Broadcasting (Apr - June 1960)

News series planned for all RKO stations An expanded public service programming concept is being implemented by WOR-AM-TV New York. It covers the production of a series of immediate spot news interests with national, international and community appeal. The series will be made available to other RKO General radio and tv stations, and some will be offered to other outlets in non-competing markets on a cost basis. Robert J. Leder, vice president and general manager of the stations, noted that within 48 hours, a 90-minute radiotv special program, The Plane, the Summit and You, was produced and presented on the outlets on May 18. A videotape of the telecast was carried on KHJ-TV Los Angeles, an RKO General station, the following day. Mr. Leder pointed out that commercial programming was preempted for the “Summit” show on WOR-AM-TV and will be the practice for subsequent news specials. Similar “news-on-the-spot” reports will be presented during other crucial news breaks. The resources of the stations, including the news, programming, special events and promotion departments, will be marshaled and the RKO General overseas news service also utilized. In addition, the stations hope to bolster the number of regular public service features, which have included such programs as a special report on The South Today and a presentation of Pinocchio in recent weeks. RKO General’s overseas news service plans to kick-off a one-hour biographical series on world leaders shortly. The first subject will be Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, and others to follow will include Harold Macmillan of Great Britain and Charles De Gaulle of France. Mr. Leder hopes that the availability of WOR-AM-TV material to other RKO General stations will serve the dual purpose of providing these outlets with useful public service programming and of stimulating them to attempt similar programming ventures. ■ Film sales Campy’s Corner (Heritage) Sold to KRCA (TV) Los Angeles. Background: This film and tape feature stars Roy Campanella with various sports and entertainment celebrities. Now in 25 markets. Coronado 9 (MCA-TV) Sold to WNEW-TV New York; WTTG (TV) Washington, D.C. Also sold in the following cities: Billings, Mont.; Laredo, Tex.; Charlotte, N.C.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Louisville, Ky.; Greenville, N.C. Now in 130 markets. Shotgun Slade (MCA-TV) Sold to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (William Esty Co.), for three markets in Virginia; Wisconsin and upstate New York; and to Whittles’ Bargain City and Cochran’s Hardware and Furniture Co. as alternate sponsors for one market in Oklahoma. Now in over 170 markets. ■ Program notes Signs Mrs. Roosevelt ■ Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt has been signed by American-Continental Telefilms Inc., N.Y., to star as narrator-hostess of Operation Escape, a new series of 39 half-hour films dramatizing stories of escapes from behind the Iron Curtain. Although production has started in Munich, Germany, Mrs. Roosevelt’s portions of the program will be filmed in New York and edited into the finished film. Series will be distributed by Jayark Films Corp., N.Y. More convention coverage ■ Radio coverage of Democratic national convention in Los Angeles will be offered by KPFK (FM) Los Angeles, noncommercial station operated by Pacifica Foundation. Service will include three feeds daily plus a two-hour analysis by political experts, each night, with individualized coverage available on request. Subscribing stations will pay line charges plus fee based on rate card. Arrangements are being handled by Jim Biltchik at WBAI (FM) New York, another Pacifica station. Voice's choice ■ A cultural program produced by WCAO Baltimore in cooperation with local colleges, museums and libraries has been selected by the Voice of America for use in overseas broadcasts. Dialogue on the Arts is a half-hour discussion program dealing with all forms of creative expression, including poetry, music, ballet and movies. After its first airing on WCAO, WTOP Washington requested permission to rebroadcast the series and subsequently the Voice made its bid. Historical hurrahs ■ The Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. has announced a radio series of eight half-hour programs. Titled Songs for Presidents, it features campaign music from the days of George Washington up to the present. Westinghouse reports the series will “capture the sound, exhilaration and fury of campaign music in American presidential elections.” William J. Kaland and Roy Meredith, who AT DEADLINE . . . questionnaires for your FREE listing in the 1960 BROADCASTING YEARBOOK "The one-book library of tv and radio information" must be received by June 6 • manufacturers • stations • services . . . if you have not received such a questionnaire for your free listing, please write today— BROADCASTING YEARBOOK 1735 DeSales St., N.W. Washington 6, D.C. BROADCASTING, May 30, 1960 67