Sponsor (Apr-June 1964)

FRIDAY AT 5 N. Y. Sales Executives Hear, Ponder Weaver on Pay Tv New York — Pay television, long controversial in California, was successfully renewed as an issue for New York to think about by Subscription Tv Inc.'s Pat Weaver, who chose early-week meeting of N.Y. Sales Executives' Club as his platform. "Seldom have I seen so many people converge on the head table after a speech," says Harry White, Club's executive director, noting that 60 to 70 guests held Weaver half an hour with further questions when original Qs and As were curtailed by clock. (Sample floor query: You say you have programs lined up for July start. What specifically do you intend to show? Answer: We'll announce that when the time is right.) "Let me go to the question that the NAB raises and that the networks have stated, that commercial tv cannot co-exist with the kind of boxoffice system I have been describing," Weaver said. ". . . The series form that is the tv stable will keep on getting the tremendous audiences. We will never take one of those series programs for Tobacco Throne Vacant New York — Cigaret industry generally feels the nine companies that last week signed the Advertising Code already have candidates firmly in mind for the top-role czar's post — one columnist proposed Richard Nixon — but for obvious reasons, they'll not announce the list until it's narrowed to one. When that will occur is a matter of conjecture. Tobacco Institute says "'shortly." Scuttlebutt within the trade indicates that all has been quiet on the tobacco front this week, but it's accepted that toplevel decisions involved wouldn't necessarily be publicized or much discussed. Important criteria in selection are: the administrator have no financial interests in tobacco, not be engaged ill advertising or promoting the business and be a man Of lofty character and reputation. Even after he's named, it'll likeIv be weeks before be gets New York oil ice rented and opened. staffed and ready to function. our service because it will not fit and no one would pay for it. . We won't decrease audiences substantially," he continued. "The one-half to one-third of the sets that aren't even turned on at night will be turned on because we will have special attractions. We will pull circulation from the sets-on column at any given time less than the Nielsen margin of error per network." Weaver fired a few broadsides at commercial tv's programing, drawing laughter — some of it nervous — from his sales-oriented audience. If his purpose was to make impact, target was achieved. Ladies' Day at FCC Washington — Sen. N orris Cotton (R-N.H.), member of both Commerce and Appropriations committees, suggests Mrs. Dexter Ottis Arnold of Concord, president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, for GOP appointment to the Federal Communications Commission. She would replace Frederick W. Ford, whose term expires June 30, and who is rumored to be, or not to be, leaving the FCC. President Johnson is known to favor the idea of distaff members, particularly on commissions and agencies where consumer interests are strongly concerned. The hand that rocks the cradle may rock broadcasting — to say nothing of the commission itself. Sen. Cotton's pitch to the President for Mrs. Arnold mentions her background in radio networking, and a distinguished record in civic and governmental service. Mrs. Arnold is already known to the White House as a member of half a dozen federal advisory committees. Other ladies known to be eyeing the job are Evelyn F. Eppley, FCC attorney in Rules and Standards Div., formerly legal assistant to ex-FCC chairman John C. Deerfer; Jane Morris, formerly FCC secretary, now practicing law in Michigan: Pauline Frederick, NBC correspondent at the U.N. Afterthought: FCC executive director Curtis Plummer, a Michigan Republican, best known for his years in top engineering post at the FCC, is also interested. Liquor in Limbo New York — Hard liquor ads on WQXR have yet to materialize, and prospects for their use in the near future are dim. Following McKesson & Robbins' substitution of Galliano liqueur for originally planned Muirhead's Scotch commercials, Schenley delayed its sponsorship, then withdrew planned copy at last minute and has used only public service announcements to date. Proposed legislation opposed to broadcast liquor advertiss ", ' .annot be considered until Senate has acted on civil rights legislation. U. S. Tv Gets its First Cannes Grand Prize Cannes, France — The Making . the President: I960, sponsored 1 Xerox last Dec. 29 on ABC-TV. wt the Grand Prize at the Cannes Inte national TV Festival. This is the fir time the top prize has gone to ; American-produced program. Produced by David Wolper, Ma ing of the President was adapted fro Theodore H. White's account of tl I960 Presidential race. It will be r peated on ABC June 1 1 as a prelui to the Presidential conventions. Comsat Stock Splash Washington — Communications S tellite Corp. made a terrific splash the history of stock offerings last wei when it registered with the SEC $200,000,000 offering to finance i global satellite system of communic tions. Of the 10 million shares o fcred at the low, low price of $20 p< five million will go on public sa with some built-in sales limits to a sure widest dissemination. The oth fve million shares will be allocated A.T.&T. and some 200 participatii communications companies — any u wanted shares will revert to pub sale. Across the country, more than 7< securities dealers will take part in t public sale, and probably 350 und< writers in addition to the 1 1 ma aging underwriters listed by the pre pectus. SEC must approve the offi ing before their brokers know wh they'd like to buy — present limit set at 100 shares per individual CI tomer, but this may be cut down, i pending on the demand. SPONSOI 1