Yearbook of radio and television (1960)

INTERNATIONAL TV ROUNDUP Mri!rifca3r^^i«fciwfcifci£ifc:S=ifc3^^ listen virtually at any time to sound programs, whilst the availability of TV is arbitrarily restricted." The Chairman of the manufacturing firm PYE, Ltd. expressed his regret that the authorities have not yet seen fit to inaugurate a 625-line TV transmission, as "the overall pattern of European TV developments is such that Britain will be compelled in the end to change to 625 lines or fall behind in TV prestige." Such a development would also greatly expand TV set exports. BBC Schools Television has made the transition from an experimental to a permanent service, and is in fact the first permanent nation-wide service of Schools Television broadcasts anywhere in the world. By September 1960 the present output will be doubled to ten programs a week with telerecorded repeats of all of them, and will include programs for primary schools and sixth forms in grammar schools. YUGOSLAVIA Viewers in Sarajevo were recently able to watch TV for the first time by means of a one-way Belgrade-Sarajevo link. Plans call for the construction of a TV station in the city in 1961. Yugoslav factories are expected to produce 15,500 TV sets in 1960. An additional 10,000 sets will be imported during the year. LATIN AMERICA ARGENTINA A television survey carried out in Buenos Aires indicated that (1) the TV audience totalled about 1,400,000 with about four viewers per set; (2) there are more women viewers than men; (3) children under 14 comprise less than a fifth of the audience; (4) peak viewing hours are between 8 and 10 p.m.; (5) eight of ten female viewers try not to miss their favorite programs — dramatic TV shows; (6) with one program only, the important element is the time, not the program or the performers; and (7) people with both radio and TV sets in their homes listen little to radio when TV is on the air, except on Sunday afternoons when a substantial percentage of males listen to football broadcasts on the radio. A new company, Argentine Tele Film, has been founded to produce films for TV. The company will begin by producing five serials which will show the Argentine countryside. The films will be dubbed in English for North American TV use. BRAZIL According to a Radio Tupi broadcast, the Rio de Janeiro-Sao Paulo-Belo Horizonte Tupi TV hookup was expected to be completed late in December or early in January. This will enable people in Minas Gerais to view Rio and Sao Paulo programs. Seven microwave towers were being constructed between Belo Horizonte and the federal capital. The first television station in Rio Grande do Sul province, Televisao Piratini, was inaugu rated in Porto Alegre on December 21. President Kubitschek decreed that the new capital, Brasilia, will be assigned channels 3, 6, 8, and 10, it is reported. One of these will be used in conjunction with Radio Nacional, Brasilia. CHILE In addition to the Catholic Universities in Santiago and Valparaiso which now have experimental television, the University of Chile in Santiago has also erected its antenna, and is preparing to telecast on channel 9 with 1,500 watts. The President of Chile has refused a request for authorization of a commercial TV station. He believes, it is claimed, the country's resources would thereby be diverted to non-productive channels, through the import of TV sets and transmitting equipment. COSTA RICA The first license for the establishment of a commercial TV station was issued to Carlos Manuel Reyes Zamora in October. The company, Televisora de Costa Rica, Ltd., expects to go on the air in January with American standards and equipment. American Broadcasting-Paramount Theaters, Inc. has a 35 per cent interest in this station. The company intends to import about 3,000 used but serviceable TV sets from the United States. A second TV station to be operated by Compania Televisora Nacional, S.A. is expected to initiate transmissions later in 1960. CUBA The Minister of Communications stated that permission had been granted to several TV stations to erect booster towers in Pinar del Rio province where reception was poor. Radio and TV networks hav3 been having labor troubles recently. ECUADOR Regulations governing televirion broadcasting in Ecuador went into effect on December 5, 1959. The Director General for Communications stated that as yet no licenses had been issued, though three groups, including the Protestant missionary organization which operates the "Voice of the Andes" radio station, had applied for permits. Ecuadorean TV will follow American standards. Transmitters must have a minimum power of 250 watts, and a 50,000 sucre (about $3,000) guarantee will be required from license applicants. Personnel employed must be at least 75 per cent Ecuadorean. Licenses will be granted only to Ecuadorean citizens, companies, or corporations. However, non-Ecuadoreans may participate with Ecuadorean interests in such activities. Several American broadcasting organizations have already shown interest in Ecuadorean television. HAITI Haiti's first TV station, Tele-Haiti, went on the air on December 13. An estimated audience of 4,000 persons viewed the show. Tele-Haiti expects to telecast four hours per day from 6 to 10 p.m., and also from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Film« will be shown mainly for the first months of operation. 1098