Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

10 Subscription tv came up in FCC discussions this week, with no decision reached. It may well come up again next week, and start of rule-making to look into subject is likely. This week’s petition by Zenith, asking for commercialization of pay-as-you-look TV without hearing, is given little chance. Insisting that hearings “have little probability of producing anything but conjectures, theories and guesswork,” Zenith chose approach to FCC it has long considered (Vol. 10:37), disagreeing with Matty Fox’s Skiatron which recently petitioned for regular rule-making (Vol. 10:38). Zenith also differs with Skiatron in that former wants FCC to permit any station to put on pay-as-you-look programs, whereas latter asks that seiwice be limited to uhf stations for 3 years. At FCC, few believe Zenith concept will get anywhere— and Zenith itself requests as an altei’native, a wi’itten rule-making hearing, i.e., no oral testimony. There’s bound to be opposition to petition — Theatre Owner's of America, for one, planning to file formal objection. Though no commissioner has evinced enthusiasm about paid TV generally, there’s growing feeling at Commission that it’s about time proponents were given chance to make their pitch. Zenith’s basic arguments are that FCC now has all the authority it needs to authorize fee TV; that the only way to learn anything about it is to try it; that Commission will have adequate opportunity to regulate it as it develops. Adoption of technical standards is termed “undesirable” in petition, which urges that if FCC is worried about obsolescence of receiving devices it can require subscription operators to lease attachments month-to-month. To support argument that FCC has adequate authority to authorize pay-as-you-look service, petition cites history of Communications Act and Commission precedents, including FCC’s own comments to Congress on Hinshaw bill (Vol. 10:20). To justify concept of subscription TV generally, petition reiterates oft-stated contentions that it will bring better programs, support more stations, help uhf, advance education — and will supplement, not supplant, sponsored TV. Technically, several methods can be employed to unscramble pictures. Zenith said — dropping coins in box attached to set, slipping coded card into device on receiver, working through wii'ed system involving phone company. Last method is that originally advanced by Zenith, calling it “Phonevision.” Though it still terms its techniques “Phonevision,” it stresses no particular method over others. Petition replaces one filed by Zenith in 1952, when it asked for rule-making. Its a joint filing by Zenith and Teco Inc., latter being organization formed by Zenith to exploit subscription TV. The 34-page document was prepared by Washington law firms Pierson & Ball and Loucks, Zias, Young & Jansky. Copies may be obtained from them or from us. ■ Completely sold on TV as promotion medium for movies, Walt Disney feels that any exhibitors who complain about his use of movies on ABC’s Disneyland are short-sighted. For example, he explains in Variety interview, theatre boxoffice on his Vanishing Prairie went up immediately after telecasts showing how movie was shot. People will always go to a good movie, he said, “but we’ve got to let them know about the show and create excitement about it.” Even full telecast of movies, such as that of Alice in Wonderland, will enhance re-release value, Disney believes. CBS-TV film services moves offices to 524 W. 57th St., New York. Merger of Azcarraga-O’Farrill TV interests, subject of negotiations since summer of 1952 (Vol. 8:26) and looking to construction of more stations throughout Mexico, apparently is in final stages and may soon be announced. Meanwhile, veteran broadcaster-theatreman Emilio Azcarraga, already operating XEW-TV, Mexico City (Ch. 2) and XEQ-TV, Mexico City (Ch. 9) with transmitter on 13,405-ft. Cortez Pass, has acquired an interest in Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena’s XHGC-TV, Mexico City (Ch. 5), which is installing new 5-kw GE transmitter, has moved headquarters into Azcarraga’s big Televicentro and will begin telecasting film-only in about 30 days. The only other Mexico City station is Romulo O’Farrill’s XHTV (Ch. 4), owned by the industrialist-publisher, who has been represented in the merger negotiations by former Texas broadcaster Monte Kleban. Their expansion plans are indicated by list of CP’s outstanding (see p. 211, TV Factbook No. 19). Mexico City now claims 125,000 TV sets, with market growing steadily and industry due to get further stimulus from GE’s new tube plant which is expected to lead to eventual complete domestic assembly of sets. NARTB’s TV code review board this week proposed broadening its affiliation to include film production companies “whose product comprises now a large share of the programming viewed in the American home.” Proposal will be submitted to NARTB’s TV board at meeting next month, said code chairman John E. Fetzer. At quarterly meeting, board sent special report to Senate subcommittee on juvenile delinquency admitting that portions of TV films shown at its recent hearings were not “wholly within the spirit of the Code” and said examples of “excessive violence” were being reported to stations. It noted that all of the films were produced originally for theatres and were cleared by boards of review, though declaring that such action “does not necessarily provide proper clearance” for intimate viewing by family groups on TV. Fresh from auspicious TV debut as producer of 2-hour Light’s Diamond Jubilee, movie producer David 0. Selznick this week called on motion picture industry to “bring about a complete revolution” in equipment and working methods by following technical example of TV. Writing in Screen Producers’ Guild Journal, he said: “Motionpicture production is still working in the dark ages as far as equipment is concerned, [but] in a few short years TV has taken greater strides than the motion picture has in decades.” He added that “the single overwhelming impression” he received from his first TV experience was of “extraordinary ability of TV technicians [and] amazing flexibility of TV equipment.” Curb on TV-radio at big league baseball games (Vol. 10:45) was unanimously approved Dec. 2 by minor league convention in Houston. But it needs ratification by major leagues — and is almost certain to be voted down at their convention next week in Columbus. Rule approved by minor's would ban sponsored broadcasts of major league games beyond 50 mi. from ballpark. Minors adopted another rule which would ban radio-TV broadcasts of minor league games into the territory of another minor league club. Fight film re-run on TV does not invade fighter’s privacy, Philadelphia District Judge Watson ruled last week in suit by former fighter A1 Ettore against Philadelphia’s WPTZ and Chesebrough Mfg. Co., sponsor of Greatest Fights of the Century, which showed portions of 1936 Louis-Ettore bout. Ettore alleged his privacy was invaded because he gave no permission for the showing and films were edited so as to give unbalanced picture of Ettore’s fighting ability.