Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

An international stir was caused when NBC-TV announced that it would show "The Tunnel," a true story of the building of an escape route by West German students under the Berlin wall. First scheduled for Oct. 31, the program was delayed because of worsening cold war tensions during the Cuban crisis. The documentary was finally presented on Dec. 10. Mr. Salant's contention that television is providing adequate coverage of the contemporary scene, but added: "I would like to see documentaries or other special programs that would deal with man's heritage — where he has come from, where he is heading. I think we can do more in the area of general education, with emphasis on history." Coincidentally, CBS-TV last week announced a new one-hour series on education emphasizing the historical past for next season (story, page 19). Among the documentaries scheduled for CBS-TV later this winter and spring on significant issues are: a two-part program on the supreme court and a single show on the India-Red China border dispute over CBS Reports; two-part programs on Franco Spain and Ethiopia and single episodes on Finland's tugof-war and on U. S. financial support to countries against which we have waged war, titled "We Fed Our Enemies" on the Twentieth Century. NBC's Prognosis ■ William R. McAndrew, executive vice president, NBC News, envisions a continued emphasis on documentary and informational programs in 1963-64 and said many will be on timely and topical stories that "should be told." He claimed that NBCTV does not seek out controversy "just to be controversial but we don't duck it either." Mr. McAndrew acknowledged a lack of commentary on tv and while "there might be a place for it," he noted that "a few years ago we tried a show from Washington called Comment and peole just didn't watch it." In Mr. McAndrew's view, informational programs should be of two general types — those geared to the news, and the topical ones tied to a continuing story. In the latter category, he noted that the "white paper" programs this winter and spring will offer presentations on "The Death of Stalin," "The Rise of Khrushchev," "British Socialized Medicine," "The Common Market" and "California, No. 1." "Perhaps some criticism is directed at tv documentaries because they are not always right on top of the news," Mr. McAndrew said. "But for that matter, neither are newspapers or magazines. There is a role for the continuing story, as well as the news special." Agency Comments ■ A sampling of agency opinion follows: Richard A. R. Pinkham, senior vice president and director, Ted Bates & Co., said basic reasons for sponsoring documentary shows have not changed: prestige, and an audience of otherwise relatively light viewers. Mr. Pinkham said he believes that networks should start expressing more editorial opinion: "to earn the respect of the public, they must stand up and ABC-TV's "Close-Up!" series will fea President Kenneay aj .erry Bain (c) for Jan. 27. A scene, at right, shows ture a documentary on the government's war on counterfeiting. Here, at left, Jerry Roth, who will play a principal part, shakes hands with BROADCASTING, December 24, 1962 of the White House Secret Service looks on. The events leading up to the death of Stalin are chronicled in an NBC "White Paper" scheduled pallbearers (I to r) L. Kaganovich, Nikolai A. Bulganin, V. M. Molotov, Stalin's son Vasily, George M. Malenkov and Lavrenti P. Beria. 21