Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

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NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 19 TELEVISION DIGEST-5 CBS SEEKS ETV COMPETITION; CBS Pres. Frank Stanton disagrees with NBC Chmn. Robert Sarnoff on role of ETV. In address to CBS affiliates last week, Stanton said ETV should compete with commercial TV, “in its broadest, not its narrowest, concept . . . We should welcome educational TV into the free competition for the viewer’s attention.” Stanton’s views thus contrast with Sarnoff’s, who recently wrote Dr. Samuel Gould, pres, of ETV WNDT N.Y. (Vol. 3:18 p3) : “I was impressed by your outline of plans for the future of WNDT and your conviction that the station must evolve a pattern of operations where the bulk of its service would be directed to the type of educational programs which would serve a specific teaching function, and the rest of the programming would be directed to specialized interests not met by commercial broadcasting.” Sarnoff had been accused by some of making NBC’s 1100,000 donation to WNDT based on “don’t-compete-withus” agreement. Sarnoff & Gould have denied this repeatedly, both doing so again last week. Sarnoff, at RCA stockholders meeting, said: “NBC believes ETV stations must ultimately receive support from communities and foundations. They can’t indefinitely continue to look to commercial broadcasters ... We made the contribution because we felt it important that a cultural & educational TV service be continued ... It did not involve any condition on programming. None was sought, offered, discussed, or desired by NBC.” Gould, in news conference outlined “typical” programming for next year, showed that “teaching type” programs wouldn’t crowd out “cultural” & “informational” programs. WNDT hasn’t yet answered FCC’s request for information about any alleged “deal” with NBC or anyone else. Response is expected next week — and Commission doesn’t anticipate shocking revelations. Stanton said commercial telecasters would benefit from a strong ETV system which would “give us the kind of prodding anyone needs in order to improve constantly.” He also called on industry to help get ETV bulk support from public through “a mighty annual campaign” — and “it ought to be community-wide and it ought to be saturating,” including heavy series of commercial-station announcements. Concept is one that could well snow-ball. Live TV from Japan will be possible via Telstar II, AT&T officials said last week during press demonstration of new satellite’s performance. New ground station being constructed in Japan will have “mutual visibility” with AT&T station in Andover, Me. for periods of up to 15-20 minutes during certain periods when Telstar’s orbit is in Southern Hemisphere. Due to Telstar II’s higher orbit than its predecessor, at some times (July will be optimum because of location of orbit then) mutual visibility between U.S. & Europe will be one hour or more in single orbit. Both color & B&W pictures transmitted via Telstar II, as we observed them, were extremely good. Last 3 minutes of color tape segment from Bell Telephone Hour was received in France, where reception was reported “excellent.” New TV Affiliates Corp. member — WTVN-TV Columbus, 0. FEES NOW FINAL: Starting next Jan. 1, broadcasters and most other FCC licensees will start paying fees with their applications — Commission finalizing rules last week. Fees were set as we indicated earlier (Vol. 3:13 p2) : In TV, it’s $100 for applications for new stations, major changes, renewals, assignments ; in radio, it’s $50 for same. For all other broadcast applications, it’s $30. In non-broadcast field, fees are dropped somewhat from previous proposals. Though at one stage there were predictions that Commission would get mere $1 million a year, FCC now estimates some $3,843,000 will be collected (going to Treasury, not earmarked for FCC) — about one-third its annual budget. FCC noted that other govt, agencies charging fees now include: Defense Dept., FAA, Immigration & Naturalization Service. Exempted are noncommercial ETV stations, safety services (police, fire, etc.) and novice amateurs. Smallest fee is $2 for regular amateurs. Vote was 5-2 — Bartley & Ford dissenting. Bartley argued that fee “may well create here a contention of ownership or proprietary right . . .” Ford said that though fee idea “has much to recommend it,” he doesn’t believe Congress was specific enough in its law and that Congress should be asked for more instructions. FCC sources say FCC has received commendation from half dozen Congressmen & Senators — and no criticism from Hill. Full text will be published in Federal Register and weekly Govt. Printing Office pamphlet. Agency for International Development has quietly dropped project to bring ETV to underdeveloped countries by installing more than 1,000 transistorized TV sets. Plan came under Congressional fire last year when it was discovered that AID official negotiated contract for production of sets without giving major TV manufacturers chance to bid (Vol. 2:34 p8). In recent testimony on foreign aid bill, AID Dir. David Bell said $400,000 contract with Warwick was cancelled in Jan. Set installation was part of $1.6 million program. Tobacco company presidents replied last week to letter Sen. Moss (D-Utah) sent to TV networks about “glamour” in cigarette ads. They said that book isn’t closed on cancer-smoking link, that they don’t seek to exploit youth market, that ads are created merely to make products appear desirable. Network presidents replied week earlier (Vol. 3:18 p5). Tobacco respondents: Philip Morris, American Tobacco, R. J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, P. Lorillard, Liggett & Myers, Larus & Bro. FCC’s anti-payola rules were released last week, and, as we indicated (Vol. 3:18 p6), the only major change from original proposal of April 27, 1961 (Vol. 17:18 p5) is to exempt feature films “produced initially & primarily for theatre exhibition.” Full texts of rules and 36 examples of do’s & don’t’s will be published in Federal Register and in Govt. Printing Office weekly pamphlet. CBS won 1963 World Television Festival Award at Montreaux, Switzerland, for “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall.” It’s first American production to win prize at 3year-old festival.