Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

14 ADIO’S UPTURN in 1955 was documented by FCC this week, as it issued its annual summary of station revenues, expenses and profits. TV’s 1955 performance was reported by Commission in July (Vol. 12:30). Salient excerpts from this week’s report: (1) Total radio revenues were $453,400,000, up .9% from 1954, but profits rose 10% to $46,000,000. (2) Network revenues were down 11.6% from 1954 to $78,300,000, and profits were even more severely cut — down 28% to $5,900,000. (3) Local time sales accounted for virtually all of the upswing — rising 9.9% to $272,000,000. Spot sales held its own — up .2% to $120,400,000. But network time sales dipped 23.4% to $64,100,000. (4) Of 493 FM stations, 332 operated by AM licensees reported no revenues at all. Other 123 operated by AMs reported $900,000 in revenues, compared with $1,100,000 in 1954. The 38 FM-only operators reported $1,000,000 revenues, loss of $400,000. (5) Total of 741 (27.5%) AM stations reported loss for 1955, compared with 30.7% in 1954. Percentage with losses has stood about 27% each year since World War II. The FCC report, with 8 tables, includes breakdowns of more than 200 markets with 3 or more stations — covering source of income, total revenues, expenses and profits. Noteworthy is that stations in some substantial markets— such as New Orleans, New Haven, Mobile, Montgomery, San Diego — collectively reported a loss. Document is Notice 39663, available from Commission — or we’ll get you a copy. Plea to networks, sponsors, syndicators and agencies to make more TV programs available to Ai’med Forces TV stations is voiced in Dec. 29 TV Guide editorial. Noting that AFTV’s program supply has dropped to 35-40 hours weekly (Vol. 12:46), editorial states: “Some networks, agencies, sponsors and producers consider it their patriotic duty to provide programs for Armed Forces TV. Others do not . . . Somehow we don’t think it would bankrupt anyone in the TV business to provide an extra film print or kinescope recording for the Armed Forces. It’s rather amazing that any company should have to be urged to take part in something so inexpensive, yet so constructive . . .” Court ban on stenographic reporting by KFMB-TV, San Diego, was challenged Dec. 26 in show-cause action against Superior Judge John A. Hewicker. He had prevented stenotypist and office secretary from assisting staff newsman Harold Keen in covering kidnap trial last week, explaining that only court-employed official reporter could take verbatim record. Station v.p.-gen. mgr. George Whitney applied for writ of mandate to compel judge to permit stenographic assistance for Keen. Hearing was set for Jan. 3. Keen had been threatened by judge with contempt of court citation earlier for interviewing trial witnesses. Certificate of Appreciation by Army for “patriotic civilian seiwice” was awarded Dec. 18 at special ceremony at Ft. Sill, Okla. to KWTV, Oklahoma City, for Bruce Palmer Reports from Europe series of 13 half-hour shows this fall. Station’s news director spent 90 days in France & Germany last summer recording activities of Oklahoma servicemen for program. No fund.s were solicited in “The Secret Life of Danny Kaye,” but the comedian’s appearance on CBS-TV’s See It Now Dec. 2 has brought in more than 3000 letters and $25,000 for United National International Children’s Emergency Fund, according to CBS. Directory of 16mm films in 3300 libraries (catalogue F.S 5.3:956/12) is available for T0<l: from Govt. Printing Office, Washington. Third magazine to fold in 2 weeks became casualty of costs and competition for advertising Dec. 27 when Town Journal was killed. Published by Farm Journal Inc., Philadelphia, Town Journal joins Collier’s and WotTian’s Home Companion (Vol. 12:50-51) in magazine graveyard; Feb. issue will be last. Demise of monthly, companion to Farm Journal, was announced by pres. Richard J. Babcock, who said it faced “3 more years of heavy investment before the break-even point may be expected” despite “sizeable & growing interest among advertisers.” Town Journal grossed more than $3,000,000 in advertising this year, and circulation recently hit 2,250,000, but it couldn’t attract enough advertisers. Magazine, aimed at smalltown field, started in 1953 after absorbing Pathfinder, which was bought 10 years earlier by Farm Journal Inc. About 40 Town Journal editorial employes, 17 in Washington office, are affected by suspension. Farm Journal, which has 3,500,000 circulation, continues and will take over some unfulfilled Town Journal subscriptions. Note: Another magazine casualty this week was 34-year-old Aero Digest, one of first in aviation field, which suspended with Dec. issue due to reduced revenues and increased costs. Newspapers grossed $2,926,465,000 in 1954 compared with $1,792,338,000 in 1947, Census Bureau reported Dec. 26. Advertising revenues of 8646 newspapers surveyed were $2,058,975,000 in 1954 vs. $1,192,413,000 in 1947. Subscriptions & sales accounted for $840,867,000 in 1954, compared with $599,925,000 in 1947. Employment rose to 281,799 from 234,375. The 2045 magazine publishers grossed $1,397,683,000 in 1954, of which $863,225,000 was in advertising, compared with $1,019,473,000 and $612,457,000 in 1947. Output of 814 book publishers & printers totaled $665,232,000 in 1954, while 946 miscellaneous publishers grossed $231,242,000. Applications for 2 TV stations and 2 translators were filed with FCC this week, bringing total pending to 132 for stations (26 uhf) and 26 for translators. Station applications were for Ogden, Utah, Ch. 9, by Jack A. Burnett, exec, v.p.-gen. mgr. & 25% owner of KULA-TV & KULA, Honolulu ; for Glendive, Mont., Ch. 5, by local radio KXGN. Translator applications were for Flagstaff, Ariz., Ch. 71, by non-profit Coconino TV, to rebroadcast programs of KTVK, Phoenix; for Green River, Wyo., Ch. 70, by Robert R. Laird, to rebroadcast KSL-TV, Salt Lake City. [For details, see TV Addenda 23-Y herewith.] NARTB code administrators monitored more than 17,000 hours of TV time on the 3 networks and 104 individual stations in 1956, code director Edward H. Bronson told Speech & Theatre Conference at Chicago’s Conrad Hilton Hotel Dec. 28. “I know personally of no broadcaster anywhere who, in programming, violates consistently or knowingly any reasonable standard of so-called ‘good taste’ or moral canons acceptable to the public at large,” he said. As to commercial abuses, he said most complaints are aimed at quantity, rather than quality. TV film “evidence” in triple Miami killing has been impounded by police for possible showing at trial. News photographer Dave Winer of WCKT, first on scene of slayings by distraught father, filmed reenactment for Headlines with Harrison program that evening. Police took over film immediately following show. Too much Christmas: TV-iadio editors of Cleveland’s 3 daily newspapers were ordered to return color TV sets presented by Westinghouse. Publishers of papers, saying gifts were too lavish to accept, were considering buying color sets as “necessary tools” for the staffers. Station rep Adam Young Inc. rej)orts its TV billings in 1956 were 38%) higher than 1955, radio 28%, and that more than $500,000 in radio billings wci'e turned down by its stations because of inability to clear time.