract for transmitting equipment for 6 uhf stations, as part of BBC plan to provide uhf service for Britain. Equipment will be 625-line, to be delivered by Feb. 1965.