Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

closed circuit EIGHT OUT OF TEN • When final processing has been completed in near future. Census Bureau's latest measurement of tv set circulation will show approximately 40 million U. S. homes have at least one video receiver. This is shade over 80% tv home saturation. Bureau's tabulation is based on sampling survey conducted last April for Advertising Research Foundation with aid of NARTB, TvB and network funds. Figures for summer of 1956 were 76.1% saturation and 37.4 million homes. • While NARTB telecasters argue at regional meetings over merits and flaws in plan to set up national tv circulation audit, buyers of time are voicing hope latest ARF figures (March 1956) will be updated. These county reports were based on total national circulation of 35.5 million tv homes, 4.5 million below August 1957 total computed by Census Bureau. Incidentally, bureau's latest national report will be broken down into nine U. S. regions compared to four in past reports. • JANUARY TARGET • New Office of Network Study, created by FCC as part of Broadcast Bureau to take over unfinished work of Barrow Network Study Staff, should have final phase of Barrow Report dealing with programming-talent ready by first of year. FCC is required to report to Senate Commerce Committee not later than 90 days after release of Barrow Report, or by Jan. 3. Thus it's presumed that FCC Network Study Committee of three commissioners, plus entire FCC, will meet that deadline whether or not programtalent phase is completed by that time. • Whether new Office of Network Study will be continued after first of year or made integral part of Broadcast Bureau, under which it now nominally functions, remains to be decided by FCC. At all events, FCC is expected to ask for about $60,000 in additional appropriations to handle study work, this based on presumption that group of 10 (including clerical stenographic) would be so assigned. Since Network Study Staff budget of $221,000 was expended as of last June 30, nearly all of additional $50,000 allotted by FCC from current funds has been spent or committed for completion of work. MONEY MEN • More realignment is coming at ABC-TV. Jason Rabinovitz, administrative vice president who's dealt primarily with financial matters, has resigned. According to present plans he will not be replaced directly. But Stephen Riddleberger, administrative vice president of ABN (radio), is slated to move into key post under Simon Siegel, financial vice president of parent AB-PT, seemingly enhancing already influential position held by Mr. Siegel. Mr. Riddleberger is due to be proposed for election as AB-PT assistant treasurer at board meeting today (Monday). Ken R. Dyke, vice president of Young & Rubicam (and former NBC executive) who retired from Y&R last week (see story page 37), has 10-year contract for consultancy with agency. He is also considering other consultancy positions, among them offer from Voice of America. • GIFT CLUB • Team of five attorneys and investigators of Moulder Committee on Legislative Oversight, which has ensconced itself in FCC quarters to examine correspondence, files and records, expects to be on that job for about year and a half. That's word it has passed along to FCC staff. Meanwhile FCC members are pondering answers to Moulder letter seeking information on gifts, honorariums, loans, fees, entertainment, and such,, received from communications interests. Best guess is most members will say they will answer any specific questions in open hearing. 0 Among files being searched by investigators of House Moulder investigating committee are those of NARTB, with particular reference to participation of members of FCC at NARTB conventions and regional meetings during past several years. Records, notably those covering hotel bills, reportedly are being micro-filmed, and presumably will be used as basis for questioning when committee hearings are held next year (story page 60). • MEDIA MOVES • Lee Rich, vice pesident and associate media director of Benton & Bowles, New York, will be named director of media for agency shortly, while David Crane, vice president in charge of media, will be promoted to account supervisor capacity in addition to his media title. Tom McAvity, an executive vice president of NBC, reportedly has worked out termination arrangements with network and is considering several agency suggestions, including one by McCann-Erickson, as well as talent-producer-packager offer. • CURTAIN RISER • There's excellent chance new ch. 13 WLWI (TV) Indianapolis will hit air this week by virtue of FCC's action last Wednesday announcing intention of denying reconsideration petitions of losers in hotly-contested case. Written opinion probably will reach FCC in time for this Wednesday's meeting and FCC then can okay changes in equipment which previously had resulted in month's holdup at cost to Crosley of $37,000 per week. At last week's meeting 3-3 tie was broken by new Comr. Fred W. Ford, whose ballot favored Crosley. • That order inviting applications for toll tv tests ought to be ready for Commission action this week — and if sentiments of commissioners are still same as they were when they instructed staff last month [Lead Story, Sept. 23], order could be issued before week is up. But some commissioners, it's known, aren't completely sold that this is right way to handle pay tv, so most observers are putting themselves in "watchful waiting" position. JAM SESSION • Sen. George Smathers (D-Fla.), author of S. 2834 introduced at end of last session to ban direct or indirect ownership in music publishing or in manufacturing or selling of records by any licensed radio or tv station (aimed at BMI) meets Nov. 7 with 11-man board of Florida Assn. of Broadcasters. FAB President James L. Howe, WIRA Fort Pierce, had requested meeting pursuant to resolution adopted by group condemning bill and citing injury that would be done to public and to broadcasters through such legislation. Among data to be presented to Sen. Smathers by FAB will be results of survey being conducted week of Oct. 14-19 by Florida's some 150 radio and tv stations. This will show breakdown of all numbers performed as between ASCAP, BMI or other copyright owners, as well as number of recordings performed broken down as to label. • CASE WITH A BEARD • FCC had discussion of clear channel case last Monday, came to no conclusion and is due to pick up threads again this week. Although no decision reached, leaning understood to be toward some sort of invitation to parties to bring decade-old testimony up-to-date so FCC can plunge into case and come up with some sort of final decision. Harry Floyd, account executive at NBC, New York, is expected to be promoted to head of sales in network's Los Angeles office, succeeding John Williams, who is retiring. Broadcasting October 14, 1957 • Page 5