Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3. No. 6 mBLIBimi FEB 1 1 1963 ©l©vision FEBRUARY 11, 1963 Alb«rt Warren, Editor & Publisher, 911 -13th St., N.W., Washington 5, D.C., Sterling 3-1755 David Lachenbrucb, Managing Editor, 580 Filth Ave., New York 36, N.Y., Circle 6-2215 Harold Rusten, Associate Editor, 111 Beverly Rd., Overbrook Hills, Philadelphia 51, Pa., Midway 2-6411 Michael H. Bloke Tr., Assistant Editor, Washington. Charles Sinclair, Contributing Editor, New York Th« authoritative service for executives in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS Broadcast FCC SPONSORS 'CUB' FOR UHF PROMOTION, Comr. Lee heading committee of Commission & industry representatives, planning first meeting at NAB convention (p. 1). ADVERTISING & GOVT. EXCHANGE soles pitches in annual AFAAAW Washington conference (p. 2), PEACE CORPS READIES COLOMBIAN ETV. aims for pilot station in Bogota by end of year. Other countries ask similar aid {p. 2). OMAHA HEARING ENDS with station chiefs defending local-live output, prime-time scheduling, Comr. Henry terming sessions 'fruitful & helpful' (p. 3). 'STEREO WITHOUT MUSIC' pioneer by GE in FM stereo network drama series testing public reaction. TV tie-in possible (p. 4). TV'S FABULOUS INVALID, syndication, keeps thriving — but it's not business of bang-bong half-hours as of yore. New movies, color series, 'reality' shows, cultural programs — all ore port of new trend in station-level program sales (p. 4). CATV IN TEXAS 4 GEORGIA: Austin grants 2nd franchise, may allow more, will install more poles if needed. GAB's Carow reports CATV interests plan big microwave, seek franchises in 'dozens' of cities (p. 5). 'THE LATE SHOW': WCBS-TV N.Y. celebrates 12th anniversary, compiles noteworthy statistics (p. 6). Consumer Electronics 1962 IMPORT STORY: Another big jump in Japan-to-U.S. exports, but price-crumbling continued. Transistor radio exports rose 71% in year, while overage price dropped to $9.19. TV exports to U.S.: 154,467. Tables of imports from Japan, Hong Kong, Okinawa (p. 7). SYLVANIA RAISES SIGHTS on color tubes, predicts '63 sales of 750-800,000, hopes to sell 50,000 of that number; sees 21-in, 70degree as industry standard, offers shorter 125-degree b&w tubes (p. 8). RADIO PRICE CUTS — another round may be in works, following moves by GE & Magnavox reducing gift-pack & deluxe sets (p. 9). COLOR 'PENETRATION' in major cities, estimated by trade magazine, places Cincinnati at top of list, with color accounting for 6.4% of sets there (p. 10). TOSHIBA — PROSPECTS 4 PROSPECTUS: Japan's mighty electronics-electrical firm earned $28 million on $734 million sales in fiscal 1962, plots major expansion program; prospectus shows TV sets accounted for 13% of sales, consumer product sales totaled $306 million (p. 11). MUNTZ TV ENDS CHAPTER 10: Feb. 5 payout of $295,581 liquidates $5 million indebtedness dating to 1954, completes Chapter 10 reorganization plan (p. 12). FCC SPONSORS 'CUB' FOR UHF PROMOTION: That FCC-industry uhf-promotion program we alerted you to about a month ago (Vol. 3:2 p3) is now public — Commission confirming it with announcement last week. Comr. Lee will head up FCC participation, aided by Comr. Henry. Lee tells us he's aiming for first conference during NAB convention in Chicago March 31-April 3. Asked about his plans, he said: "I think we should keep it open now, let everyone make his suggestions at the meeting. I'm very hopeful about it." Idea was hatched by EIA's L. M. Sandwick, who foresees major contributions from set-making industry. "Committee for the Full Development of Uhf Broadcasting" is what FCC calls proposed organization (we suggest it be called CUB, for short), inviting all interested organizations to come on in. No commissioner dissented from establishing CUB, although Comr. Ford has long been concerned lest uhf stations proliferate too quickly — booming & busting as many did in years following end of freeze in 1952. Said FCC in announcing formation of CUB : "Through such a committee, which would fimction over the coming critical years, the Commission could obtain insight into the problems as they arise and, where appropriate, take corrective rule making or