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16
Network TV-Radio Billings
October 1954 and January-October 1954 (For September report, see Television Digest, Vol. 10; 44) (For preceding years, see TV Facfbook No. 19, p. 15)
BS-TV NETWORK billings jumped again to an alltime record of $14,033,536 in Oct. from previous record of $12,944,665 in Sept., according to latest Publishers Information Bureau report. CBS-TV thereby retained its lead in TV rankings, though NBC-TV also jumped to all-time record — $12,307,403. Also at new high was ABC-TV, with DuMont only a shade under its record of last Jan. Month’s total for the 4 networks reached record $31,657,772, up more than $5,500,000 from previous record in Sept, and comparing with $23,409,053 in Oct. 1953. Aggregate of $254,425,834 for first 10 months of year compares with $179,330,993 for same 1953 period.
Network radio pulled up somewhat in Oct., aggregating $10,940,099, compared with $10,445,475 in Sept, but down from the $13,829,106 of Oct. 1953. For first 10 months, radio total is $115,015,098 vs. $132,682,830 for same 1953 peidod. The complete PIB tables:
NETWORK TELEVISION
October October Jan. -Oct. Jan.-Oct.
1954 1953 1954 1953
CBS _ _ $14,033,536 $ 9,381,816 $117,032,072 $ 77,328,337
NBC _ _ 12,307,403 10,267,232 100,541,824 76,941,720
ABC 3,890,802 2,297,862 26,584,163 16,094,615
DuMont 1,426,031 1,462,143 10,267,775 8,966,321
Total.. $31,657,772 $23,409,053 $254,425,834 $179,330,993
NETWORK RADIO
CBS $ 4.131,628 $ 5,478,455 $45,567,675 $51,422,613
NBC _ 2,735,080 3,493,950 28,106,616 38,145,994
ABC 2,502,439 2,671,103 24,199,694 24,173,422
MBS 1,570,952 2,185,598 17,141,113 18,940,801
Total $10,940,099 $13,829,106 $115,015,098 $132,682,830
NETWORK TELEVISION — January-October 1954
ABC
CBS
DuMont
NBC
Total
Jan.
$ 2.780,574
$10,713,329
$1,445,608
$10,116,937
$25,056,448
Feb.
2.502,372
9,965,481
1,108,157
9,368,148
22,944,158
Mar.
2,640,699
11,379,631
1,205,526
10,981,690
26,207,546
Apr.
2,554,484
10,921,640
1,068,374
10,802,535
25,347,033
May
2,411,656
11,488,168
988,350
11,033,987
25,922,161
June
2,317,879
11,448,180
778,920
9,990,729
24,535,708
July
2,310,281
11,861,534
623,455
8,149,533
22,944,803
Aug.
2,514,815
12,275,908
820,633
8,057,484
23,668,840
Sept.
2,660,601
12,944,665*
802,721
9,733,378*
26,141,365*
Oct.
3,890,802
14,033,536
1,426,031
12,307,403
31,657,772
Tot.
$26,584,163
$117,032,072
$10,267,775
$100,541,824
$254,425,834
NETWORK RADIO— January-October 1954
ABC
CBS
MBS
NBC
Total
Jan.
$ 2,830,654
$ 5,166,174
$1,896,925
$ 3,391,873
$13,285,626
Feb.
2,494,737
4,749,512
1,783,452
3,176,849
12,204,550
Mar.
2,764,547
5,456,351
2,034,961
3,639,273
13,895,137
Apr.
2,367,636
5,044,943
1,891,998
2,962,839
12,267,416
May
2,307,029
5,116,152
1,908,198
2,780,725
12,112,104
June
2,405,994
4,181,677
1,558,196
2,618,614
10,764,481
July
2,098,823
3,821,234*
1,481,767
2,127,192
9,529,016*
Aug.
2,160,025
3,844,135*
1,491,503*
2,075,531
9,571,194*
Sept.
2,267,810
4,055,869*
1,523,161
2.598,635
10,445,475*
Oct.
2,502,439
4,131,628
1,570,952
2,735,080
10,940,099
Tot.
$24,199,694
$45,567,675
$17,141,113
$28,106,616
$115,015,098
* Revised as of Dec. 1, 1954.
Note: These figures do not represent actual revenues to the networks, which do not divulge their actual net dollar Incomes. They're compiled by Publishers’ Information Bureau on basis of one-time network rates, or before frequency or cash discounts, so in terms of dollars actually paid may be Inflated by as much as 40%. However, they’re generally accepted In the trade as an Index.
Australian Broadcasting Commission has invited Alphonse Ouimet, CBC gen. mgr., to be consultant on its new TV system, and he leaves Ottawa Dec. 6. Already there, on same mission, is James C. Hanrahan, WEWS, Cleveland. Also on way to Sydney is Martin Michel, 20th Century-Fox TV specialist, who will help that company’s wholly owned subsidiary, 182-theatre Hoyts Circuit, in its application for a commercial station. Bids for construction of first 2 govt. -owned stations, in Melbourne & Sydney, have been invited by Post Office Dept., deadline Feb. 17. There are about 100 applicants for commercial stations.
SALE OF KANG-TV, Waco, Tex. (Ch. 34) for $134,000 was approved by FCC with unusual speed, having been filed only last week (Vol. 10:48). Owner Clyde Weatherby, pleading for haste in approval of transfer to Claudia T. Johnson, wife of Democratic majority leader Sen. Lyndon Johnson, said losses were so great that station was in imminent danger of going off air. Other transfers approved this week: (1) Holders of CP for WIMA-TV, Lima, 0. (Ch. 35) got WLOK-TV there (Ch. 73) for $750 plus assumption of some $150,000 liabilities (Vol. 10:44), will drop own CP and radio WLOK, shift WLOK-TV to Ch. 35. (2) Wm. B. Dolph acquired 29% (29,000 shares, at $1 par), Wm. B. Quarton 20% (20,000 shares) of WMTTV, Cedar Rapids, la. (Ch. 2) with former 100% owner American Bcstg. Stations Inc. (Helen Marks, chairman), retaining 51%. (3) Wm. J. Gregory and Hoth family obtained control of KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Ch. 13) and radio KRDO through purchase of Joseph Rohrer’s 50.37% for $24,500 (Vol. 10:44).
Applications for sales of CPs filed with FCC this week: (1) Joseph Novy, chief engineer of Chicago’s
WBBM-TV & WBBM and Jerome F. Cerny, also of the Chicago stations, are buying CP for WJOL-TV, Joliet, 111. (Ch. 48), along with radio WJOL (250-w, 1340 kc) for $112,000 from Charleston, W. Va., group headed by Willard H. Erwin Jr., who also holds interest in Charleston’s WGKV. Novy & Cerny told FCC they plan to become Joliet residents, and Erwin group said it’s selling because it wants to give up holdings outside of W. Va. (2) KLFYTV, holder of shared-time CP for Lafayette, La., Ch. 10 asked permission to buy out companion CP-holder KVOLTV for $45,000 out-of-pocket expenses incurred by KVOLTV owners Lafayette Advertiser and KVOL gen. mgr. George H. Thomas. KLFY-TV is headed by Paul & Thomas DeClouet.
Television Bureau of Advertising, in first board meeting since establishing offices at 444 Madison Ave., N. Y., this week reported $100,000 in dues — one-fourth of its $400,000 annual budget — has already been paid by charter member stations. Membership drive began officially Dec. 1, and pres. Oliver Treyz said stations have until Jan. 1 to submit dues, entitling them to be charter members. He said membership list will be made public after Jan. 1. He anticipated that at least 2 top positions in TvB will be filled this month. He also revealed that 2 major advertisers— whom he declined to identify — had voluntarily asked TvB to evaluate TV’s potential as an advertising medium for them. A firm of management consultants has been engaged to work on their problem, he said.
Hearing on renewal of Edward Lamb’s WICU, Erie, was recessed until Jan. 4 by examiner Herbert Sharfman Nov. 30 when he refused to let FCC Broadcast Bureau attorneys seek depositions from convicted Communist leaders Gus Hall and Jacob Stachel (Vol. 10:48). Sharfman said “there are indications they will seek refuge under the 5th Amendment and refuse to testify” after FCC lawyers told him they had visited wardens of Danbury and Leavenworth prisons and were advised that both prisoners had gone on record against making the depositions. Sharfman requested Lamb’s attorneys to advise FCC lawyers by Dec. 13 which previous witnesses they want to cross-examine when hearing resumes.
Only TV application this week was for Toledo, educational Ch. 30, by Greater Toledo Educational TV Foundation, headed by Paul Block Jr., v.p. of Toledo Blade, which is applicant for Ch. 11 in Toledo. Applications pending now total 175, of which 17 are for uhf. [For further details about aiiplications, see TV Addenda 19-U herewith ; for complete listings of all grants, new stations, applications, etc., see TV Factbook No. 19 with Addenda to date.]