Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

3 channels economically feasible. Our Committee has repeatedly emphasised the urgent need for as speedy action as possible. It would be presumptuous of me to anticipate their recommendation and it could prove dangerously detrimental to their goal if we were to insist on an arbitrary completion date, but this work must be done soon." SENATE'S MAIL-ORDER QUIZ OF TV STATIONS: Wasting no time in its intensified probe of network-station relations — touched off by attack on network practices by KTTV's Richard Moore (Vol. 12:13) — Senate Commerce Committee this week put some 400 network TV affiliates on the witness stand via a "confidential" 9-page questionnaire asking detailed information on their relationships with networks. TV film producers & distributors may be asked to give some data — or at least present their ideas — to the Committee, too. Chief TV investigation counsel Kenneth Cox and Committee's communication expert Nick Zapple were on west coast this week, where they were understood to be talking with TV film people, among others. The questionnaires were mailed early this week with request that they be returned by May 7, so that information may be compiled in time for presentation at the "network phase" of TV hearings later that month. They contained 26 main questions — some divided into subparts — delving into intricacies of affiliation contracts, station advertising revenues, etc., in essence, adding up to this over-all question: To what extent, if at all, do the networks control the programming and the business practices of their affiliates? Individual stations' replies won't be made public, but presumably industry-wide compilation will be put in record. Network spot sales organizations and network TV film sales departments are dealt with in questionnaire, in questions like these; "Has a network ever suggested, directly or indirectly, that you make use of [its spot] representative?" "Indicate the number of hours of filmed programs purchased in 1955 from film sales agencies affiliated with the respective networks." Many questions deal with details of affiliation contracts — duration, cancellation, cable charges, payments by networks. Others seek to determine networks' part in setting stations' network & spot rates, free time required by networks, the number of hours of network programming carried by stations, network "influence" in determining transmitter sites of stations, overlap with other stations carrying the programs of same network, whether networks have refused to supply programs to stations ordered by advertiser, "block-booking" practices of film distributors, etc. On subject of option time, questionnaire asks to what extent stations have been able to program non-network shows, and asks stations whether they believe the networks' time options should be changed or abolished. What might be called the S64,000 question is; "Did you operate at a profit in 1955?" Stations are asked to give total 1955 compensation from networks, and to break down time sales as between network, national & regional spot and local. Subscription TV and uhf are also covered. Do stations think fee TV is in the public interest and would it "strengthen your position by adding a new source of revenue?" Uhf stations are asked about conversion, coverage and rate-per-1 , 000 viewers compared to nearby vhf outlets. * * * * Sen. Bricker, too, had some questions this week — 50 very pointed ones — which he inserted in Commerce Committee's hearing record, and addressed to KTTV's Richard Moore. The "questions", mostly network-baiting, were rhetorical. Samples; "Insofar as TV networks control time on affiliated stations, they are the same as time brokers for the sale of station time on each of their affiliates, are they not?" "Your objection is not only to the licensee abandoning his responsibility to select programs at any given hours, which would best meet his licensee responsibility under the law, but also that its licensee responsibility is delegated to a non-resident network executive hundreds or thousands of miles away, is it not?" "...is it not true that a vast majority of TV stations are operating on no standards except the networks' balance sheet?" Counsel for Moore said he would supply answers to the 50 questions by the time network hearings resume next month.