Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1958)

i <1 I Wyatt Building • Washington 5, D. C. • Telephone Sterling 3-1755 • Vol. 14; No. 8 SUMMARYINDEX OF THE WEEK'S NEWS — February 22, 1958 GENERAL BUSINESS RECESSION'S impact on TV-radio timebuying still vague (p. 1). Digest of Wall St. Journal bearish report on advertising (p. 10). ANTI-SUBSCRIPTION-TV resolution approved by Senate Commerce Committee majority in contested vote; more hearings due. FCC again defers action (p. 2). ILLEGAL VHP BOOSTER problem in FCC's lap again, with reply comments in. Stations worry about bigstation invasion, uncontrolled interference (p. 3). "ETHICS IN GOVT." demand raised in Congress as Harris hearings unearth more big politicos who sought to influence FCC, other agencies (pp. 4 & 5). DOERFER GETS OVATION from NAB state broadcasters group as Fellows defends his "honor & integrity." Chairman warns of govt, control moves (p. 6). FCC MEMBERS LARGELY LAWYERS in past, few technical men. Since 1934 Act, 31 have been members, 10 now deceased. Most came from other govt, agencies (p. 8). NEBRASKA SATELLITE STARTS with higher power than parent KOTA-TV, Rapid City, S. D.; on-air total 532 (p. 8). FCC holds firm to Miami Ch. 6 allocation (p. 9). TREYZ ELECTED ABC-TV president as NBC chooses Sugg v.p. to succeed Denny as head of owned-stations and spot sales; other NBC changes (p. 16). Manufacturing-Distribution ANTI-TRUST INDICTMENT by N. Y. Federal Grand Jury strikes at heart of RCA patent practices, charging monopoly in foreign & domestic operations (pp. 1 & 15). REAR SEAT AUTO TVs COMING in near future. Delco makes 9 prototypes for Oldsmobile, which get good public reaction at auto shows (p. 12). STEREO'S PACE QUICKENS, component makers aiming to get stereo disc players to May Parts Show; finished goods makers aim at June shows (pp. 12 & 14). GE STAYS ON TOP of electronics field in Pentagon list of 100 biggest defense contractors (p. 13). BUSINESS RECEDES, TV-RADIO TOO? Downv/ard trend in business, generally, is conceded to be continuing this quarter — with inevitable impact on TV-radio time sales as well as sales of receiving sets. Haw extensive the impact, how long it will last, when the upswing will come, no one can rightly say yet — but a lot of reporting and talking are being done on the subject. Not much is very definite or conclusive. That TV-radio is affected by basic business trends, though perhaps less than many other enterprises, goes without saying. At the moment, we only know that at station management levels there are few signs of severe downturns, over-all; that networks and stations tell different stories about conditions, all adding up to the word "spotty"; that receiver sales were down in Jan. (Vol.l4;7). And, we might add, mere ballyhoo these days isn't very convincing. We hope soon to have a survey of our own on TV spot, key to the business. And we'd like to go along with our favorite business report. United Business Service, of Boston, which sees "bottoming out" of the general business recession this summer, hteanwhile, the bearish report on advertising in Feb. 19 Wall Street Journal, and the bullish comment on the condition of TV advertising by TvB pres. Norman E. Cash, are worth considering. We've digested them on p. 10. H ANTI-TRUST INDICTMENT AGAINST RCA: As if RCA didn't have enough patent worries, r Feb. 21 criminal indictment by N.Y. Federal grand jury leaves no doubt that Govt, h is out to break up its activities as industry's keeper of the patents, f Indictment filed in U.S. District Court for Southern N.Y. by grand jury which )' sat for almost a year charges 4 counts of violation of Sherman Anti-Trust Act (each ' carrying maximum |50,000 fine) and strikes at root of RCA's domestic and foreign