Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1955)

5 "Thus the DuMont Network was two-thirds kinescope and one-third live," said Bergmann, "and any advertiser approaching it knew that his ratings and audience would in large part depend upon the quality of our teletranscriptions." DuMont has already cut down its regular live network to New York-Washington only (Vol. 11:13), and Bergmann said there will be further curtailments until cablemicrowave is used only for sports, news & special events. He invited the network’s current advertisers to be first to use new system, beginning in about 2 weeks. The ones we talked to were enthusiastic, wanted to change over in a hurry. What it will mean to them is this; Their programs will go on air live in New York, and onto high-quality film for use on other stations, at very little more than kinescope cost. Important angle of DuMont's new pitch is value of residual rights — for re-runs — enhanced by fact that shows can be filmed in color as easily as in black-&-white , at same time as they're being televised locally in monochrome. Beyond this, DuMont Network didn't reveal plans. But presumably it intends concentrated campaign for more advertisers to use its live-film plan, and possibly to go into TV film production-syndication on its own. Of latter possibility, DuMont executives say only that they "don't know yet." ^ sjf One intriguing possibility of Electronicam is its potential use for re-runs of color telecasts. There's no reason why system couldn't be adapted to color TV camera. Dr. DuMont told us — making possible delayed repeats and re-runs of color shows, heretofore restricted by color kine problems. Another suggestion is production of color shows without color TV camera, by use of Electronicam' s quick and efficient method of turning out filmed shows. Using TV techniques, filmed color show can be produced with black-&-white TV cameras and color film — with processed color film ready for telecasting the follov;ing day. While DuMont will be making a pitch to lease, license or possibly sell its system to other networks and stations and to film producers, Electronicam' s future is not completely unclouded. Similar system was demonstrated several weeks ago in Hollywood by A1 Simon, production supervisor for McCadden Productions (Vol. 11:13). And RCA has promised that its color k monochrome video tape recorder — now said to be perfected — will be put into practical use this year. It's expected that the announcement of its first commercial use by NBC will be made shortly. ARNED FORCES' TV 'WHISTLING POSTS': American TV's least-known network is a film "chain" that spans oceans and continents from Africa to Iceland, carries nearly all the top-rated programs and has about 200 sponsors. Moreover, it unquestionably has the world's! most loyal viewers, not to mention the "lowest cost-per-thousand. " It's the new Armed Forces Television Service — in operation just a year, but already a seasoned and proven service. Today, it has but 4 outlets. By year's end, it expects to have 10 or more. Patterned after Armed Forces Radio Service, its purpose is morale and information for U.S. troops at isolated bases. Its morale effects have become obvious almost instantly. At bases with TV outlets, cases of AWOL and "serious incident" (accidents, fights, etc.) have decreased markedly since TV came, and cooperation with the chaplain has increased. For programming, AFTS depends principally on U.S. networks, TV film producersdistributors , sponsors and agencies — for kines and films of stateside shows. The guiding spirit behind AFTS is Lt. Col. M.E. (Mel) Williamson, chief of TV branch. Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, onetime top TV-radio producer and account executive (ex-radio director Russel M. Seeds Co., Chicago, ex-west coast mgr. of old Lennen & Mitchell and old Geyer, Newell & Ganger agencies) who was called back into Air Force after wartime service in order to set up the network. The military stations are low-powered installations, radiating 10-50 watts, thus serving only the bases and immediate surrounding area. Transmitters and other equipment have been supplied by RCA, Page (with Gates) and Electronics Research Lab, Hollywood (Joseph Learning). Technicians to operate and service the stations are selected from qualified personnel on each post. Programs are mostly on film, though stations also have live news, chaplains' talks, information features, local shows.