Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

Kahn-TelePrompTer interests." There was said to have been a joint venture over a relatively long period, during which TelePrompTer would have handled the various viewing rights "exclusively on a profit-sharing basis with the D'Amato interests." The affidavit charged that TelePrompTer received tv, radio and movie rights to last June's bout for a $300,000 guarantee, although a rival firm had submitted a $450,000 bid. KTTV's mobile tape truck set to go KTTV (TV) Los Angeles expects to put a tv tape truck on the road this week to serve advertisers and agencies on location. The first unit in a fleet of mobile tape trucks planned by the station, the truck is box-like in construction so it can be mated with others to provide a complex of production facilities for major events or special situations. The new unit houses a 1000-B Ampex Videotape recorder which has been "ruggedized" by the station's engineering shop for the rigors of remote service. It also contains two RCA image orthicon cameras for live pickups, an Eastman 1 6mm projector, RCA slide system Vidicon film camera and a Telechrome special effects generator. Fully airconditioned, the truck has compressed air shock absorbers so that recording can be done while in motion. The result is what KTTV believes to be a unique advantage — the ability to integrate stock film footage, animation and special electronic effects into tv tape commercials. "Two years of experience with tv tape production has proved to us that advertisers and producers want and need these facilities," KTTV said. "The simple economics of being able to put titles, prices and 'printing' into a spot by use of slides, rather than requiring an additional camera, cameraman, production man, etc., are obvious. Also, being able to see the finished spot in full detail at the location site and immediately after completion lets advertiser and agency executives know exactly what they have, without having to return to the station to check out the tapes." To this initial unit, KTTV expects to add other units which are basically tv mobile tape machines. A "family" of four units will be able to handle four individual isolated productions or could be grouped for one grand production. Each unit can also be used in combination with the station's remote camera trucks, allowing producers as much equipment and as many cameras as they need. The units can tie up to KTTV's sound stages and the station's master tv tape center, augmenting the tv tape machines there or used to make duplicate copies of taped programs or commercials. For instance, in taping the International Beauty Pageant for world distribution, all units could record the same pictorial material while each was receiving its own sound track in a different language. The 18-ft. body was built by Aluminum Body Co. of Los Angeles and mounted on a Ford chassis. It was designed by KTTV with help of the body company and Visual Electronics Corp. Court rules against insurgent musicians Hollywood musicians who are attempting to upset the trust fund policies of the American Federation of Musicians received a setback last week. Judge Harold W. Schweitzer of Los Angeles Superior Court denied their application for an injunction to impound $6,172,000 collected by AFM from the sale of theatrical motion pictures to television. Judge Schweitzer also turned down the plaintiff's request that a receiver be appointed to handle the money. Plaintiffs will now proceed with their action against AFM for damages. Pretrial hearings will probably start about mid-February and the trial in March. This schedule could be upset if Judge Schweitzer follows the precedent of L.A. Superior Court Judge Clarence L. Kincaid. In a similar suit over royalty payments and wage increases on phonograph records last year. Judge Kincaid ruled that the musicians could not sue the union (Broadcasting, March 16, 1959). As the plaintiffs are members of AFM, he said, such a suit would in effect be an action against themselves. The rebelling musicians are now appealing this decision and if Judge Schweitzer follows it, they probably will appeal that decision as well. New production outfit John A. Aaron and Jesse Zousmer, creators and former producers of Person to Person on CBS-TV, have formed A to Z Enterprises Inc. The new outfit will produce what Mr. Aaron described last week as "light public affairs" programs. Among the several program packages being offered by A to Z Enterprises is Place to Place, which would contrast with Person to Person by featuring visits with famous people on location rather than in their homes, Mr. Aaron said. While not going into specifics, he commented that negotiations are underway with NBC-TV for the sale of one of A to Z's combination entertainmentpublic affairs packages. Public affairs specials as well as half-hour and hourlong series are planned by the producers. The new company is located at 21 E. 52nd St., New York. Telephone: Plaza 3-5800. • Program notes News affiliate • Marathon Tv Newsreel, N.Y., announces the formation of NewsfUm Inc. to specialize in the production and distribution of industrial BROADCASTING, February 1, 1960 Jigsaw • How KTTV's four vans fit together. E0 (PROGRAMMING)