Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

telecasts of wrestling matches from Washington and Baltimore and horse racing from New York and New Jersey tracks. As with the major tv networks, Mr. Bailey said, SNI bills the advertising agencies representing the sponsors of the programs. He has worked closely on various sports telecasts with such agencies as Gardner Adv. (Anheuser-Busch), BBDO (Schaefer beer and Lucky Strike cigarettes), J. Walter Thompson Co. (Ford dealers), N. W. Ayer (Atlantic Refining), Stockton, West, Burkhart (Hudepohl Brewing), Lang, Fisher & Stashower, and others. He credits Tom Vilante of BBDO and Harry Renfro of D'Arcy Adv. with playing an important role in convincing major league club owners of the soundness of the SNI concept during its formative days. Mr. Bailey declined to discuss "at this time" a possible working arrangement with Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver Jr., who has been establishing a so-called "baby" tv network. (A spokesman for Mr. Weaver later confirmed that negotiations currently are in progress on a group of sports programs.) It is believed that such an association would be mutually advantageous, since SNI is operating in the same general area of the East and the Midwest which Mr. Weaver's group plans to serve. It was reported that the association would effect a savings in facilities costs, particularly because Mr. Bailey will require facilities largely in the spring and summer and Mr. Weaver will need them substantially in the fall and winter. For the future, Mr. Bailey is considering the establishment of a special events service to both radio and tv stations. He believes there is a market for such programming to independent stations and already has had experience in this area: It was Sports Network Inc. that recently arranged for radio coverage of the Beck (Senate) hearings to a group of West Coast stations including KHOL Seattle. Mr. Bailey was associated with NBC before he went to ABC in 1942. He held various programming and administrative posts at ABC, and as network coordinator became involved in various facets of network operations. This background, he said, has been "mighty valuable since I decided to become a network operator of sorts myself." ITV Bids $5 Million For Dodgers, Giants Tv ITV Inc., New York, a closed-circuit tv company, last Wednesday offered to pay the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants $5 million each per year for the rights to telecast their games if the two baseball clubs remain in New York. Max Kantor, ITV president, said he is interested in buying the rights to the New York Yankee games also for a comparable figure. He told a news conference that a four-man syndicate he would not identify was prepared to back this undertaking. Under Mr. Kantor's plan, the games would be telecast over closed-circuit by means of coaxial cables installed by the New York Telephone Co. to subscribers in hotels, apart Our record is spotty.., and we're proud of it ! Sure we're proud! For over 10 years, clients have been telling us we make the best TV commercials in the whole wide world ... they say there's no substitute for experience! We take our pride in stride. After all, we do have the facilities of an entire movie-making city behind us — plus a complete staff that's skilled in the very special requirements of television. For high professional quality, for technical excellence and the most on the screen for your dollar, check with Universal-International. UNIVERSAL PICTURES TELEVISION DEPARTMENT New York Office — 445 Park Avenue Telephone: PLaza 9-8000 Hollywood Office — Universal Studio, Universal City George Bole in Charge of Production Telephone: STanley 7-1211 W rite for free illustrated brochure. Ul PROFESSIONAL TOUCH Broadcasting • Telecasting June 10, 1957 • Page 91