Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

6— TELEVISION DIGEST FEBRUABY 2S. 1S63 Personals Julian Bercovici promoted to ABC-TV daytime programming dir. . . . George H. Newi, ex-McCann-Erickson daytime programming dir., moves to ABC-TV as asst, daytime sales mgr. Jack Webb appointed executive in charge of TV production, Wanier Bros., succeeding William Orr, who takes over feature film production . . . Lloyd Knight promoted to public affairs dir., WGAN-TV & WGAN Portland, Me. FCC Comr. Lee will be key speaker at annual meeting March 7, of California Bcstrs. Assn, in San Francisco. NAB General Counsel Douglas Anello will speak, conduct editorializing panel. Daniel Taylor, on-air production mgr., CBS-TV, Hollywood, promoted to network station promotion mgi\, succeeding Leonard Broom, resigned to go to New Zealand. Gerald Taylor replaces Daniel Taylor. Johnny Johnston, ABC-TV Make That Spare m.c., also named national sales dir.. Official Films . . . Earl W. Hickerson promoted to asst, station mgr., KOCO-TV EnidOklahoma City. Film Producers Assn, of N.Y. elects: pres., Peter Mooney, Audio Productions; vp, Robert Bergmann, Filmex; secy., Lou Mucciolo, Gerald Productions; treas., Sanford Greenberg, MPO. Robert Kleiman, ex-CBS News Paris bureau chief, resigns to become member of editorial board, N.Y. Times. Louie L. Lewis, ex-RCA ETV planning administrator, forms own consulting firm to assist educational institutions in planning & installing electronic systems, with offices at 23 Wesley Ave., Cherry Hill, N.J. Herman Kenin, pres, of American Federation of Musicians, named & member of exec, council of AFL-CIO, filling 1 of 2 existing vacancies. Richard N. Jacobson, ex-asst. gen. sales mgr., WORTV N.Y., named sales mgr., William McNicol promoted to sales mgr., radio WOR . . . John Pfeiffer, formerly wth newspaper rep Moloney, Regan & Schmitt, appointed marketing mgr., Edward Retry & Co. central div., Chicago. Jon Poston, ex-radio KFEQ St. Joseph, Mo., named news dir., KTIV Sioux City, la., succeeding David Schoumacher . . . Edward J. Pfister promoted to NET information services chief, N.Y. . . . Mary Neal promoted to publicity dir., WTRF-TV Wheeling. Bob Patt, ex-promotion & advertising mgr., WNBC-TV & WNBC, N.Y., named sales promotion & marketing dir., Blair TV. Dick Gideon, ex-Yoimg & Rubicam asst, research dir., appointed research mgr. Richard DuMont, ex-producer-dir., ABC, Chicago, named TV, radio, motion pictures dir., American Medical Assn. W. Richard Guersey, ex-vp & gen. mgr., Philippine Advertising Counselors, named head of new McCannErickson (Philippines) Inc., Manila. Rex Morgan promoted to news & special events dir., WFIL-TV-AM Philadelphia, succeeding Les Crystal, who joins NBC, Chicago, as documentary writer-producer. Vic Piano, ex-radio vp, Peters, Griffin, Woodward, opens own rep firm, Vic Piano Assoc., March 1 . . . Martin Davis elected adv.-publicity vp. Paramount Films Distributing Corp. Edward .M. Kelly, former operator of direct-mail advertising-promotion firm in Buffalo 1951-1961, joins Tele\dsion Digest Inc. as gen. mgr. in charge of business operations. He’s 39, graduate of Hamilton College, has taken gi-aduate work at Georgetown! U., seiwed as industrial relations representative of Mene Grande Oil Co., Venezuela, and as advertising & public relations dir. of Glen Echo Amusement Park, Glen Echo, Md. Obituary Morton Wishengrad, 49, veteran TV & radio w'riter, died Feb. 13 of heart attack at home in N.Y. He scripted NBC’s Eternal Light for 18 years. Two daughters and 2 sons survive. Race to Space Communications: “Significant progress” ; towards establishment of single global system of satellite < communications has been made by FCC since enactment of ' Communications Satellite Act last .A-ugust, FCC Acting Chmn. Hyde told Senate Communications Subcommittee last week. Hearing was called for status report. I Comr. Craven predicted that operational space system could come by 19G6-G7. This \dew was supported by James Dingman, AT&T \'p, who said commercial system could f be ready by 19G7. j Based on results of Telstar experiment, Eugene O’Neill, Bell Labs dir., said “there does not appear to be any technical obstacle to designing a communications ^ satellite repeater with a life of 5 to 10 years in orbit.” Sigfnificance of Relay & lost Syncom satellite also were J reviewed. ■{ Need for “broadest possible international agreement” on frequency allocation was stressed by Hyde, who said Commission will have “realistic” proposals to offer at intemational conference Oct. 7 in Geneva. ' Commission last week authorized 7 smaller telephone companies to buy stock in company. Hyde noted that some 2,700 independent companies are eligible, 24 having already made application. Pastore asserted that millions of dollars of taxpayers money were being spent on experiments that may be turned over free to a private monopolistic firm for profitmaking purposes. Substantial part of hearings was taken up by Committee criticism of FCC for rate increases affecting news ser\-ices & “shoi-t haul” phone calls. Early lock-up for fall of CBS-TV nighttime schedule was subject of letter from Pres. James T. Aubrey Jr. to network affiliates last week. He said it was first time CBS had firmed-up fall lineup “so early in the year,” hinted broadly that knowdedge of new schedule should help stations “speed up clearances so essential to continued audience leadership” & aid broadcasters in “mapping your own local programming & sales plans for next fall.” Newcomers to CBS lineup include shows packaged around Danny Kaye, Judy Garland & Phil Silvers, and a new filmed-in-N.Y. series. East Side, TFcsf Side, starring George C. Scott. KHOL-TV Kearney-Holdrege, Neb., is now operating from improved facilities — boosting antenna from 552 to 1,173 ft., power from 204 to 316 kw.