Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1958)

STATIONS CONTINUED LI&HTBOX WITH TEWERATUBES " WtNPS WTOP-TVS TASTEFUL TOUCH ADDS ZEST TO TV NEWS WTOP-TV Washington has an answer to the oft-heard charge that television newscasts are merely radio programs aided by a few film clips and visual aids. Thomas B. Jones, WTOP-TV program director, has installed a studio layout designed to increase the impact of visual impressions by use of flexible production facilities and techniques. The result is a newscast identified by a combined news workshop, large screen and three-man microphone team. Two adjoining rooms are created by a backdrop that includes a four-scene rotating prop and a disappearing front projection screen. The screen is fed by a Telepro 6000 projection that holds 60 3x4-inch Polaroid transparencies. The Telepro is preloaded and operated remotely from the control room, which also handles special slides and newsfilm inserts. In front of the backdrop a newscaster works from a desk, facing a single camera. The program signature and closing shot are based on a view of the newscaster (with appropriate background) and a look into the backroom which simulates a news workshop. The large weather map is seen at the end of the room. This workshop view is shot with the projection screen retracted. When the first newscaster takes the air, the sliding screen is in position, usually occupying at least half of the receiver's picture. After the first of three segments in the 15-minute period the screen is retracted to show the weather reporter at work. The workshop camera behind the partition then goes into action. The weather map has two props for detailed information, one pulled down from above and the other a back-lighted box located at the eastern side of the map. Workshop props include two desks, phones, typewriter, dummy teletypes and copy spindles. The opening signature shot shows the weather man tinkering at his map and a man at a telephone. The workshop is being wired and later will be enlarged for use as an actual newsroom on election nights and for other major news features. It will be equipped for panels and group discussions. Peter Masters, WTOP-TV art director, designed the sets. WTOP-TV first used its news setup last Oct. 6 after two weeks of dry runs. Viewer and sponsor reaction has been surprisingly enthusiastic. Use of illustrations has been upped 50%, with an average of 30 in a 15-minute newscast. Two daily programs are produced in the studio — 6:30 Spotlight ahead of the CBS-TV Douglas Edwards newscast and 11 p.m. Report. The 6:30 program consists of three five-minute segments — Eddie Gallaher, entertainment news; John Douglas, weather; Steve Cushing, area news. The 1 1 p.m. program opens with Roger Mudd handling national, international and area news for six to eight minutes; usually two minutes of weather with Mr. Douglas, and five minutes of sports with Dan Daniels. The late program segments can be timed to the importance of the news or weather. Sponsors for the 6:30 program are Coca-Cola for Mr. Gallaher; Coronet Carpet Co. and Trailway Bus for Mr. Douglas, and Perpetual savings and Arthur Murray for Mr. Cushing. Pan American Airways will take over the Coronet Carpet position in the near future. Safeway will sponsor the Cushing segment. Sponsors at 1 1 p.m. are Esso for news and weather; Northeast Airlines and Newport cigarettes for Mr. Daniels. No Teeners in Most L.A. Homes, Finds Survey Ordered by KLAC More than three-fourths of all homes in the greater Los Angeles area have no teenagers, according to a survey distributed last week to advertising agencies by KLAC Los Angeles. The survey was made for the station by John B. Knight Co. among adults iri 1,011 homes. It notes that in the 22.3% of homes with teenage members, 73.3% of these teenagers answer the phone and offer information unless an adult is specifically asked for and 67.7% of the youngsters prefer rock-and-roll music on the radio. Contrariwise, 71.6% of the adults interviewed "stated an overwhelming preference for a station featuring only good, popular music (no rock-and-roll)." Other facts unearthed by the Knight THE NATION'S MOST SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL NETWORK Another Intermountain Network Affiliate KGHF 5000 WATTS AT 1350 NEWS— MUSIC— SPORTS And the TOP SALESMAN In the RICH PUEBLO MARKET surveyors: 96.5% of the homes visited "have and use from one to four radios"; 82.6% of all cars have car radios and 79.9% of all car radios are used regularly; 71% of the adults want sports results via radio and 71.9% want traffic bulletins. KLAC, which for some months tried rock-and-roll programming with unhappy results, now says: "Good music is back and KLAC's got it." Crescent City Gets New WYFE Town & Country network opened WYFE New Orleans last Monday (Dec. 1), Connie B. Gay, the network's president, has announced. Apart from Manager Bill Romaine and National Sales Manager Ed Winton, the daytimer is mainly staffed with women. WYFE is on 1600 kc with 1 kw. Ch. 14 WWOR-TV on Air Again After three years of darkness ch. 14 WWOR-TV Worcester, Mass., last Monday (Dec. 1) resumed operations. The uhf outlet first went on the air in 1953 until 1955. It was sold last August [Changing Hands, Aug. 4] by Salisbury y / WITH THE INTER x Mountain Network HEADQUARTERS: SALT LAKE CITY • DENVER • CONTACT YOUR AVERY-KNODEL MAN Page 92 • December 8, 1958 Broadcasting