Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

NETWORKS CONTINUED Treyz' well-known observation that despite early-season ratings claims by NBC-TV [Networks, Sept. 16], "the public is the jury and the 1957-58 jury is still out." "Our objective also is to distribute the best programs to the most viewers at the least cost to advertisers," Mr. Treyz emphasized. He told affiliates, alluding to the April target date, that "with your help and ABC's continued strong programming and promotion, we can narrow the gap and then eliminate it entirely by next April." Included with Maverick and American Bandstand in the ABC-TV program progress report, given by James T. Aubrey Jr., vice president in charge of programming and talent, was the Walter Winchell File (Wed., 9:30-10 p.m. EST), produced by Desilu Productions. Affiliates also were assured that Disneyland will be beefed up in the coming months with fresh ideas from the shop of Walt Disney. Attending the ABC-TV affiliates meeting were Desi Arnaz, Desilu Productions; Mr. Winchell, and representatives (including Walt Disney Productions) for such properties as Disneyland, Maverick and Tombstone Territory and for ABC-TV and American Broadcasting Network (BBDO). Station managers also were introduced to Thomas W. Moore, new ABC-TV vice presi„ dent in charge of sales, who solicited their support "by way of your suggestions, your prospects and your criticisms." He added, "I am the greatest beneficiary of today's meeting — I have received a great education." Affiliates were told lhat ABC-TV saleswise hopes to catch up with NBC-TV and at least close the gap with CBS-TV in succeeding months. Programming support in terms of advertising, promotion, publicity and exploitation was outlined in the afternoon session by Dean Linger, advertising-promotion director, Michael J. Foster, vice president in charge of press information, and Sig Mesibov, exploitation chief. The meeting was opened by Al Eckman, ABC vice president in charge of station relations. The network contingent also included Don Coyle, sales development and research vice president, and Don Shaw, station clearances director. ABC-TV executives from the network's various o&o station cities also were in attendance. The special co-op advertising and promotion program, designed to give stations aid on a par with assistance being given affiliates of CBS-TV and NBC-TV, provided a healthy stimulant to ABC-TV's affiliate delegates. Stations would pay half the cost (along conventional 50-50 co-op lines) and receive basic newspaper mat and other materials in a move to buttress the network's Wednesday and Friday evening program schedules, which overall includes Disneyland, Tombstone Territory, Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Walter Winchell File, Wednesday Night Fights, Rin Tin Tin, Jim Bowie, Patrice Munsel Show and the Frank Sinatra Show. The ABC-TV Stations Affiliates Assn., headed by Frederick Houwink, WMAL-TV Washington, D. C, met Thursday. Other board members of the affiliates board are Harry Lebrun, WLWA (TV) Atlanta, Ga.; Joseph Hladky, KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joseph Drilling, KJEO-TV Fresno, Calif., all officers, and Joseph Bernard, KTVI (TV) St. Louis, Mo.; Donald Davis, KMBC-TV Kansas City; Joseph Herold, KBTV (TV) Denver, Colo.; J. W. McGough, WTVN-TV Columbus, Ohio, and Willard Walbridge, KTRK-TV Houston, Tex. Some station affiliates reported healthy audience reaction to the network's American Bandstand (Mon.-Fri., 3-4:30 p.m.) and others indicated they'd like to carry the full 90 minutes, instead of only part of it as at present. The ABC-TV affiliates board, meeting Thursday afternoon at the Ambassador East Hotel, discussed several subjects, under Mr. Houwink's chairmanship. It also set another meeting for Miami Beach, Fla., sometime next January — probably Jan. 8-9, to be followed by an all-day meeting Jan. 10 with the ABC management contingent. AB-PT Sets 25 Cents Dividend For Common, Preferred Stock American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres announced last week that the board of directors has declared dividends of $0.25 per share on the outstanding common stock and $0.25 per share on the outstanding preferred stock of the corporation, payable Dec. 20 to holders of record on Nov. 29, 1957, according to Leonard H. Goldenson, AB-PT president. A year-end extra dividend was not considered at this time last year, Mr. Goldenson said. As reported in October, nine-month earnings were $0.91 a share compared with $1.31 a share in 1956. Present projection for the fourth quarter is lower than last year, he said. ABC-TV earnings are ahead for the quarter but not enough to offset the decline in theatre business as a result of a lack of box office pictures in the fourth quarter and the effect of the flu epidemic on theatre attendance; and the cost necessarily incurred during this quarter in creating a new program structure for American Broadcasting Network, AB-PT reported. CBS-TV Affiliates Assn. Sets Jan. 13-14 Meeting in D. C. The CBS Television Affiliates Assn. will hold its fourth general conference Jan. 1314 in Washington D. C, at the Shoreham Hotel with network executives reporting on activities and future plans. C. Howard Lane, KOIN-TV Portland, Ore., and chairman of the association and CBS-TV President Merle Jones will open the meeting on the morning of Jan. 13. Talks will follow by CBS-TV's William B. Lodge, vice president of station relations and engineering; Sig Mickelson, CBS Inc. vice president of news and public affairs; CBS-TV's John P. Cowden, operations director of advertising and sales promotion, and Charles J. Oppenheim, director of information services. A banquet will be held that evening in the hotel. At sessions the next day, CBS-TV speakers will include William H. Hylan, vice president of sales administration and Hubbell Robinson Jr., executive vice president in charge of network programs. A closed session in the morning will be conducted by Mr. Lane, and Edmund C. Bunker, CBS-TV vice president and director of station relations. A panel discussion will conclude the program. Adman Sues NBC Over Program Barry Farnol, radio-tv director of Dubin, Feldman & Kahn, Pittsburgh, Pa., advertising agency, and speech instructor at the U. of Pittsburgh, is suing NBC for piracy of a program idea. He has asked the U. S. District Court in Pittsburgh to enjoin NBC from telecasting What's It For? (Sat., 1010:30 p.m. EST), and he seeks $2.5 million in damages. According to his lawyer, Mr. Farnol in 1952 originated an idea for a panel tv show about new inventions and to be called What's It For? He made presentations to agencies and advertisers in New York and Philadelphia without success, it was reported. MARLOW'S TRAGICALL Producer Michael Marlow of CBS' Capitol Cloakroom — like most public affairs producers — sometimes has a hard time getting a show off the ground. Last Monday it was a matter of getting the star guest back on the ground from a fogbound airplane. That, however, was only the climactic problem in a day that played the producer false from the start. He had scheduled Dr. Howard L. Bevis, chairman of the President's committee on scientists and engineers, for that night's show. It didn't really set back the network team when, at the last minute, Dr. Bevis had to fly to Columbus, Ohio, for a meeting. This would be a two-city, recorded origination. And it almost was, HISTORY OF DR. BEVIS except that recording, started at 4:30 p.m., had to stop at 4:37, when lines went dead. By the time the hookup was restored, Dr. Bevis had left Columbus to fly back to Washington. Mr. Marlow arranged to meet him at the airport for a quick trip back to CBS studios that evening. He also hedged against fate by persuading Sen. George D. Aiken (R-Vt.) to stand by that night at the studios. Mr. Marlow stood by at National Airport, as the plane circled over the soup. At 9:30, Sen. Aiken went on the air with CBS newsmen Griffing Bancroft, Bill Downs and George Herman. Capitol Cloakroom got off the ground without Dr. Bevis. He was still in the air, flying to Philadelphia to land. Page 58 • November 25, 1957 Broadcasting