Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1958)

INTERNATIONAL Support for Private Tv Grows in West Germany Sentiment in the West German Bundestag, the lower house of the Bonn legislature, has grown in favor of opening the television spectrum to private broadcasting in Germany. Establishment of private stations would be delayed, however, by jurisdictional differences between the national government and the German Laender districts, it is reported by observers. The Bonn government, after prolonged debate, has decided it is unwilling to reserve all channels for the existing government monopoly system of tv and that it favors making vhf grants to private operators, adding uhf when that part of the spectrum becomes practicable for German broadcasting. On the other hand, the Laender deny that Bonn has the right to disrupt the broadcasting status quo by instituting a combined commercial-noncommercial basis. The German newspaper press, it is reported, is critical of the government monopoly stations for entering limited commercial tv, selling a daily half-hour show. The German Brand Name Advertisers' Assn. has endorsed the British plan for commercial tv, saying at the same time that the American system would not fit into the German advertising pattern. The Brand Name Advertisers, constituting one of the most powerful groups pressing for commercial tv in Germany, believe that a five-station private network could start operating next year, covering 60% of West Germany. In latest estimates, tv set circulation in West Germany is reported nearing the 1.5 million mark. One industry spokesman expects the country to surpass original estimates and exceed 2 million sets this year. Russian Trip Convinces Talbot Tv Needs Overseas Spokesman The urgent need for an impartial television industry spokesman to handle trade negotiations with overseas nations and act on behalf of all tv interests was voiced last week by Paul Talbot, president of Fremantle Overseas Radio & Tv Inc., New York, upon his return from Moscow. During his visit in Moscow, Mr. Talbot concluded negotiations with Soviet television officials for Western rights to a Russian tv film series in exchange for U. S. telefilms under the terms of the cultural exchange agreement between the U. S. and Russia. But he told a news conference that his visit reinforced a long-held opinion that the tv industry should have a spokesman abroad. Above and beyond the situation in the Soviet Union, Mr. Talbot continued, there is need in the overseas market for "a person of stature" to help counteract "some of the bias" that exists there toward U. S.produced tv films. As examples, he cited "pressure" in Great Britain, other countries in Europe and Latin America to reduce the number of U. S. tv films to be permitted there. He contended that a "tv foreign minister" could offer a "united front" on behalf of all U. S. tv film distributors and other elements of the business and engender "a favorable climate" for future tv business. Mr. Talbot said that his arrangement with Moscow tv officials calls for Fremantle to provide such American telefilms as productions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica films and the Movie Museum series in return for a series of five-minute shows, Spotlight on Russia, which depict various phases of Russian life, including the Bolshoi Ballet, an atomic ice-breaker and the Moscow tv center. The series will be narrated in English. Mr. Talbot said he was told by Soviet tv officials that there are about 1.4 million tv sets in Moscow alone. These officials placed the number of tv stations in the Soviet Union at 45 and said that 35 more outlets will be on the air by the end of 1958. CBC Grants New Tv, Tightens on Giveaways Recommendation for one new tv station and deferment of hearings on applications for a number of new radio stations marked the March meeting of the CBC board of governors at Ottawa on March 25. Board also announced that it will crack down at license-renewal time on stations which emphasize giveaways to build audience. Last February the Canadian Assn. of Radio & Television Broadcasters suggested to the board that there be no general regulation limiting giveaway programs but that each individual station be dealt with under existing regulations. CBC board is acting on this suggestion. The board is not against bona fide quiz contests. It is opposed to programs designed o buy audience chiefly by offering prizes largely on chance. CJDC Dawson Creek, B.C., at the southern end of the Alaska Highway, has been recommended for a tv station on ch. 5 with 173.5 w video and 86.75 w audio and with antenna 60 feet high. CHUB Nanaimo, B.C., was recommended for an increase from 1 kw to 10 kw on 1570 kc. CKNW New Westminster, B.C., was recommended for a change from 1320 kc to 980 kc, with 5 kw. In making this recommendation, the board turned down an application of CHWK Chilliwack, B.C., and for a new station at Burnaby, B. C, on 980 kc. CKSB St. Boniface, Man., was recommended for an increase from 1 kw on 1250 kc to 10 kw on 1050 kc and change of transmitter site. A new station with 1 kw on 910 kc was recommended for Drumheller, Alta., to Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd. Denied radio station grants were CKGNTV North Bay, Ont., and Wm. H. Zakus at Transcona, Man., a suburb of Winnipeg, Man. Deferred were applications for change of ownership of CKLB-AM-FM Oshawa, Ont., CJAV Port Alberni, B.C.; for increase in power of CJRH Richmond Hill, Ont., from 500 w to 1 kw day and 250 w night with frequency change from 1300 kc to 1310 kc; and application of new radio station with 5 kw on 1060 kc applied for Quebec City by Les Enterprises Sillery-Quebec, Inc. KOBY put the CARNDEgT 60CK into San Francisco radio 1 Pulse, Hooper, and Nielsen all agree — KOBY is the choice radio buy in San Francisco! The KOBY big sound keeps San Francisco's huge adult listening audience on a continuous buying spree. So contact Petry, pronto . . . get the complete story. You'll discover it's no "yarn" that KOBY puts the "darndest sock" into selling products! SEE PETRY FOR KOBY 10,000 Watts • full time. Nov.-Dec. Pulse reveals a beautiful figure of 16.5 overall average share! MID-AMERICA BROADCASTING CO. Broadcasting April 7, 1958 • Page 81