Sponsor (Oct-Dec 1962)

president Sam Cook Digges who, when he is not concerned with the welfare of IRTS, is engaged in the administrative vice presidency of CBS Films, Inc. In addition, Digges is a member of the board of governors and chairman of the Awards Committee of fRTS. In the latter post he and his committee members have been seeking to evolve a plan whereby IRTS would serve as the umbrella under which various industry groups, linked with IRTS, would make annual awards to worthy figures and institutions in broadcast and allied fields. This committee would not be in conflict with the IRTS Cold Medal Selection Committee which every yeai presents an award to an individual or organization for their contribution to broadcasting. It is Digges' contention that too many outside organizations are giving awards to broadcasters and that in many instances these groups are not qualified to do so. Digges would like to see IRTS working with such industry organizations, as for example, the American Women in Radio and Television Society, Broadcast Pioneers and the Academy ol Television Arts and Sciences, on awards thai would command stature on the eve of presentation. This qualitative award undertaking, with the benediction ol ever) significant branch of the industry could, conceivably, see the light ol da) b) '64-'65, il not sooner. Digges' committee is determined to arrive at enlightened solutions to this vexatious annual problem. The committee is confident it will emerge with a code ol procedure that should win the seal ol approval (Please turn to page 52) Net and spot tv buys rise 15.2% j Cosmetic, drug advertising leads gains Jan. -June '62 net-spot sum reaches $759 million Agriculture, publications show slides Spot and network tv-commercial usage rose 15.2% in the first (six months of 1962 as compared to the same period last year, according to figures just released by TvB. In dollars the net-spot buy amounts to $759,303,615, as compared to $659,240,74 1 for the same 'six-month period last year. Of this, spot received $371,531,000; net, i$387,772,615. Cosmetics, drugs lead. The strong increase was led by substantial jumps in cosmetic, drug, and confectionery advertising. Cosmetics and toiletries with an $18.0 million increase, drug products with an increase of $11.4 million, and confections and soft drinks with an 'increase of $11.1 million in the Ifirst half of 1962, paced overall network and spot tv billing growth of |SI0() million in the first half of this sear over the same six-month peri)d of 1961. Gross time billings, network and Kpbt tv, for cosmetic and toiletry advertisers were $88,882,590 in the first half of 1962 against $70,904,277 last year, TvB said. Soft drinks strong. Billings for drug products in 1962 were $73,405,670 against $62,011,358 in 1961, while billings for confection and soft drink advertising in 1962's first half were $42,453,245 compared with $31,362,933 last year. Largest percentage increase for any classification (discounting notions for the moment) was 103.2% for sporting goods, bicycles and toys. Billings in this category were $6,212,811 against $3,057,790 in 1961. The notions group increased 292.4%, but the expenditure was comparatively small, when compared to other groups. To be specific, network received $300,283 and spot tv $121,000 during the first six months of this year. Groceries' big package. Largest individual classification in network and spot tv was food and grocer) Product groups | with greatest J | gains in 1962 ( I 1. Sp'ting goods 103.2% | | 2. Tv, radio, phono, 94.9% \ I 3. Confect., soda 35.4% | 4. Househ'd paper 34.2% I | 5. Househ'd gen'l 29.4% | I 6. Pet products 29.0% ! | 7, Consumer sves. 27.5% | 8. Gas and lubes 26.8% I 9. G'dn supplies 25^6% | 10. Cosmetics, etc. 25.4% [ 11a. Automotive 19.5% | 11b. Househ'd I'difl9.5% | I 12. Drugs 18.4% SPONSOR 1 October 1962