Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

11 TGlcCaslinj Notes: Selling tv program sponsorships is becoming more and more “a top-level proposition [with] shows often being bought directly by the board chairman of a major corporation rather than by timebuyers or department heads of ad agencies, as in the radio days of yore.” That’s why, according to Billboard’s Sam Chase, William Morris Agency hired Charles C. (Bud) Barry, ex-NBC program v.p., and MCA-TV Ltd. hired Alexander Stronach, ex-ABC v.p. and James Stirton, recently ABC central div. director. Their jobs will be to work with “top level brass of the blue-chip advertisers and their ad agencies, as well as with networks” . . . Ultimate decision on TV shows, says Chase, usually falls to the top man of the bankrolling firm because: “TV itself has become so expensive, and contracts have undergone such an evolution since the heyday of network radio, that few advertisers can or would be willing to leave their program purchases to their ad agencies. For one thing, more and more network contracts are being w'ritten for 39-week periods [because of] the continuing transition to film by the webs” . . . Best customers for packages are the networks, which keep talent offices humping to come up with new pi’Ograms they can sell to sponsors. In TV, the networks insist on controlling the program, whereas in radio’s balmier days ad agencies customarily built the shows for their clients . . . Radio Daily surveys major TV film producers, reports Dec. 1 that present sales volumes in some cases have increased more than 200% over year ago; that half-hour programs are in greatest demand, with some need for 15min.; that demand for situation comedy and daytime serials is expected to swell; that trend in sponsorship is toward multi-market buys for regional sponsors and greater use of syndicated film on spot basis . . . Hollywood reports say MCA-TV deal to acquire UTP for more than $1,000,000 about closed, but that Gross-Krasne will continue to produce Big Town, Lone Wolf, et al. which MCATV will distribute; Gross-Krasne also have these new series planned: Alias Jimmy Valentive, 0 Henry Playhouse, The Gentle Grafter . . . Ziv TV reported to be dickering to acquii’e California Studios, Hollywood, to have commissioned architects Pereira & Luckman to draw up plans for new plant . . . RKO films to TV? Pres. Floyd Odium of Atlas Corp. this week told Atlas stockholders he believes Howard Hughes will decide in favor of letting Atlas assume management of RKO before Dec. 31. He said Atlas would use RKO’s assets for some “capital gain” venture, but did not elaborate. Report persists that Hughes is offering RKO’s 700-film backlog to TV for $25,000,000 (Vol. 10:48) . . . Movie majors aren’t releasing their backlogs of films to TV — yet — ^but they’re permitting more and more of their stories to be adapted for live TV. This week. Lux Video Theatre acquired Double Indemnity and September Affair from Paramount, The Chase from Seymour Nebenzal; previously, it has adapted hit movies from Warner Bros., Columbia & United Artists . . . TV as source of movie features: “Dragnet” already released, Philco TV Playhouse’ s “Marty” now being filmed, V. S. Steel Hour’s “Last Notch” purchased from ABC by Hollywood producer Clarence Greene . . . Pinning blame on ABC-TV for failure of this year’s “controlled” college football TV schedule is tactic being used by pro-control group within NCAA in battle to extend restriction plan for another year, reports Nov. 24 Variety, which says “a faction of the NCAA” has written letter to ABC complaining of that network’s “faulty handling of the grid series sale” and praising job done by NBC-TV in previous years . . . Complete courtroom trial was covered last week by WKY-TV, Oklahoma City — believed to be a TV “first.” District judge permitted unlimited TV film coverage, in robbery trial, later complimented WKY-TV newsmen for doing job “accurately, carefully and considerately” . . . Copley Press’ independent KCOP, Los Angeles, has gradually moved more and more into film, plans about 80% film next year, reports Billboard, which says losses have been running $300,000-$400,000 a year. SYL VANIA AWARDS committee (Deems Taylor, chairman), in unusually detailed critique at annual banquet in N. Y. Nov. 30, added up TV’s progress and problems in 1954 and concluded: “Although we deploi’e censorship in any form, we cannot but feel that TV, by failing to cope with its own problems, is providing potent ammunition to those who are eager to impose restrictions upon it.” Though noting “a definite upswing in the quality of TV programs,” judges found medium still weakened by “trite, banal and downright silly concoctions.” Color programs were particular target of committee, which said that few color shows provide “worthwhile entertainment” and that “an open checkbook does not guarantee a quality presentation.” Most progress in 1954 was made in drama, educational programming and special events coverage, least progress in improving children’s programs and commercials and in reducing amount of crime and violence, according to committee, comprised of Dean Kenneth Bartlett, director of TV-radio center at Syracuse U; George Sidney, pres, of Screen Directors Guild; Broadway producer Oscar Berlin (Life with Father); Dr. Robert L. Johnson, Temple U pres, and ex-director of U. S. Information Agency; C. B. Larrabee, chairman. Printers’ Ink; Ethel Barrymore; Dr. Frank Bradley, pres., American Hospital Assn.; Mrs. Theodore S. Chapman, pres.. General Federation of Women’s Clubs; Dorothy Draper, decorator-designer; Mrs. John E. Hayes, past pres, of National Congress of Paront.'! & Teachers; N. Y. Judge Samuel S. Leibowitz; Raymond Loewy, industrial designer; Walter O’Malley, pres, of Brooklyn Dodgers. High praise for TV came from Walt Disney, who in accepting award for Disneyland, said TV “will conflict less and less with the habits of the movie-going public. Both media, working in cooperation, will find this relationship mutually advantageous.” He said his organization found TV to be a “great energizer [and] we are all walking faster, acting faster, and — I hope — thinking faster than we ever did before.” The Sylvania TV awards for 1954: grand prize. Medic (NBC-TV) for “the worth of its content, the impact of its presentation and the dignity of its purpose”; best original TV play, Man on Mountain Top (NBC-TV’s PhilcoGoodyear Television Playhouse) ; series for children of all ages, Disneyland (ABC-TV) ; documentary. Three Two One . . . Zero (NBC-TV) ; variety. Toast of the Town (CBS-TV) ; public information service. Open Hearing (ABC-TV) ; educational. The Search (CBS-TV) ; family entertainment. Father Knows Best (CBS-TV) ; local public service. Our Beautifid Potomac (WRC-TV, Washington) ; local children’s. Little Schoolhouse (KTTV, Los Angeles) ; local news coverage, Telepix News (WPIX, N. Y.) ; superior camera work. Twelve Angry Men (CBSTV’s Studio One); comedian of year, George Gobel; dramatic actor & actress, Steven Hill & Eva Marie Saint; character actor & actress, E. G. Marshall & Eileen Heckart; outstanding comedy team, Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows & Aid Carney. Committee omitted usual award for commercials, instead gave certificates of merit to Life Magazine, Sheaffer Pen Co., Goebel Brewing Co., General Electric & Rosenfield Packing Co. CBS-TV and .\ir Force will join in producing Com/uest Ilf I hr Air series of 2(i weeldy 3()-min. (limed progr.ams depicting history of Air Force, starting next fall. Air Foice is contributing stockpile of 100,000,000 feet of film.