Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

3 In 1956, most important events may be; (1) Establishment of TV in Australia, with 4 commercial and 2 govt, stations due to start. (2) Tremendous expansion of Italy's TV system, run by govt . -private partnership Radiotelevisione Italiana (RA.I), which plans to have 84 transmitters in operation by the end of 1957 — with many now under construction. These will consist of 19 main "TV centers," 16 secondary stations with studios, and 49 automatic satellites — all interconnected, covering virtually the entire population of the country. Spread of commercial TV throughout Europe may be 1956 's outstanding development. Impact of Britain's new advertising-supported system is already being felt. Though most European TV systems are govt . -operated and non-commercial, for the first time there seems to be strong possibility all of western Europe will "go commercial" in TV — as it nev-er has in radio. In France, an independent commercial TV system has been proposed to compete with govt.'s stations. In Italy, limited advertising will soon be permitted. West Germany, too, contemplates commercials. In U.S. sphere of influence in Far East — Japan, Thailand, Philippines — commercial telecasting is already the rule, as it is in nearly all Latin America. :)e it: « Foreign TV is beginning to look like a market for the first time — if not for American equipment, at least for American filmed programming and American ideas. Latin America and Britain are using increasing amount of American TV film, and some European telecasting systems are becoming customers for U.S. programming. As to ideas. Voice of America this year expanded its TV office to "major media status," producing its first original TV programs and stepping up distribution of adapted programs, newsreels and special event films. Said director J.R. Poppele in year-end report; "In 1956, we plan to make an even greater effort to use the impact and scope of TV" in worldwide battle of ideas. Worldwide TV hasn't provided much of a market for TV receiver manufacturers. Customs barriers, import bans and incompatibility of standards have been the roadblocks. Only U.S. markets of any significance have been Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil — though each is striving to become self-sufficient as fast as it can. The sale that opened the floodgates of movies to TV — Howard Hughes’ $25,000,000 sale of RKO Pictures to General Teleradio — took another fascinating twist this week, leaving new RKO div. of RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. about to break into black ink side of the ledger. Following closely on the heels of the sale by RKO of its 740-feature backlog to C & C Television Corp. (Matty Fox) for $15,200,000 (Vol. 11:53), RKO Teleradio pres. Thomas F. O’Neil this week announced that his studio’s 2 unreleased features — The Conqueror and Jet Pilot — had been sold back to Hughes for $12,000,000, of which $8,000,000 was paid in cash and $4,000,000 will be paid from distribution of the films. As a result, RKO Teleradio has been able to reduce Chase National Bank loan from $25,000,000 to $10,000,000 and to halve a $5,000,000 note to parent General Tire & Rubber Co. RKO div. pres. Daniel O’Shea reported movie company i.s now nearly in the black, plans to produce 17 theatrical films this year at cost of $19,000,000 and to release 20 pictures, some produced independently. * sN * Elsewhere on the movies-to-TV front, these were the developments : National Telefilm Associates (Ely Landau), which recently bought group of 11 top Selznick pictures (Vol. 11:51), is reportedly on the verge of announcing new 30feature film package, which includes 8 Universal-Inter national pictures and some independently produced films. The Universal pictures were produced by Jules Levey and sold earlier this year to Associated Artists Productions, but returned when musicians’ union refused to grant AAP rights to the music tracks. They include 4 Olsen & Johnson pictures (“Hellzapoppin,” etc.), one Abbott & Costello film, 2 based on Damon Runyon stories. Independent films said to be in the package include “Court Martial” (David Niven), still in theatrical release; “Stranger on the Prowl” (Paul Muni, 1953) ; “It’s in the Bag” (Fred Alien-Jack Benny-Robert Benchley, 1945). Sale of 1600 Paramount shorts to UM&M TV Corp. (Charles Amory) for $3,000,000 (Vol. 11:46,53), concluded this week, also includes theatrical rights to the pictures outside of U. S. & Canada. Package includes Betty Boop & Little Lulu cartoons, Benchley comedies, Grantland Rice Sportlights and many musical shorts, liatest films in this batch were made in 1950, and UM&M has first option on further shorts if Paramount decides to I'elease them. UM&M reportedly is also dickering with Matty Fox for the 1000 shorts in his RKO package. Twentieth Century-Fox, now organizing special div. to handle film distribution to TV, is believed to be close to releasing batch of short subjects — which would be merchandized directly to TV stations, in pattern similar to Columbia Pictures’ plans to have its Screen Gems subsidiary distribute 104 feature pictures (Vol. 11:53). ■ General Teleradio’s interest in going into phono record field was disclosed this week when negotiations to purchase Abbott Records and Dot Records were dropped; it’s also said to have held discussions with Cadence, Imperial, Mercury, among others.