Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOl. 3, No. 18 TELEVISION DIGEST— 5 NETWORKS REPLY ON CIGARETTES: Networks disagree with Sen. Moss (D-Utah) about “glamour” in cigarette advertising. Because of link between cancer & smoking, he wrote them recently, “I am concerned about the appeal to youth through advertisements which make it appear that the most virile and accomplished of men, the most attractive and feminine of women, and our leaders in almost every field are all cigarette smokers.” CBS Pres. Stanton replied: “First, the medical conclusions to which you refer and with which I am familiar are, of course, not universally accepted in this country. We feel it would be premature on our part to take action in an area in which we are not experts until we have a more generally accepted factual basis. “Second . . . the advertising of cigarettes, in common with the advertising of most other products, involves the depiction of the use of the product in attractive and pleasant surroundings and a portrayal of pleasurable reactions of users. To do otherwise would negate the I purpose of advertising.” NBC Pres. Kintner: “In our general policies we have been guided by the position expressed by [HEW Secy.] Celebrezze : That the government should not undertake to tell citizens to stop smoking; that as reliable information is developed on the consequences of smoking the government has the responsibility to provide the information to the public, and that the choice of whether to smoke or not is an individual one . . . Within this framework, one of the specific aims of our surveillance over cigarette commercials is avoidance of any special appeal to young people.” ABC Pres. Goldenson: “There are differing schools of thought as to whether or not tobacco commercials on television represent or are intended to represent a special ’ appeal to our youth. . . . We have not and will not permit tobacco commercials to appear in programs directed specifically to children . . . “The difference of opinion arises mainly in those cases where the programs and commercial content are 1 desigrned primarily to reach adults, but also are viewed by I a number of younger people in the early evening ... It is I difficult to see how this situation can be totally eliminated I short of an outright ban against tobacco advertising.” WGN-TV Chicago is latest big broadcaster jumping into CATV field — contracting to buy 2,100-subscriber , Houghton, Mich, system from TelePrompTer for undisclosed price. Exec, vp Ward Quaal said station hopes to buy or build more systems. It’s understood acquisitions t won’t be limited to Midwest and that extensive investment Jj may be made. TelePrompTer said that sale doesn’t mean 1 it’s reducing CATV activity; it will expand in CATV d elsewhere, has some 40,000 subscribers on other systems. (For list of broadcasters in CATV, see Vol. 3:17 p3). Replacement for FCC Climn. Minow when he goes (when he goes, nobody knows) shouldn’t be a broadcaster, according to EIA’s Land Mobile Communications Section. Its Chmn. William Weisz, Motorola, wrote President Kennedy, telling him new man should have experience in “the entire radio spectrum” rather than broadcast-only or no radio experience. H NBC News’ documentary films will be distributed by I McGraw-Hill, for educational purposes. Under agreement, 1 .McGraw-Hill has first choice of shows for coming year. NAB As Program Adviser: nab program dept, moved major step toward reality, when special committee recommended its creation. Committee headed by co-chmn. Joseph Baudino, Westinghouse, and Allan Page, KGWA Enid, Okla., will take final action June 4, recommending to NAB Board how program services should be provided. NAB Pres. Collins had urged the study, was given go-ahead on it by Board last Jan. NAB once had a program dept., in late 1940’s, but most of its work consisted of revising radio code. It’s assumed new dept, will be expected to do considerably more. Annual CBS-owned TV stations’ international program exchange will be joined this year by broadcasters from 8 countries: Radiodiffusion Francaise, govt.; Norddeutscher Rundfunk (West Germany), govt.; Swiss TV Service, govt.; Radiotelevisione Italiana, govt.-franchised commercial; Canadian Bestg. Corp., govt.; Telesistema Mexicano, private; Tokyo Bestg. System, private; Telefis Eireann (Ireland), govt. American program to be exchanged will be “The International Hour: American Jazz,” produced by WBBM-TV Chicago, sponsored by Miller Brewing (Vol. 3:14 p8). It will be seen on 5 CBS outlets week of May 20; foreign shows will be seen in following weeks. Only 3 TV stations still charge sponsors extra for tape playback of spot commercials, according to survey by Videotape Productions of N.Y. as reported in its external house organ. Tape Measures. According to report, they are WJBF Augusta, Ga. ($2 per min. spot), WLW-T Cincinnati ($30 per min. spot), WTVO Rockford, 111. ($5 per min. spot) . Stations reported as having recently eliminated spot playback charges are KLBK-TV Lubbock, Tex.; WDBJ-TV Roanoke, Va. ; WBTW Florence, S.C.; WNCT Greenville, N.C.; WPIX N.Y.; WTAR-TV Norfolk. New TV applications filed during last 2 weeks: Ch. 79 Toledo, by Producers Inc. (owner of WTVW Evansville and other properties) ; Ch. 3 Vernal, Utah by owners of KREX-TV Grand Junction, Colo.; Ch. 40 Fontana, Cal. by Angel Lerma Maler, producer of Spanish-language TV programs, who says he will stop distribution to Los Angeles area TV stations and program exclusively over Ch. 40 if granted; Ch. 36 Atlanta by Supreme Bestg. Co. (also Ch. 33 applicant for Miami and part owner of WORA-TV Mayaguez, P.R.) ; Ch. 3, educational, Portales, N.M. by Eastern New Mexico U. (For details, see TV Addenda 33-L & K, supplied to full service subscribers.) Legislation setting uniform time standards received support from NAB, Exec, vp Vincent T. Wasilewski informing Chmn. Magnusor (D-Wash.) of Senate Commerce Committee that such standards would “lessen clock confusion.” Magnuson bill — and similar one by Sen. Cotton (R-N.H.) — would establish 8 standard time zones: Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Yukon, HawaiiAlaska, Bering. Bill would replace daylight savings laws, would establish “advance-time sub-zones” with “uniform switchover dates.” .Admitted quiz-riggers Jack Barry & Dan Enright should get renewal of their radio WGMA Hollywood, Fla., according to FCC Examiner Elizabeth Smith. She concluded in initial decision that they’ve been bad boys — but that their operation of WGMA in “a highly commendable manner” warrants renewal.