Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

Telecasting Notes: Giveaway fever is on the rise again in TV — with a vengeance — the result of Supreme Court’s reversal last April of FCC ruling that some giveaways were lotteries (Vol. 10:15). Jackpot payoff shows have been particularly active on west coast, with syndicated bingo-type games — such as Play Marco and Video Game — attracting multiple sponsors on spot basis . . . Networkwise, only big jackpot show in which home viewers participate (via telephone) is ABC-TV’s Stop the Music, revived since Court decision and now going strong, with prizes threatening to approach the fabulous amounts offered in show’s earlier heyday. If someone identifies “mystery melody” next week, he’ll get 2-week European vacation for two, $6000 in defense bonds, new Dodge, $1000 in mutual fund shares . . . “First $1,000,000 TV giveaway contest” is slated to begin Jan. 1 to promote National Telefilm Associates’ syndicated TV films and features ; 17-week contest called “TV Tic Tac Toe” will be run by local stations who buy complete NTA package, NTA handling promotion and prizes. Awards will be given every week in bingo-style game in which viewers watch for clue on local station. NTA’s aim is to sell its library in 100 markets . . . Is “Tomorrow” next for NBC-TV? “Having successfully aired, in rapid succession. Today, Home and Tonight," writes Sam Chase in Oct. 16 Billboard, “NBC chief (Pat Weaver) now is understood to be blueprinting a new opus, which, naturally, would be called Tomorrow” . . . Will TV musicals and variety shows “go film” as so many dramatic and situation comedies have? Ziv-TV jumping into musical production with both feet, setting up permanent music dept, at its Hollywood plant, signing with Petrillo and naming David Rose as musical director. Ziv’s first varietymusical venture is Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre . . . Real movie success came to ex-screen writer Paddy Chayefsky only after he left Hollywood and started wiit Neiwork Accounts: Election night returns Nov. 2 con tinued to attract sponsors this week — Chevrolet bought complete TV-radio coverage on ABC, radio beginning at 9, TV at 11, and Prestone signed as alt. sponsor (with Roto-Broil) of 11-to-conclusion period on CBS-TV, leaving 9-11 segment still for sale. Chevrolet purchase was thru Campbell-Ewald, Prestone thru Wm. Esty Co. NBC-TV has sold half of its coverage, starting at 9:30 p.m., to Roto-Broil. DuMont still hasn’t formulated plans . . . Light’s Diamond Jubilee show, marking 75th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s invention of incandescent lamp, will be on 325 stations of all networks Sun. Oct. 24, 9-11 p.m. Some 300 electric companies are sponsoring extravaganza produced by David 0. Selznick, thi’u N. W. Ayer . . . Eastman Kodak’s color film series, Norhy, on NBC-TV starting Jan. 5, will be seen on east and west coasts Wed. 7-7 :30 p.m., midwest and Rocky Mountain states 11-11:30 p.m., thru J. Walter Thompson . . . Hallmark Greeting Cards, for 5th straight year, to sponsor Amahl and the Night Visitors, possibly in color, as Christmas special on NBCTV Dec. 19, Sun. 5-6 p.m., thru Foote, Cone & Belding . . . Swift & Co. (baby foods) to sponsor All About Baby on DuMont starting Oct. 15, Fri. 2-2:15 p.m., thru McCannErickson . . . Geritol to sponsor Juvenile Jury on NBC-TV starting Jan. 9, Sun. 4-4:30 p.m., thru Edward Klettei’ Assoc. . . . Pontiac to sponsor Jack Carson Show on NBCTV every 4th Fri. 8-8:30 p.m., in time occupied other 3 weeks by Red Buttons Show, thru MacManus, John & Adams . . . Nabisco drops out as sponsor of Tue. & Thu. 11-11:15 a.m. segments of Arthur Godfrey Time on CBSTV, effective Oct. 21 . . . Prudential Insurance Co., alt. sponsor of You Are There on CBS-TV, to be full sponsor of same program on CBC-TV starting Nov. 21, Sun. 4-4:30 p.m., thru Calkins & Holden, Carlock, McClinton & Smith. ing for TV ; movie version of his highly praised TV play, Marty, is now being shot by Hecht-Lancaster Productions, which is also seeking to make movies of 3 other Chayefsky TV plays. One of them may first be produced on Broadway . . . Movie feature and TV film series, both called Adventures of Long John Silver, will be released simultaneously by independent producer Joseph Kaufman, says Oct. 16 Billboard. Filmed in Australia, using same sets and characters but different plots, the TV and theatrical films will “help promote each other,” and joint production has made possible big cost savings in production of TV series, according to Kaufman . . . Debate between incumbent Sen. John Sherman Cooper and opponent Alben W. Barkley arranged by WHAS-TV & WHAS, Louisville, Oct. 14, with CBS Washington commentator Eric Sevareid as moderator; kine will be shown on CBS-TV’s American Week Oct. 17, 4-4:30 p.m. . . . State-wide telecasts on behalf of Democratic candidates for state office are planned by New York CIO, which this week earmarked $50,000 for TV . . . “Emmy” award presentations by Academy of TV Arts & Sciences will be televised nationally next Feb., according to pres. Don DeFore . . . Rate increases: WHBFTV, Rock Island, 111., Nov. 1 adds new 7-9:30 p.m. daily Class AA rate with $700 hour, $140 min. and raises Class A hour from $500 to $600, min. $100 to $120; KGUL-TV, Galveston, Tex., adds new 7-10 p.m. daily Class AA rate with $700 hour, $165 20 sec. and Class A hour remains $600; WBAL-TV, Baltimore, raises base hour from $1000 to $1100, min. $175 to $200; KOTV, Tulsa, from $600 to $700 & $120 to $150; WSLS-TV, Roanoke, $400 to $500 & $80 to $100; KOOL-TV, Phoenix, from $365 to $425 & $70 to $80; KOA-TV, Denver, from $500 to $550 & $100 to $120; WABT, Birmingham, from $600 to $650 & $150 to $160; WBRC-TV, Birmingham, raises Class AA min. only rate from $137.50 to $160 . . . New rep: WATV, Newark, to Petry (from Weed). BBC will add a “second channel” to include local programs, Britain’s govt.-owned TV-rado service r-evealed in announcing “10-year plan” for expansion of TV. Currently, BBC has only one TV service, without local programming. While BBC’s second channel will also be non-commercial, a new commercial TV network under govt.’s Independent TV Authority is also being set up, hopes to have 3 stations in operation next year. BBC’s annual report, in which plan was outlined, said regular color transmission couldn’t be expected before 1957. CBS’s 45% of WTOP-TV & WTOP, Washington, was pui'chased by 55% owner Washington Post Co. for sum “in excess of” $3,000,000 — exact amount not being disclosed — while negotiations continued for sale of CBS’s 47% of WCCO-TV & WCCO, Minneapolis, with majority stockholders (Bidder & McNally interests) having first refusal, though others are interested. CBS is seeking about $4,000,000 for Minneapolis interests, is expected to sell for less. LTniform libel relief law, designed to pi’otect station owners from liability for defamatory statements in political broadcasts, has been drafted by Council of State Goveimments for submission to state legislatures. It generally follows lines of NARTB principles. Some 30 states already have libel relief laws on books. Community antenna franchise fight in Dubuque, la. (Vol. 10:35, 37-38) concluded Oct. 11 with citizens’ vote, 4560 to 1057, to award rights to wire up city to DubuqueJex’iold TV Cable Corp., which plans to bring TV to homes by end of year. Another system recently started is in Brady, Tex. Licensed TV receivers in Britain totaled 3,456,728 at end of July, increase of 45,682 during month. In West Germany, there wei’c 40,980 licensed TV sets as of Aug. 1, in addition to an estimated 40,000 unlicensed receivers.