Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1957)

FILM WHERE'S THE SQUEEZE ON FILM SYNDICATORS? • B*T survey finds stations still good users • Findings don't match Hill allegation DESPITE a congressional report that indicated network practices had created a rocky business road for tv film syndicators, the television stations themselves report a continued flourishing use of films made especially for tv. In a staff report by the Senate Commerce Committee released early this month [B»T, July 1], one point alleged that network monopoly on U. S. television had made film syndication a risky business and that less and less non-network programming is available to stations. B»T's semi-annual survey of programming disclosed no such trend. In fact, among interconnected network affiliates during the week of March 3-9, 1957, non-network film fare accounted for an average of 31 hours, 14 minutes of programming. This compares to the 31 hours, 8 minutes average for the fall of 1956 and the 29 hours, 22 minutes average for the spring of 1956. While increased use of film made for theatrical showing provided the healthiest boost in this category among interconnected network affiliates, syndicated film this March averaged just 15 minutes less than last fall, but averaged 13 minutes more than in March of 1956. [In appraising the accompanying chart where it shows a decline in non-network tv film by non-interconnected network affiliates, the reader should keep in mind that only slightly more than 3% of the returns in B«T's survey were from stations in this diminishing classification.] Film use at non-network stations dropped off, but such a decline might be expected with independents reporting average weekly operating schedules down from 79 hours, 55 minutes last fall to 65 hours, 51 minutes this spring. Though not quite as small a group as the non-interconnected network affiliates, the non-network classification is also a decided minority (less than 8%) in the overall number of stations responding to the survey. In this seventh B«T study, the pattern of past surveys continued: 1. The average broadcast week of all U. S. television stations increased, rising 38 minutes since last fall to 102 hours, 21 minutes. Over the past two years, average programming schedules have grown 13 hours, 39 minutes. At the present time, stations in the Mid-Atlantic region are averaging the biggest program weeks. 2. Local live programming continued to decrease slightly. Stations averaged 14 hours, 37 minutes. 3. Affiliate use of network programs increased. The interconnected affiliates' average grew to 60 hours, 44 minutes, a 1 . 1 % rise over last fall. The non-interconnected affiliates' use of network shows rose 3.1% although here again it must be considered that there are relatively few remaining stations in this category and, accordingly, there is little effect on the aggregate totals for affiliates. The few non-interconnected stations are located in western states of sparse population and wide open spaces not yet penetrated by AT&T's coaxial cable or microwave radio relay intercity connections. Films made for theatrical viewing found increased popularity in station programming, particularly among the interconnected network affiliates which devoted an average of 16 hours, 19 minutes weekly to such non-network fare. Part of this can be traced to the ever-increasing number of movie films that Hollywood is releasing to television. These newer releases, unlike the available products of early tv days, are of more acceptable calibre and are being used more frequently and in better time slots. Use of film on the networks experienced another mild gain last March with the three-network weekly total reaching 58 hours, 30 minutes. ABC-TV, which regularly leads network film utilized, dipped slightly from 26 hours, 10 minutes to 24 hours. This drop, plus a very small decrease in film use at NBC-TV, was more than compensated for, however, by the addition of three film hours at CBS-TV. Total network hours for both film and live programming reached THE TV BROADCAST WEEK FILM-NETWORK-LOCAL Total Non-Network Film NON-NETWORK < FILM PROGRAMS Specially Made for Tv Made for Theatrical Showing Total Network Programs NETWORK ORIGINATED PROGRAMS Off Coaxial Cable or Microwave Kine LOCAL LIVE PROGRAMS TOTAL PROGRAMS ^ Average Total Hours and Minutes on Air Per Week * Figures for all stations not available for previous years. Page 54 July 29, 1957 Broadcasting Telecasting