Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

1 '•’""Television Digest with SXGO^ZT^OZXXCS • • • (starting on page 7) MARCH 25. 1963 NEW SERIES VOL. 3. NO. 12 I The authoritative service for executives in all branches of the television arts & industries tJAB UBHARV I SOMHARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS t KlflR 2 5 1963 Broadcast RATINGS HEARING MAIN TENT OPENS with Nielsen under attack, Harris Subcommittee giving Fhilse rough time. Nielsen offers suggestions for improvement (pp. 1 & 4). FORD ON RADIO— rrS NOT 'AMOS 'N' ANDY'— gets unanimous I agreement of colleagues to aim for en banc hearing — learn radio programming 'as it actually exists' (p. 2). , NEW SPOTLIGHT ON SYNDICATION as NAB convention nears. ' A special report on new trends in off-network syndication, feature packages & overseas telefilm soles problems (p. 3). PROGRESS TOWARD CATV REGULATION reported with NCTA membership backing board in negotiations for new law. Major ;! issue: Should FCC regulate CATV in multiple-station markets? j (p. 4). I OWNERSHIP LIMIT INCREASE to 5 uhf & 5 vhf suggested by I Lee to help 'attract capital' to uhf station construction (p. 5). I 'MINOW EPTECT ON PRODUCERS examined by Trendex survey I which finds major program producers stating Minow & FCC have had significant Influence on output (p. 5). Consumer Electronics COLOR TV SALES DATA compilation for 1962 planned by E3A as RCA waives right to block collection of statistics (p. 7). ALL-CHANNEL CHALLENGE confounds manufacturers as they shelve proposal for $100,000 PR campaign through EIA; Comrs. Lee & Henry place hopes with coordinating committee. EIA board to push again for uhf excise tax repeal (p. 7). HI-FI 'GRADING SYSTEM' may be acceptable in lieu of definition, FTC official hints, indicating little progress has been made toward protecting public from lo fi (p. 8). ENGINEERING DILEMMA in consumer electronics pinpointed by lEElE's Donald Fink on eve of world's largest engineer meeting (p. 9). BROADENING ELA'S SCOPE is goal of new measures emphasizing distributor products, component hi fi, molecular electronics (p. 9). NEW COLOR TUBE, patented by NYU scientist, attempts simplification of singlegun 'Apple' principle; manufacturers studying design (p. 10). ADMIRAL & MAGNAVOX 1962 REPORTS: Magnavox sales rise 43% to record $202 million & earnings climb 41% to peak $12.7 million (p. 11); Admiral earnings drop to $2 million from $2.9 million despite 8% sales gain to $201.5 million (p. 11). AB-PT NETS RECORD YEAR: Volume jumps to $379.7 million from 1961’s $363.1 million, produces record $10.8 million profit vs. 1961's $9.9 million; ABC Div. also posts record sales & earnings (p. 11). RATINGS HEARING MAIN TENT — NIELSEN: Seldom seriously challenged in broadcast industry, powerful A, C. Nielsen program-rating firm took its uncomfortable turn before Harris Subcommittee investigating ratings, while Pulse had even rougher time. Though Nielsen come armed with massive documentation. Subcommittee kept insisting that witnesses were avoiding describing fundamentals of operations. In fact, though hearing had been expected to end last week, Nielsen witnesses hove been called back for more, starting 2 p.m., March 26; there may be other witnesses, too. Some observers still argue that whole thing will blow over, but Subcommittee certainly sounds os if it means to "do something." Of course, this is par for any vigorous Congressional committee. But Harris has record of stimulating regulatory agency action. FTC is certain to be called back, sooner or later, to justify its consent decrees affecting Nielsen, ARB & Pulse — for not making them tougher. And FCC is bound to be brought into picture, too. Wisely, Nielsen gave Subcommittee some ideas for industry self-improvement. Pulse Pres. Dr. Sydney Roslow, pressed for suggestions by Chmn. Harris, wearily said that "cooperative effort" of govt. & industry may be indicated. (For details of week's testimony, see p. 4.)