Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

Angeles, starting in May, and for WCBS-TV New York, beginning in July. The films, produced by Republic Pictures, parent company of Hollywood Television Service, include seven John Wayne pictures. They are: "Fighting Seabees," with Susan Hayward; "Dark Command," with Claire Trevor, as well as "Flying Tigers," "Dakota," "Flame of the Barbary Coast," "War of the Wildcats," and "Angel and the Badman." Ziv Offers Sample Tv Films For Demonstration in Europe TO ENCOURAGE the development of commercial television in Europe, Ziv Television Programs, New York, last week announced details of a plan under which a package of sample tv films from Ziv's backlog will be offered free of charge for demonstration screenings and closed-circuit telecasting by European tv interests [Closed Circuit, Jan. 16]. Beginning immediately, Ziv Tv will make the film package offer to government bureaus, set manufacturers, advertising agencies, independent broadcasters and tv executives in West Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Ziv films are dubbed in French, German, Italian and Spanish and the company is considering dubbing-in-other languages. Ed Stern, head of Ziv's International Div., said that in the cases of West Germany, Italy, Sweden and Denmark, where commercial tv is being explored by government authorities, the sample films will be made available with "representative" tv commercials produced by Ziv Tv. He stressed the films will not be offered for on-the-air telecasting. Ziv Urges Caution in Buying 'Bargain' Film Packages TELEFILM program series "are getting more expensive" to film and if the sales price is "hammered down," it means a reduction in the quality of production, Frederic W. Ziv, board chairman Ziv Television Programs, declared last week in a statement directed to advertisers and agencies. He insisted that agencies and advertisers "get what they pay for in syndicated films," and he urged them to "use a more careful yardstick in evaluating 'bargain-priced' syndicated film packages that may turn out to be 'one-season wonders'." He pointed out that advertisers often are "forced to scramble for a replacement show at the end of a season because a producer doesn't have sufficient financing to keep a telefilm series in production for a second or third year." $800,000 for Ziv Promotion ZIV TELEVISION PROGRAMS, New York, announced last week a 1956 promotion budget at the record-breaking figure of $800,000, said to represent a 25% increase over the 1955 expenditure. The budget will cover audience promotion, including publicity-promotion kits, posters and point-of-sale material for client tieins, as well as trade promotion. CBS Newsfilm Adds Eight CBS NEWSFILM reported last week that it has added eight new subscribers. They are: WREC-TV Memphis, WBNS-TV Columbus, WMAL-TV Washington, WKRC-TV Cincinnati and Lee Radio, Mason City; as well as Lode Van Uytven in Brussels, Television Radiojuset in Copenhagen and Nederlandse Talevisie Stichting, Bussum, The Netherlands. Don't Sell, Says TOA THEATRE Owners of America last week were on record in opposition to the sale of motion picture features to tv by major producers. Referring specifically to the RKO sale of its library to C & C Super Tv and Columbia Pictures' announcement of the release of 140 features to tv, Myron Blank, TOA president, said that motion picture companies which have "concern for their customers will refrain from selling their product to television during these trying times." Although he conceded that distributors were "within their rights" in selling films to tv, he said he thought this represented "poor economic judgment." TOA reported it had not received any reaction from producers. Kaufman Reports Guild Films Gross Sales at Record Peak GROSS Sales at Guild Films Co., New York, for 1955 were "the biggest in its history," Reub Kaufman, president, reported at the annual stockholders meeting in New York on Jan. 15. Though figures were not disclosed, it was said gross sales totaled about $5 million. Mr. Kaufman said that Guild Films was in a "strong liquid position" to act upon properties which become newly available. He noted that the purchase by the company of the Looney Tune cartoons last spring was "a highly successful financial coup." Reelected to the board of directors of Guild Films were Mr. Kaufman and Aaron Katz, treasurer and vice president; Jane Kaufman, secretary, and David Van Alstyne, William E. Wa'ker, George J. deMartini an,d Julian E. Keilus. Six-Market Sales Chalked Up For 'Susie' and 'Cristo' Films REGIONAL sales on Susie in six markets in California, Oregon and Washington State and on The Count of Monte Cristo in six Wisconsin markets are being announced today (Monday), by Micheal M. Sillerman, TPA executive vice president. BlitzWeinhard Co. (Blitz beer), Portland, Ore., through MacWilkins, Cole & Weber, Portland, has bought Susie in six cities, and the number of markets may be expanded, according to Mr. Sillerman. Thorpe Finance Co., Milwaukee, through Klau-Van Pietersom-Dunlap, Milwaukee, has purchased Monte Cristo for all markets in Wisconsin. Mr. Sillerman added that other Susie sales were made since Jan. 1 in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Minneapolis, Albuquerque, Duluth, Little Rock, Springfield, Mass., and Greenville, N. C, and other Cristo sales in Mobile, Detroit, Phoenix and Little Rock. Sarra Names Stehney, Bailey APPOINTMENTS of Michael Stehney as Chicago production manager and Marvin Bailey as film service manager were announced Thursday by Sarra Inc., film production firm. Mr. Stehney has been a cameraman and director since 1950. Mr. Bailey has been in charge of the firm's film editing department for the past five years. ABC FILM SYNDICATION PLANS 1956 EXPANSION Release of seven new halfhour series — five for national sales and two for syndication — expected in next few weeks. Unit reports nearly 100% increase in 1955 gross billings over 1954 period. FOUR-POINT expansion program for 1956 was outlined last week at a news conference by George T. Shupert, president of ABC Film Syndication, coincident with an announcement that the unit's gross billings in 1955 were 99.1% above those of 1954. The four areas of expansion, Mr. Shupert said, include the development of national network business, increased activity in the syndication field, the formation of an international division and the possible addition of a commercial and industrial division. Within the next six to eight weeks, Mr. Shupert said, the national sales department, headed by Vice President John Burns, will make available to advertisers five new half-hour series, four of which are adventure shows and the fifth a dramatic anthology. They are: Forest Ranger, Renfrew of the Mounted, The Americano, The Force, and Believe It or Not, the last based on material originally developed by the late Robert Ripley. New series to be offered by ABC Film Syndication, through its syndication division, are Code Three and The Three Musketeers, both half-hour properties. Mr. Shupert said in most instances ABC Film Syndication will "cooperate" in the financing of series earmarked for syndication or national sales. Mr. Shupert said the decision to establish a commercial and industrial division resulted from a realization that advertisers needed "a single source for all film requirements, both in and out of television." Mr. Shupert disclosed that ABC Film Syndication may buy into a well-established production company to obtain necessary facilities. Plans for an international division are underway, Mr. Shupert continued, with the appointment of an individual as its head expected shortly. He said ABC Film Syndication will continue to conduct research of the foreign market, which began a year ago. He observed that ABC Film Syndication already has been dubbing several of its programs into Spanish and French for sale in Latin America and France, and said this activity would be accelebrated when the new division is formed. In line with this expanded activity, Don L. Kearney, vice president in charge of sales for ABC Film Syndication, announced that Patric Rastall, formerly of the Chicago office, has been transferred to New York. Mr. Rastall will have a roving assignment, with emphasis on multi-market presentations to national and large regional advertisers. Howard Anderson, who has been manager of the Dallas office, will move to Chicago as manager of the midwest division, and Robert Dalschau, formerly with KENS-TV San Antonio, will replace Mr. Anderson in Dallas. The first regional sale on the new syndicated property, Code Three, based on the files of the Los Angeles County's sheriff's office, was made last week to Liebmann Breweries Inc., Brooklyn, Mr. Shupert revealed. Through Foote, Cone & Belding, Liebmann has bought the series in 12 eastern markets, starting in the fall, and in an undetermined number of markets in California, beginning in March. Page 42 • January 23, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting