Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

6— TELEVISION DIGEST MARCH 4, 1963 MinOW Briofs Sonate: Process of all-channel set law and ETV was reported to Sen. Pastore’s (D-R.I.) Communications Subcommittee last week by FCC Chmn. Minow, fellow commissioners & staff. Hopes for quick Congressional action to get some funds rolling for ETV were expressed by Minow. Supplemental appropriation request for $2 million for rest of fiscal 1963 is pending in Congress. He said funds would go for construction of 9 new stations & expansion of 4 already in operation. President Kennedy has called for $7 million for ETV in fiscal 1964. Commission expects to issue revised uhf allocation table within next few months, he said. All-channel law is working as expected, with only minor snags, Minow reported. He added that law has stimulated applications for uhf outlets and he expects even more acceleration as April 30, 1964 cut-off date nears. Cost difference between all-channel & vhf only sets has been running about $25 as expected, he stated. Major part of one-day hearing was taken up with discussion of Commission’s effectiveness in regulating AT&T. Pasture said he “isn’t impressed” by new plan to permit station-to-station long distance calls for $1 nationwide between 9 p.m. & 4:30 a.m. Move would cost AT&T $55 million a year, $25 million of which would be recouped by increase in person-to-person calls up to 800 miles. Pasture opined that phone company, which had record profits last year, should be able to absorb $55 million drop without boosting other rates. First live transcontinental TV program, linking U.S., Canada & Mexico, was frustrated at last minute (Feb. 24). Mexican Communications Ministry ruled that Mexican Telephone Co. did not have proper permit, although latter claimed it has permits to use communications lines dating back to 1926. Telesistema Mexicano, TV network, applied for permit and was turned down. Progi'am was to feature N.Y. Gov. Rockefeller, former Mexican Pres. Aleman & Ontario Premier Roberts. “Selectroniscope 1001” is TvB’s new spot TV marketing guide, available in spring at $10. Package includes 100page book estimating performance of varying schedules by reach, frequency & cost efficiency, plus computer for quick evaluation of weekly schedule costs by number of spots, gross rating points, etc. Using new Nielsen data, “Selectroniscope 1001” is successor to TvB’s 1957 “Spot TV Sampler.” NBC International has sold to Brazil’s TV Excelsior Network 7 TV series, totaling more than $500,000. To be dubbed into Portuguese, they are: Laramie, Dr. Kildare, NBC news & public affairs documentaries. Funny Manns, Panic, Bonanza, Loretta Young Theatre. Japan’s Fuji Broadcasting also reportedly plans to buy NBC programs, mostly news, for 3rd year at about $100,000. Britain’s commercial TV system should give govt, bigger piece of profitable pie, according to Postmaster General Bevins. He wants $50.4 million yearly, a bit more than double, by raising rent for govt, facilities. Volume of 15 commercial firms is estimated at $420 million yearly, with profits of $70 million. KBLU-TV Yuma joins CBS-TV as extended market group affiliate about June 1, replacing KIVA. Speed Up in Satellite Communications: On heels of FCC report of progress on implementing space communications act (Vol. 3:8 p6), major steps were taken last week to speed machinery of Communications Satellite Corp.: (1) Incorporators named Leo D. Welch, Standard Oil (N.J.) chmn., as its chmn. and chief executive officer, and Dr. Joseph V. Charyk, Under Secretary of Air Force, as pres. Both were nominated by President Kennedy, are subject to Senate confirmation. Welch, businessman & planning specialist, reportedly will draw $125,000 yearly. Scientist Charyk’s salary would jump from present $20,000 to $80,000. (2) Credit up to $5 million was obtained by CSC, after FCC authorization, from 10 banks, each lender accounting for 10%. Initial loans of $500,000 are planned immediately. CSC expects to be functioning in 2 years, wdll be offering stock to public by Feb. 28, 1964 at not more than $100 a share. Bell Labs also reported that Telstar, first communications satellite, went dark, apparently \nctim again of radiation sickness as it neared stronger sections of Van Allen Belt. And Harvard Observ'atory reported that it believes the lost Syncom satellite has been photographed by observatory at Bloemfontein, South Africa. Personals Gordon Davis, asst, to \qD, KPIX San Francisco, takes 2-year leave of absence from WBC to become broadcasting dir.. Radio Free Europe, Munich. Mike Roberts resigrns as & gen. mgr., WBC Program Sales . . . Robert Guy, ex-KCOP Los Angeles programming dir., appointed Storer TV div. program development mgr. Marvin Kirsch, assoc, publisher & gen. mgr., Radio-TV Daily, resigns, will take vacation to recuperate from surgery & then consider pending offers . . . Bob Fields promoted to TV technical operations supervisor, KYW-TV Cleveland. Donn Winther, adv. & sales promotion mgr., WBZ-TV Boston, promoted to asst, sales mgr. replacing Ted Wrobel, resigned. Robert Hudson succeeds Winther. Donald Badger, ex-WZZM-TV Grand Rapids gen. sales mgr., appointed WTEV Providence-New Bedford promotion mgr. . . . Raymond Kaelin, ex-Peters, Griffin, Woodward salesman, named sales vp, Vic Piano Assoc. Robert Blake, ex-Steve Allen Show, CBS & NBC, named to new post of dir. of public information. Westinghouse Bcstg. Co. Obltmarg Robert E. Dunville, 57, pres, of Crosley Broadcasting Corp., Cincinnati, died Feb. 28 after several months’ illness. He joined Crosley in Dec. 1937 as asst, to broadcasting vp (James Shouse, now chmn.). In 1944, he was elected vp & gen. mgr. of WLW; in Nov. 1949, pres. He is survived by a wife, a son & daughter. Lester R. Rawlins, 54, gen. mgr. of radio KDK.A Pittsburgh, died Feb. 23 at St. Francis Hospital. Survivors are his widow, 4 brothers, 5 sisters — one of whom is wife of Ohio Gov. Rhodes.