Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1957)

LABOR (see Unions) MERCHANDrSING. TV RECEIVER (see also Color) TV sales slow at winter marts, 2 :11 Emerson’s Jefferson-^aris line. 2:12 Westinffhouse line in west coast Montgomerj' Ward stores. 2 :12 NARDA convention, 3:10 & 12 consumer buying surrey by U of Mich, 3:11, 6:12. 10:10 replacement market, 3:11 1966 TV set sales & servicing estimates, 4 :11 economic outlook, 4:11, 21:11, 26:10, 26:12, 28:10, 29:11, 30:12, 36:10, 37:14, 43:12, 44:14, 62:11 Senate Small Business Committee distribution investigation, 5 :12 distributor failures, 6 :12, 27 :12 Woolworth sells portables, 6 :12 west coast report on portables, 6:13 “Live Better Electrically” promotion, 5 :16 anti-inflation controls, 6 :9. 22 :10 Hamburg Bros., Pittsburgh, charged with price discrimination on resales, 6 :11, 34 :10, 41 :12 National Sales Week features closed-circuit “Tele-Sell.” 7 :6 emphasis on 17-in. portables. 7 :10 1966 record year for goods and services, says Commerce Dept., 8 :9 trend to higher priced units, 9 :10, 12 :11, 81 :11 international expansion by U. S. set makers, 11 :11 ; German possibilities, 44 :13 Census Bureau market study reports on population shifts, 11 :12 FRB study of consumer credit, 12 :11 appliance dealer failures, 12 :12, 17 :9 hi-fi not affecting TV sales, 13 :10 Graybar seeking own appliance line, 13 :11 Polk buvB block of “Around the World in 80 Days” tickets for customer give-aways, 18:12 portable TV marketing methods, 16 :10 portables used as second sets, Hotpoint survey finds, 16 :11 discount houses, 15:12, 16:10, 32:10, 36:10, 42:11, 47:14 dept, stores urged to push appliances by GE’s Boian, 15 :12 dept, store credit plans debated, 16 :10 record major appliance sales predicted for 1966 by GE’s Brewer, 16 :11 consumer credit control by retailers urged ,by FRB’s Mills, 17 :9 ' W. Va. fair trade act ruled “unconstitutional” in GE suit, 19 :10 E. J. Korvette discount chain, 19 :10, 42 :13, 44:16, 49:15 National TV week, 20:4, 26:13, 28:11, 29:13 & 14, 83:4. 34:10, 35:7, 36:10, 37:6, 38:11, 47:16, 48:10 110 degree tube and higher prices, 20:9, 23:10 brand preferences in TV sets reported by newspaper surveys, 20 :12, 22 :10, 24 :12, 27 :13, 40:10. 45:12 estimates of sales for 2nd half of 1957, 21:11, 24:10.26:9. 33:6,47:13 prize trips for dealers by mfrs. criticized, 21:12 portable and color merchandising criticized by Motorola’s Taylor, 21 :12 NAED officers. 22 :10 consumer credit control opposed, increased TV set sales seen, by UCLA’s Neil Jacoby, 23 :13 retail profit margin down, 24 :10 GB “Fair ’Trade” action against Masters Mail Order, Washington. 25:11, 28:11, 30:13, 42:12 “slim look” advertising, 26 :11 electrocution of boy by defective portable, 29 :2, 30:14, 31:10, 32:10, 36:9 dept, store sales, 29 :12 NARDA management institutes, 30:13, 31:10 salesmen’s compensation rates reported by NARDA. 33:6 trade show views by mfrs. surveyed by EIA, 36:10 GE name respected by teen agers, reports ’Scholastic Magazine’, 35 :10 fair trade ruled unconstitutional in S. C., 36:11 set exports, 36 :9 metal case use stopped by Magnavox, 36 :9, 38:11, 42:12 safety standards “more tlian adequate,” says EIA board, 38:10 Rolls-Royce with TV on sale in U. S., 38:11 more advertising to cope with rising TV inventories, predicts ’Tide’, 40 :11 Admiral sets checked in carton. 41 :12 imported TV & radio sets, 42:10, 60:12 tight money eased by Federal Reserve cut in discount rate. 46 :11 home appliances share of consumer dollar has declined, says Westinghouse’s Cresap, 46:12 home amusement expenditures tabulated, 47:12 FTC trade practice rules, 47:13, 62:12 TV-radio-hi-fi gets 1% of total U. S. household expenditure, according to ‘Life’ survey, 47 :14 1959 lines, 48:10 TV-appliance merchandising reviewed by ‘Home Furnishings Daily’, 48:12 servicing costs eliminate profit from smaller dealers, aceording to ‘NEDA Journal’, 49:14 TV style trends. 60:11 Philadelphia distributor changes, 60:12 freight rate increase asked by railroads, 62 :12 MILITARY USE OF TV more kines and films for Armed Forces stations urged by ‘Billboard', 1 ;4 lack of commercials protested in Canal Zone, 2:6 Mai. Robert Cranston named chief of Army Radio-TV Branch, 5 :4 armed forces TV stations, 10:7, 12:7, 18:3, 20:6, 21:14, 80:6, 42:14 tail gunners may move forward, using closedcircuit TV, 16 :12 closed-circuit color in SAC headquarters, 43 :16 contract for TV and other electronic battlefield surveillance methods awarded Cornell Aeronautical Lab, 61:10 MOBILIZATION Gordon Gray named ODM director, 4:9, 11:13 wartime communications control placed under ODM director, 16 :5 Cal. bill would supply Conelrad equipment to stations, 16 :14 ODM takes over from Cabinet Committee on Telecommunications Policy & Organization, 27:14 communications systems survived simulated attacks in national test exercise, 29 :9 Talos rocket test, 42 :9, 46 :13 battery radios with radiation detectors proposed as defense against radioactive fallout by AEC Comr. Libby, 44 :14 SarnofT warns of need for intercontinental missile within 6 years, 44 :16 Conelrad weather warnings authorized for stations by FCC, 49:9, 61:16 FM proposed for Conelrad alerting, 62 :6 MONOPOLY (see Anti-Trust) MOVIE & TV FILM increased TV film production planned by Hollywood. 1 :9 TV film expansion planned by Warner Bros., 2 :14 28 :7 MGM enters TV film production, 4 :5, 29 :8 N'TA enters movie distribution, 4 :5 Paramount Newsreel discontinued, 4 :6 old movies on TV drive public to see new ones at theatres says Skouras, 6 :6 NTA film network. 6:6, 9:4, 13:6, 14:8, 18:8, 24:9, 26:9, 30:11, 34:8, 40:14, 41:6, 43:10, 45:2 over $125,000,000 for syndicated TV film by advertisers, predicts Ziv, 6 :7 syndicated film sponsors, 8 :7, 48 :7 TV “blessing in disguise” to movies, says Walt Disney. 8 :12 prices up, even for oldies, 9 :4 British international newsfilm agency. 9 :7 newsreel theatre uses TV film, lacking newsfilm, 9 :7 cost up for TV film production, 9 :8 NTA seeks independently-produced features, 10 :9 20th Century-Fox expands production, 12:10 Official Films re-enters first-run syndicated film field, 12:10, 28:7 U. S. distributors expand in foreigrn markets, 13:5, 14:8, 17:6, 19:6, 20:7, 28:9, 33:4, 40:14, 46:9, 62:7 time-for-film barter deals, 14 :8. 30 :7 public spent more on movies in 1956 than in 3 previous years, says Sindlinger, 14 :8 Screen Gems buys “Wild Bill Hickok” and other Broidy properties, 16 :7 MGM continues newsreels, drops theatrical short subject production, 16 :7 film producers and distributors called by FCC network study group, 17:3, 18:5, 20:14, 21:3, 22:4, 23:14, 24:6, 26:9 Alliance of TV Film Producers, 17 :7 SMPTE, 18 :4, 32 :6, 36 :7, 40 :5. 41 :5 movies have grossed $160,000,000 from TV showings. says ‘Variety’, 18:8 up to 96% of TV programs on film, predicts Loew’s Vogel, 18 :8 “Tarzan” series suit by Jack Denove, 18:8 movies have lost to ’TV-radio as leader in recreational spending. Dept, of Agriculture study finds, 18 :14 Malco Theatres plans 6 film-only uhf chain, 19 :3 feature films played out by 1963, estimates ‘Billboard’, 20 :7 suit by KNTV, San .Jose, against 23 film distributors, KPIX & KRON-TV, 21 :3 six stations help finance and share in distribution profits of “Casey Jones” series, 24 :9 new syndicated shows increasing, 25 :7. 41 :6 “Sgt. Preston of the Yukon” series sold to Jack Wrather, 26 :7 Telestars Films Inc. formed. 25 :7 C&C Super Corp. changes to C&C TV Corp., 28:13, 31:12 new movie-making technique, “Calnatron”, 28:14 Revue Productions leads in film production. 29:8, 37:9 banks find lending to TV film makers more stable than to movie makers, reports ‘N. Y. Times’. 30 :10 N. Y. Mayor Wagner proposes exemption of movies from 6% amusement tax, 31 :6 film syndication is big, reports ‘Variety’, 31 :6 stations, rather than advertisers, signed by Official Films, 31 :6 Loew’s internal fight for control, 32:7 Paramount to operate theatres again, 40 :7 syndicated more durable than network. TPA says. 41 :6 end of film commercial expansion seen by ‘Variety’, 41 :6 Warner Bros, to double TV film output. 42 :6 transatlantic cable tiscal to semi news film to England, 43 :7 movie attendance hit by rumors new films soon will be on TV. 43 :10, 46 :6 “bargain” package for small markets offered by CBS-TV film sales, 46 :6 Associated Artists Productions sale. 46 :2, 48 :5, 49 :8, 61 :9 movies still leading entertainment medium, says producer Jerry Wald, 46 :8 TV ownership by theatrical interests, 48 :4 Flamingo buys RKO syndicated film properties, 48:7 Movie Backlogs to TV post-1948 features number 1380, estimates ‘Billboard’, which begins listing, 4 :7 Paramount, 9:4, 10:9, 13:5, 23:14, 62:7 MGM, 9:13, 10:9, 21:6, 24:9, 42:6 Columbia, 10:9, 13:6 Universal. 11:10, 13:6, 17:6, 18:8, 24:9, 30:7, 32 :4, 34:7 United Artists, 11 :10, 12 :16, 21 :6, 27 :9 RKO, 12:16 20th Century-Fox, 16 :7, 21 :6 negotiations for release of post-1948 features, 20 :7, 32 :12, 36 :7, 48 :7, 60 :2 Republic, 62 :7 Film Producers’ and Distributors’ Financial Reports Disney, 2 :14, 6 :12, 20 :13, 21 :6. 27 :13, 36 :13 Loew’s (MGM), 4:13, 18:13, 32:6, 46:13 Universal, 6 :14 Allied Artists, 6 :14, 20 :13, 24 :13, 42 :13 Republic, 6 :14, 9 :12, 18 :13, 43 :14 Warner Bros., 6 :12, 21 :13, 31 :12, 49 :15, 62 :9 NTA, 10:13, 14:13, 20:13, 24:13, 28:13, 30:16, 39:4, 47:16 Famous Players Canada, 11:13, 16:13 Official Films, 14 :13, 42 :13 Paramount, 14:13, 20:13, 32:6, 47:16 United Artists stock & debenture offer, 15 :13 20th Century-Fox, 16:13, 21:13, 34:13, 48:13 Associated Artists. 16 :13 Stanley Warner. 16:13, 30:16, 49:15 Guild Films. 17 :10, 21 :13, 26 :13, 42 :13 United Artists, 21 :13, 29 :10, 60 :13 Columbia, 24:13, 30:16, 39:11, 47:15, 51:15 Disney stock listing, 32 :6 RKO Teleradio, 42 :13 National Theatres, 48:5, 61 :15 TPA. 48:13 Hal Roach Productions stock offer, 51 :15 Ziv, 62 :8 MUSIC AGENCIES new ASCAP contract negotiated by 9 all-industry interim committee, 16 :5, 24 :8, 26 :9. 62 :14 ASCAP 17 :7 27 :8 BMI attacked by ASCAP and Congress, 23 :4, 34:8 NAAM officers, 29 :12 Muzak sold to Wrather and Loeb, 38:12 United Artists’ music firm, 41 :9 MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM (MBS) Fulton Lewis, Jr. sued, 1 :16, 11 :14 news headquarters move to Washington, 11 :9 ; back to N. Y., 44:6 begins 17-hour daily programming, 15 :6 sold to group headed by Paul Roberts. 29 :8, 30:10, 32:12 shows small profit, 41 :6 “Manion Forum” program cancelled, 43 :6 rate increase, 48 :7 NATIONAL ASSN. OF RADIO & TV BROADCASTERS (NARTB) decline in “pitch” commercials reported by Shafto, 3:14 expanded public relations proposed, 6:8, 6:14 Keynote Award to Herbert Hoover. 6 :8 name change to NAB, 5 :8, 6 :13, 46 :9. 62 :8 board meetings. 6 :13, 26 :8 Conference of State Presidents of Bestrs. Assns., 8 :4 American Heritage Foundation commends for get-out-and-vote promotion. 8 :12 radio board, 10 :5 convention, 12:16, 13:9 & 14, 14:1, 16:2 new officers, 15 :4, 26 :4, 61 :9 Society of Television Pioneers, 15:4, 21 :6 Freedom of Information, 16 :6, 48 :6, 60 :4 Edgar Kobak’s 22 suggestions for improving functions, 24 :14 TV circulation measurement plans, 25 :12, 38 :3 regional conferences, 34:6, 38:12 radio code symbols, 49 :9 viewing and advertising up from 1966, says year-end statement, 62 :8 NATIONAL BROADCASTING CO. (NBC) 1966 termed most successful year, 1 :9 “Impact Public Service” plan for 0-&-0, 2 :9 “War & Peace” opera kudos, 3 :8 local public service awards to be presented by 0-&-0 stations, 4:14 buys half of Hope Enteri>ri8ca, 6 :7 sells “Project 20” documentaries abroad, 6 :7 daytime TV sales, 7 :6, 13 :6. 39 :6 Robert W. Sarnoff story in ‘Business Week', 7 :8 “Home” show, 9:7, 21 :8 hwal co-op sales of network shows by affiliates in 1966. 9:9 ratings, 9:14, 46:6 partic. sales on “Today,” “Home” & "Tonight." 10:6 buys 26% of Cuban stations, 10:14 networks def1ne<l, defended by pres. SarnulT. 12:2 weekly newsletter to TV-radio editois, 14 ;6. 19:6. 42:6 5