Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

16 Network TY-Badio Billings December 1953 and January-December 1953 (For November report see Television Digest, Vol. 10:1) Network TV' TOIE sales soared to $227,610,400 in 1953 from $180,794,780 the preceding year as all 4 networks achieved gains — particularly CBS-TV, which forged ahead of NBC-TV with all-time record of $10,381,879 in billings in Dec. to reach $97,466,809 for year. NBCTV billings for year were $96,658,551. ABC-TV scored $21,110,680, DuMont $12,374,360. CBS led NBC in 7 of the 12 months. These are the final Publishers Information Bureau figures for year, based on one-time network rates before discounts; actual dollar volume is roughly about 40% less than the figures given, which are generally used in the industry as an index to trends. The PIB reports show network radio down to $160,516,407 in 1953 from $163,453,406 in 1952, v/ith CBS continuing its consistent lead and actually showing an increase of nearly $3,000,000 in 1953 over 1952. Only other network to show increase, slightly more than $2,000,000, was Mutual which has no TV. The PIB figures for Dec. and for all 1953: NETW'ORK TELEVISION December December Jan.-Dee. Jan. -Dec. 1953 1952 1953 1952 CBS $10,381,879 $ 7,088,506 $ 97,466,809 $ 69,058,548 NBC 10,062,808 7,830,806 96,658,551 83,242,573 ABC .. 2,619,862 1,331,588 21,110,680 18,353,003 DuMont 1,617,058 1,211,316 12,374,360 10,140,656 Total .$24,681,607 $17,462,216 $227,610,400 $180,794,780 NETWORK RADIO CBS . $ 5,554,313 $ 5,717,800 $ 62,381,207 $ 59,511,209 NBC 3,630,971 4,370,265 45,151,077 47,927,115 ABC .. 2,854,169 2,856,714 29,826,123 35,023,033 MBS 2,127,192t 1,980,320 23,158,0001 20,992,109 Total ..$14,166,645t $14,925,099 $160,516,4071 • $163,453,466 NETWORK TELEVISION— January-December 1953 ABC CBS DuMont NBC Total Jan. .... $ 1,604,892 $ 7,083,619 $ 982,794 $ 7,604,638 $ 17.275,943 Feb. 1,481,032 6,621,629 862,299 6,876,029 15,840,989 Mar. ... 1,728,448 7,739,812 1,054,857 7,998,131 18,521.248 Apr. 1,640,597 7,770,181 850,658 7,513,430 17,774,866 May _ 1,813,985 7,622,432 903,945 8,052,545 18,392,907 June .... 1,607,320 7,399,078 835,768 7,324,315 17,166,481 July ... 1,299,471 7,422,337 592,890 6,903,092 16,217,790 Aug. 1,244,993 7,783,813 742,665 6,564,841 16,336,312 Sept. 1,376,017 8,503,620 678,302 7,837,467 18,395,406 Oct. 2,297,862 9,381,816 1,462,143 10,267,232* 23,409,053* Nov. 2,396,203 9,756,593* 1,790,981 9,654,023* 23,597,800* Dec. .... 2,619,862 10,381,879 1,617,058 10,062,808 24,681,607 Total $21,110,680 $97,466,809 $12,374,360 $96,658,551 $227,610,400 NETWORK RADIO— January-December 1953 ABC CBS MBS NBC Total Jan. ...$ 2,674,622 $ 5,157,148* $ 1,786,134 $ 4,260,555 $ 13,878,459* Feb. .. 2,538,663 4,670,833* 1,633,075 3,813,602 12,661,173* Mar. . . 2,797,544 5,527,290* 1,995,478 4,342,082 14,662,394* Apr. 2,637,364 5,375,987* 2,008,990 4,196,009 14,218,350* May 2,593,923 5,334.225* 2,038,210 4,141,070 14,107,428* June _ 2,113,725 5,227,026* 1,926,865 3,979,471 13,247,087* July 2,030,989 4,870,463* 1,830,467 3,494,330 12,226,249* Aug. .. 1,958,683 4,791,044* 1,738,248 3,219,250 11,707,225* Sept. _.. 2,156,806 4,990,142* 1,792,736 3,205,675 12,145,359* Oct. _ 2,671,103* 5.478,455* 2,185,598 3,493,950* 13,829,106* Nov. 2,798,532 5.404,281* 2,090,007 3,374,112* 13,666,932* Dec. _.. 2,854,169 5,554,313 2,127,192t 3,630,971 14,166,645 Total $29,826,123 $62,381,207 $23,158,000t $45,151,077 $160,516,407 ♦ Revised as of Jan. 1, 1954. t Preliminary. Note: These figures do not represent actual revenues to the networks, which do not divulge their actual net dollar Incomes. They're compiled by PIB on basis of one-time network rates, or before frequency or cash discounts. Therefore, In terms of dollars actually paid to networks they may be Inflated by as much as 40%. Figures are accepted by networks themselves, however, and by the Industry generally, as satisfactory Index for comparisons & trends. Total TV sets in U. S. went up to 26,973,000 as of Dec. 1. 1953, reports NBC research chief Hugh M. Beville Jr. This was addition of 6,534,000 since Dec. 1, 1952. In Nov., more than 609,000 were added. NBC-TV network had 137 affiliates as of Dec. 1, of which 107 were interconnected, latter serving 26,057,600 sets (96.6% of total). U NDER MANDATE of Congress, FCC this week issued proposal showing how it intends to raise about $3,000,000 annually from fees levied on those whom it regulates, to defray part of its $7,000,000-plus annual budget. Since proposal would treat all TV-AM-FM broadcasters equally, regardless of type or size, it’s certain to bring howLs from smaller broadcasters, perhaps undergo considerable modification before final adoption. Comments on the proposal — full text of which is included as Special Report herewith to all subscribers — are due April 1. Minimum for any applicant is $325 when he applies, plus $325 when he gets license, plus $325 every 3 years when he gets license renewed. If he has to get modification of power, frequency, location, antenna pattern, or hours of operation, he would have to pay additional $325 for each application for such change. Largest single charge for any activity would be $1500 — for type approval of equipment such as transmitters or monitors. Smallest would be $3 — for operators and amateurs. Proposal is deliberately silent on charging for existing licenses and pending applications; Commission wants reactions first. FCC is first of govt, licensing agencies to make proposal, required by Budget Bureau. First Mexican border station to aim for American TV audience, XELD-TV, Matamoros (Ch. 7), just across Rio Grande from Brownsville, Tex., has been authorized to move to either Guadalajara or Monterrey, reports Billboard's Sam Chase from Mexico City. Efforts to obtain confirmation were unavailing up to our press time, but move wouldn’t be surprising because XELD-TV, owned equally by Mexican TV-radio tycoons Romulo O’Farrill Sr. and Emilio Azearraga and directed by Monte Kleban, got first competition last Sept, from KGBT-TV, Harlingen, Tex. (Ch. 4), and shortly will get another competitor in Weslaco’s KRGV-TV (Ch. 5) — former with CBS & ABC service, latter NBC. It went on air during freeze, was reputed to be big earner. While other border allocations have been made and stations authorized by Mexican Ministry of Communications (see pp. 117 & 225, TV Faetbook No. IS), only other one actually built is XETV, Tijuana (Ch. 6), serving also San Diego area, owned by George I. Rivera and Mr. Azearraga. Three applications for TV stations were filed this week with FCC, 4 were dismissed, leaving 322 pending (64 uhf). Week’s applications: for Great Bend, Kan., Ch. 2, by group of local business men headed by appliance dealer E. C. Wedell; for San Antonio, Ch. 12, by KMAC; for E. St. Louis, 111., Ch. 11, by KSTM-TV, currently operating on St. Louis Ch. 36, which resubmitted application following court stay order holding up hearing on Ch. 11 unless FCC acts to hear KSTM-TV’s arguments. [For further details about these applications, see TV Addenda 18-D herewith; for complete listings of all grants, new applications, dismissals, hearings, etc., see TV Faetbook No. 18 and Addenda to date.] Memphis’ WHBQ-TV (Ch. 13), which began operating last Sept. 27 as CBS outlet, was reported sold to General Teleradio, General Tire & Rubber subsidiary, as we went to press Jan. 30. Details were unavailable, but deal is understood to involve $600,000 cash payment and $1,900,000 leasehold payments to licensee Harding College over 10 years. With the CBS-affiliated TV outlet goes radio WHBQ (5-kw day, 1-kw night on 560 kc, MBS). Harding College, located in Searcy, Ark., was represented in deal by W. 0. Beaman, secy.; General Teleradio, by Wm. O’Neil, pres.; with Richard C. Crisler, broker. Outlet will be 4th TV owned by General Teleradio— others being WOR-TV, New York; WNAC-TV, Boston; KHJ-TV, Los Angeles. It also holds CP for WGTH-TV, Hartford (Ch. 18), under agreement whereby Hartford Times (Gannett) is to acquire 45%.