Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1958)

8 Baseball TV — New Inning: Taken aback by ovei’whelming House passage of baseball TV “blackout” bill (Vol. 14:26), NAB will make determined pitch against antitrust exemptions for pro sports when Senate Judiciary Committee opens extensive — and perhaps indecisive — hearings on legislation next week. Powerful battery of Senate support for House-voted exemptions, permitting major baseball clubs to restrict game telecasts without running afoul of monopoly laws, was lined up. But Chairman Kefauver (D-Tenn.) of antimonopoly subcommittee, scheduling go-slow sessions starting July 9, promised full hearings for all sides of issue, including NAB's. And proponents of measure (chiefly spokesmen for organized baseball) will be working against midAug. deadline for adjournment of Congress. This could leave measure on legisla,tive base where it can’t reach Senate floor in time for vote this year. NAB’s opposition to bill, formally voted at June board meeting in Washington (Vol. 14:25), will be based on “public’s interest” in continued free telecasting of games on unrestricted basis. Also to be heard in hearings, following lead-off baseball witnesses: FCC, FTC, Justice Dept. Govt, agencies haven’t been heard on sweeping provisions of Keating-Walter-Miller-Harris bill. Kefauver himself favors terms of bill (HR-10378) sponsored by Rep. Celler (D-N. Y.) and recommended by House Judiciary Committee, which was rejected by House. It would authorize baseball clubs to make “reasonably necessary” TV rules to protect minor game gates, but would withhold blanket anti-trust exemptions from pro sports. Celler version also is opposed by NAB. Companion Keating-Walter-Miller-Harris Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Hennings (D-Mo.), has 25 bipartisan cosigners— including Sens. Bricker (R-0.), Bridges (RN. H.), Capehart (R-Ind.), Douglas (D-Ill.), Humphrey (D-Minn.), Goldwater (R-Ariz.), Ives (R-N.Y.), Kennedy (D-Mass.), Saltonstall (R-Mass.), Symington (D-Mo.), Potter (R-Mich.). Network Television Billings May 1958 and January-May 1958 ( For April report see Television Digest, Vol. 14:24) '^TETWORK BILLINGS continued to rise in May, but at ^ a slackening rate, putting first 5 months of 1958 total 13.3% ahead of corresponding 1957 period. ABC again showed biggest percentage gain, with NBC well up. CBS maintained its No. 1 position. Complete TvB report for May: NETWORK TELEVISION May May % Jan.-May Jan. -May % 1958 1957 Change 1958 1957 Change ABC ... $ 8,477,755 $ 7,258,807 -fl6,8 $ 44,230,215 $ 33,681.510 -f31.3 CBS .. . 20,970,022 20,307,762 3.3 104,314,359 98,405,595 -f 6.0 NBC _.. 18,470,368 15,811,033 -fl6.8 90,757,770 79,052,967 -fl4.8 ToUl $47,918,145 $43,377,602 -)-10.5 $239,302,344 $211,140,072 -fl3.3 1958 NETWORK TELEVISION TOTALS BY MONTHS ABC CBS NBC Total January $9,168,609 $22,094,015 $18,344,111 $49,606,735 February 8,441,988 19,410,741 16,785,315' 44,638,044 March 9,402,407 21,211,070 18,874,597 49,488,074 April* 8,739,456 20,628,511 18,283,379 47.651,346* May 8,477,755 20,970,022 18,470,368 47,918,145 •Figures revised as of July 1, 1958. Note: These figures do not represent actual revenues to the networks, which do not divulge their actual net dollar incomes. They’re compiled by Broadcast Advertising Reports (BAR) and Leading National Advertisers (LNA) for TV Bureau of Advertising (TvB) on basis of one-time network rates, or before frequency or cash discounts. Post" 48 Filin Fight Lost? Battle by theatre owners and most major movie studios to keep post-1948 features off TV screens (Vol. 14:21) “has already been lost,” July 2 Variety concludes, counting 85 “new” films shown in May by Ni Y. stations alone. “Certainly it can no longer be argued that TV viewers get to see only ‘old’ films,” says show-biz weekly, ticking off TV-released titles ranging from “The Iroquois Trail” (1950) to “Black Rider” (1956). May TV screenings included score of British-made movies, “quite a few” from Republic, which has bucked “Hold the Line at ’49” drive by Hollywood. The editors also wrote off proposal by N.Y.-N.J. movie circuit owner Walter Reade, leader in anti-TV campaign (Vol. 14:6), for licensing by producers of post-1948 features to non-profit organization which would control TV sales. They summarized reaction to Reade plan within industry: “It’s okay in theory, but we can’t see it working out in practice.” In other movie-TV developments: (1) United Artists filed SEC registration for sale of 300,000 common stock shares (valued at around $6,500,000 at present market quotes), proceeds from 200,000 to be used for such UA enterprises as TV film production. (2) Guild Films made deal with Television Industries Inc., formerly C&C TV Corp., to eliminate $6,525,000 debt of latter by exchange of TV time spots; debt originally was contracted by purchase of 1100 shorts, foreign rights to Minute of Prayer from Guild. (3) ABC Film Syndication pres. George T. Shupert reported sales for first 1958 half were up 57.3% from year earlier, predicted 90-100% increase by end of this year. ■ Mitchell Wolfson, chief owner of WTV.T, Miami, past pres, of Theatre Owners of America, named honorary chairman for second year of TOA’s next annual convention, to be held again in Miami Beach’s Americana Hotel, Oct. 21-25. Co-chairmen are Sumner Redstone, Boston; S. L. Gillette, Salt Lake City; J. B. Schuyler, Butler, Wis. Add agency mergers: (1) Fletcher D. Richards Inc., N. Y., buys Brooks, Smith, French & Dorrance of the Pacific Coast Inc., San Francisco, Richards to operate it as Harris, Harlan, Wood div. with King Harris as pres.. Ridge Harlan v. p. & creative director, Parker Wood v. p. & marketing director. Richards also maintains Harrington, Richards & Morgan Los Angeles div., from which pres. Eugene I. Harrington resigned to join Honig-Cooper & Minor, San Francisco, as chairman. (2) Seklemian & North, N. Y., merges with Calkins & Holden, N. Y. Walter H. Lurie, v. p. & TV-radio director of Seklemian, becomes a Calkins v. p. (3) Banning & Co., Los Angeles, merges with Reach, McClinton & Co., N. Y. & Los Angeles. (4) Lennen & Newell, N. Y., acquires Merchandising Factors Inc., San Francisco, which also has San Carlos, Cal. & Seattle offices. Curbs on triple-spotting — local practice which has been protested by Assn, of National Advertisers (Vol. 14:25)— are being imposed on affiliated stations by CBS-TV in new “full value” amendment written into contracts. More than 100 affiliates already have agreed to attest that CBS-TV programs are broadcast in “entirety” including commercials, credits & network identification. NBC-TV will consider action on multiple-spotting problem at .■X.ug. affiliates board meeting. ABC-TV is considering rewording one clause in its contracts, but plans no major amendment.