Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. & NAB LIBRARY 5EB 2 5 1963 Television WEEKLY FEBRUARY 25, 1963 Albert Wonen, Editor & Publisher, 2025 Eye St., N.W., Washington 6. D. C. Phone; 965-1985 David Lachenbruch, Managing Editor, 580 Fifth 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 Jr., Assistant Editor, V/ashington. Charles Sinclair, Contributing Editor, New York Edward M. Kelly, General Manager, Washington The authoritative service for executives in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMART-IMDEZ OF WEEK’S NEWS Broadcast POSSIBILITY OF VHF DROP-INS brings intense lobbying, some uhfs joining vhis in opposition, other uhfs hoping for chance at new vhfs. FCC gears for uhf-development meeting (p. 1). STEINER STUDY IS BLOCKBUSTER, and 'The People Look At Television' is likely to have long-lasting effects on TV industry. Most viewers like TV, moke it part of their lives, often feel guilty about it, pay lip service to public affairs. Interview with author of new SI 35,000 CBS-supported study (p. 2). PORTENTS OF HOUSE RATINGS PROBE: Major services coming through well, but a few sensations expected via fly-by-nights tp. 3). TV IS MARKET YARDS'HCK in new list of 168 U.S. markets published by 'Sales Management,' likely to become important basic research tool. Survey scraps old-fashioned city boundaries, reflects suburban growth reached by TV, contains some real surprises (p. 4). DISPUTE OVER CATV MICROWAVE proposal, in comments filed with FCC, foreshadows debate over expected CATV-regulation bills (p. 5). RACE TO SPACE COMMUNICATIONS — Senate Communications Subcommittee checks FCC progress in establishing global satellite communications system. It could be ready in 3-4 years, committee told (p. 6). Consumer Electronics RCA SHOWS 19-IN.-ONLY PORTABLE TV SETS: In addition to 8 models that start at $149.95, there’s 'unofficial' open-list entry slated to sell in neighborhood of $140. RCA drops 17-in. set, fails to show somewhat-expected 16-in. models (p. 7). FM CAR RADIOS ROLLING— BUT SLOWLY: Consumer interest is rising but radio makers foresee slow rate of growth because of price & technical fact that FM in cor is not same as FM in home (p. 7). UL SAFETY APPROVAL or equivalent required by low in only 9 states, ETA survey shows. Importers see no particular problem (p. 8). GT&E TRANSMITS TV VIA LASER BEAM, demonstrates experimental system with potential for simultaneously transmitting 160 TV programs vs. 10 with conventional equipment (p. 9). WE'RE MOVING We're shifting to expanded quarters in Washington this week end. New address & phone; 2025 Eye Street, N.W., Washington 6. Phone: 965-1985. Please change your records — and ask your public relations people to readdress their releases. Y'all come see us. VHF DROP-INS AND 'LINES OF FORCE': Jockeying among vhf & uhf interests intensified last week, as FCC prepared to discuss again this week the famous vhf "drop-ins" — short-spaced additions to 8 stibstantial markets (Vol. 3:7 p2). With vote at Commission apparently very close, affected parties ore really pulling <S hauling, including lobbying on Capitol Hill. Lineup of forces is as follows : AMST, representing major vhfs primarily, is fighting to ward off vhf short-spacing — which would eat into existing vhf coverage areas. ACT, representing uhfs, argues that addition of the 8 vhfs would kill chances of uhf in those markets. At same time, existing & former uhf operators in