Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3. NO. 12 TELEVISION DIGEST— 7 MANUFACTURING. DISTRIBUTION. FINANCE ElA TO COMPILE COLOR TV SALES DATA: End to cdl the speculation, conjecture, braggadocio & innuendo was in sight at week's end. About color production & sales, that is. EIA's consumer products marketing services committee reported to the manufacturer association's spring conference in Washington that all color TV manufacturers, including non-members of El A, had reached virtual agreement on reporting sales & production of color sets. Only non-agreeing manufacturer was understood to be non-member which declined to commit self before learning exact nature of reports & statistics — but El A marketing services officials were optimistic about prospects of having 100% industry cooperation. Agreement was made possible by RCA's waiver of its right to block collection of statistics in field where it produces or sells more than 50% of industry output. (In case of color, this could apply to both color sets <& color tubes.) EIA hopes to report color TV sales beginning in July, retroactive to Jan. 1, thereby presenting full picture of 1963. This should settle many arguments. At least 4 manufacturers have conducted exhaustive surveys of 1962's color TV set sales, and you can hear estimates all the way from 225,000 sets to nearly 500,000 — with elaborate proof to back them up. There were still some manufactvurers who were dubious, when EIA meeting broke up, that RCA would actually and finally consent to contribute its own color figures. MANUFACTURERS FACE ALL-CHANNEL CHALLENGE: Reality of all-channel law, and the tremendous task of educating public, is beginning to face TV manufacturers — 13 months before April 30, 1964 demise of the vhf-only set. Much of corridor talk and Consumer Products Div. meeting at last week's EIA spring conference was devoted to subject, with little concrete results except increasing realization of magnitude of job. Division executive committee, under acting chairmanship of Motorola Consumer Products Pres. Edward R. Taylor (substituting for Olympic Pres. Morris Sobin, who was ill), tentatively turned down proposed $100,000 dealer-consumer all-channel education program prep>ored by N.Y. promotion agency Sumner Rider & Assoc, at its request. Committee had agreed to approve study subject to participation of at least 75% of EIA TV members — and sentiments at meeting indicated this participation probably will not be forthcoming. Last-ditch attempt to eliminate problem by persuading Congress to repeal or cut 10% excise tax on all-channel TV sets was approved at week's end by EIA board of directors. Although elimination of excise tax could wipe out anticipated $20-$30 retail increase required by inclusion of all-channel tuners, there was little realistic hope that this legislation — introduced in every Congress since 1953 — would get anywhere. Placing their hope in FCC-coordinoted all-industry Committee for Development of UHF Broadcasting (Vol. 3:11 p2) were FCC Comrs. Lee & Henry, who discussed problem with EIA members. Lee, who had just come from addressing service technician group on subject of uhf, outlined proposals to stimulate uhf broadcasting (see p. 5). He praised EIA for "constructive approach" to matter, stressed that education of public was necessary. Henry asked set manufacturers' advice on "promotion of uhf without overselling it." All-industry committee, said Lee, will hold next full meeting in late April or early May, after meeting of steering committee in Chicago April 4. List of steering committee members, released after EIA session, contained names of no TV set manufacturer personnel — but name of EIA consumer products staff dir. L. M. Sondwick was included (for list, see p. 5). Encouraged by Commissioners' attitude of friendly cooperation & assistance at EIA meeting. Motorola's Taylor made logical proposition: "What bothers us is that the $25-$30 price increase is going to slow