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Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)
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9
Color Trends & Briefs: nbc’s new $3,500,000 color
expansion plan, announced same day as appointment of ex-ABC pres. Robert Kintner as exec. v.p. and color coordinator (p. 2), “will put NBC in reach of a goal of 2 major color TV programs every night of the week during the 1957-58 season,” NBC pres. Robert Sarnoff said. He called expansion “a major step toward our aim of ultimately telecasting the bulk of our live shows in color on a regular basis.” All this, he stated, “is a further expression of NBC’s faith in color TV.”
New expenditure is in addition to last year’s $12,000,000 color expansion program which permitted 500% increase in NBC color programming. Major features of latest expansion: (1) Conversion of Studio 8-H, N. Y., to handle both audience and non-audience color shows.
(2) Modification to color of Studio 3 in Burbank, Cal. through use of color mobile unit. (3) Remodeling of Colonial Theatre, in N. Y., “for broader use as an audience studio.” (4) Expansion of Burbank color film chain and addition of 4-chain color film studio in New York.
* ♦
“Color adds a lot but it still has a long way to go,” said Walt Disney while in Washington this week to accept award for safety films from American Automobile Assn. “I have a color set in my home,” he said, “but the show has to be good or people will watch black-&-white — just as in movies.”
Another movie major tied its future
firmly to TV this week as long-brewing 20th Century-Fox deal with NTA was consummated (Vol. 12:43). As announced by NTA pres. Ely A. Landau, the new alliance has these facets:
(1) NTA gets exclusive TV distribution of “up to 390” pre-1948 features in 20th Century-Fox vaults for minimum payment of $30,000,000 over next 7 years.
(2) 20th Century-Fox becomes 50% owner of new NTA Film Network for undisclosed “nominal sum,” though NTA retains operational control of the subsidiary.
(3) The movie studio will produce pilots of 4 new TV series by March 31, 1957, for distribution by NTA.
Under agreement, NTA gets 78 features this year, 78 next year^ — half of each group earmarked for NTA Film Network showing. Each package has minimum “license fee” of $5,850,000, and it’s understood 20th Century-Fox also will receive 45% of gross rentals received on films after specified amount has been reached. Agreement also gives 20th Century “the right to sell NTA 3 subsequent groups of 78 pictures each, totaling 234 features, for a minimum license fee of $5,850,000 for each group and a participation in the gross receipts over and above a specified amount.”
NTA’s rights to the films run 5-7 years, cover TV only for U. S. & possessions, Canada and Puerto Rico. Landau said NTA will pay for the films through private financing. The movie company will be represented in NTA Film Network management through a treasurer who will be appointed soon, and will name 2 directors.
Among the 20th Century properties to be distributed by NTA and the NTA Film Network are such top features as “Laura,” “Guadalcanal Diary,” “Gentlemen’s Agreement,” “Blood & Sand,” “Forever Amber,” “Bell for Adano,” “Lillian Russell,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Snake Pit,” “The Razor’s Edge.”
Earlier this year NTA released to TV first 52-film group of 20th Century-Fox features.
Meanwhile, Loew’s Inc. this week officially acquired 25% stock intere.st in its third TV statioji — independent KMGM-TV, Minneapolis, formerly KEYD-TV (Ch. 9) — and sold the station its MGM feature film library backlog.
Network Color Schedules (November 4-17, 1956)
Nov. 4 — CBS: Heckle & Jeckle Cartoon Show, 1-1:30 p.m. NBC‘ Zoo Parade, 3;30-4 p.m.; Alcoa Hour, 9-10 p.m.
Nov. 5 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Robert Montgomery Presents, 9:30-10:30 p.m.
Nov. 6— NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Jonathan Winters Show, 7:30-7:45 p.m.; Noah’s Ark, 8:30-9 p.m.
Nov. 7— NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Kraft TV Theatre, 9-10 p.m. CBS: Arthur Godfrey Show, 8-9 p.m.
Nov. 8 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Lux Video Theatre, 10-11 p.m.
Nov. 9— NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Walter Winchell Show, 8:30-9 p.m. CBS: Bob Crosby Show, 3:30-4 p.m.
Nov. 10 — ^NBC: Perry Como Show, 8-9 p.m.
Nov. 11 — CBS: Heckle & Jeckle Cartoon Show, 1-1:30 p.m. NBC: Zoo Parade, 3:30-4 p.m.; Goodyear TV Playhouse, 9-10 p.m.
Nov. 12 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Producers’ Showcase, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” 8-9:30 p.m.
Nov. 13 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Jonathan V/inters Show, 7:30-7:45 p.m.; Noah’s Ark, 8:30-9 p.m. CBS: Red Skelton Show, 9:30-10 p.m.
Nov. 14 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Kraft TV Theatre, 9-10 p.m. CBS: Arthur Godfrey Show, 8-9 p.m.
Nov. 15 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Lux Video Theatre, 1011 p.m.
Nov. 16 — NBC: Matinee Theatre, 3-4 p.m.; Walter Winchell Show, 8:30-9 p.m. CBS: Bob Crosby Show, 3:30-4 p.m.
Nov. 17 — NBC: Perry Como Show, 8-9 p.m.
RCA shipped live color camera and 3-V color film camera Oct. 31 to WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre (Ch. 28) ; live camera Oct. 31 to WBAL-TV, Baltimore (Ch. 11); 3-V film camera Oct. 30 to KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh (Ch. 2).
Other stations with 25% MGM ownership are KTTV, Los Angeles and KTVR, Denver.
Another “film network” type of arrangement is strong possibility under aegis of RKO Teleradio Pictures, which still holds limited-time TV rights to 150 top RKO features, to be shown on General Teleradio stations. RKO film div. v.p. C. Robert Manby told us 3 advertisers are interested in sponsoring the films in other markets on national basis, “and this very likely will happen.”
Meanwhile, there were these other developments this week in the movie-TV relationship:
(1) Associated Artists Productions, the PRM Inc. subsidiary distributing Warner Bros, features, reportedly is seeking to enter station ownership a la MGM — and is said to be negotiating to swap feature films for part ownership. One report had AAP currently negotiating with upstate N. Y. and New England stations, having been turned down by DuMont’s WABD, New York.
(2) TV-movie cooperation in form of nationwide “talent hunt” reportedly has been proposed by interests representing AB-PT pres. Leonard Goldenson to Motion Picture Industry Council. Plan w'ould provide for weekly talent auditions to be held in Paramount Theatres, with semi-finalists to be showcased in big live ABC-TV talenthunt spectaculars, winners getting movie contracts.
(3) ABC-TV chief Oliver Treyz revealed in Chicago, meanw'hile, that network eventually plans to discontinue showings of feature films {Famous Film Festival, Afternoon Film Festival) , expressing belief that network should supply only programs which individual stations can’t provide by themselves.
(4) Biggest plunge into feature films by a networkowned station has resulted in payoff to ABC-TV’s WBKB, Chicago, in form of $1,500,000 sellout for 10 p.m.-l a.m. Movietime USA, which doesn’t even begin until Dec. 3.
(5) NBC subsidiary California National Productions is currently negotiating its first theatrical movie production deal with unusual TV overtones. Under the arrangement, CNP would finance production in England of “Captain Horatio Hornblower,” the film to be shot so that it could be l)roken down to 3 TV film iiilots. If series were sold to TV in U. S., feature film would be released overseas only.