Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

rILM ^3ig Expansion Planned By AAP Unit Overseas \ full-scale entry of AAP Inc., distributing tgent for Associated Artists Productions Corp., into the foreign market was to be anlounced over the past weekend by Norman |<.atz, director of AAP's foreign department. Mr. Katz at the same time was to reveal: • Agreement with a syndicate to distribute all the company's product, both theatrical and tv, in Latin America for an amount "in .;xcess of $6 million" and with AAP retaining an interest in the distribution company. • First "big" sale in the Eastern Hemisphere, with purchase by Granada Tv and jjAssociated rediffusion for British tv of AAP's Popeye cartoons [Closed Circuit, jApril 29]. AAP also is in active negotiation ("with all leading commercial stations and the [BBC" for use of all AAP products in England. • AAP is negotiating with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.. planning to make him a top executive in the foreign operation. "If the plan goes through," according to AAP, "he would become an 'ambassador at large' representing AAP overseas." Overseas activity will duplicate all AAP's jmoton picture, tv and allied activities in the jjU. S. Associated Artists Productions Corp. Ijowns all Warner Bros, products through 1949. including features, cartoons and short subjects, and has Popeye cartoons, several hundred additional feature motion pictures and a number of tv series. Mr. Katz made two trips around the ,| world during a three-year period in which "careful study" of the foreign market was made. The decision for a "major expansion" into the Eastern Hemisphere hinged on the !j conclusion of a pact for distributing the company's product in the western half of the world. The Latin American distributing company will include Robert Kronenberg, until recently AAP's western division manager and who will head the operations, and a group of important industrialists, bankers and executives in various Latin American countries. Mr. Kronenberg was to leave for Central and South America yesterday (Sunday) to begin actual sales aciivities. The foreign AAP companies will sell and utilize all AAP rights acquired along with the motion picture negatives. They will rei lease products to tv and to theatres when such rights revert to AAP and also pictures for non-theatrical use as well as literary rights for live theatrical, tv and radio production. They also will license merchandising items similar to the Popeye arrangement in effect in the U. S., records and other products. AAP plans to produce and co-produce motion pictures in various countries where ; its product is sold. Re-investment also will I include possible acquisition abroad of tv stations and, at the same time, AAP will be "anxious" to acquire foreign-made motion pictures for release in the U. S. Mr. Katz, who also is executive vice presiI dent of Dominant Pictures Corp.. AAP's :. theatrical distributing subsidiary, will be in charge of the Eastern Hemisphere operation, leaving the U. S. May 17 for London where he will headquarter. Frederick Hyman, assistant treasurer of AAP, who will accompany him, will organize various procedures and systems as well as financial and banking activities before distribution is set up in the various countries. TPA Organizes 'Task Force' To Make Filmed Commercials A "tv commercial task force," designed to produce commercials and tailor-made filmed openings and closings for national, local and regional advertisers in any part of the country, has been organized by Television Programs of America, it was announced last week by Michael M. Sillerman, TPA executive vice president. Al the same time Mr. Sillerman announced that Walter [. Gould is joining the TPA staff today (Monday) as producer in charge of the expanded commercial division. Although TPA has its main film studios in Hollywood, Mr. Gould, who resigned from Guild Films to join TPA. will headquarter in New York City. Under the expansion plans, the TPA commercial division also will produce industrial films and documentaries in black and white and color. "'Organization of the tv commercial task force' marks the first time that a mobile 1 "THE VOICE OF LONG ISLAND" W DELIVERS A Major Independent Market NASSAU COUNTY POPULATION 1,180,000 10th among U.S. Counties BUYING INCOME Total $2,928,340,000 8th among U.S. Counties Per Family . . . $ 8,503 5th U.S. Counties RETAIL SALES $1,534,786,000 11th a a U.S. Counties Food Store . . . $ 403,423,000 9th a a U.S. Counties Auto Store . . . $ 252,922,000 11th a a U.S. Counties Lumber, Bldg., Hardware . . $ 113,989,000 5th among U.S. Counties Apparel $ 113,070,000 13th a tt U.S. Counties Gas Stations . . $ 86,967,000 10th a a U.S. Counties Household, etc. $ 81,857,000 14th a a U.S. Counties (Sales Management, May 1957) Ora@ Station — WHLI — has a larger daytime audience in the MAJOR LONG ISLAND MARKET than any other station! (Poise Survey! SOON WHLI WILL INCREASE ITS POWER TO 1 0,000 WATTS Big Bonus Coverage (Nassau, parts of Queens, Suffolk & Brooklyn) Population . . . . 3,063,135 Net Income . . . . $6,730,794,000 Retail Sales . . . $3,365,152,000 WHLI HEMPSTEAD IONG ISLAND, N. Y. Represented by GILL-PERNA AM 1100 FM 98.3 the om of Paul Godofsky, Pres. & Gen. Mgr. Joseph A. Lenn, Exec. VP Sales Broadcasting • Telecasting May 13, 1957 • Page 89