Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

10 JUNE 22, 1959 Canadian TV applications scheduled for July 7-9 hearing by Board of Broadcast Governors are: CKPG Television Ltd., Aurora TV Ltd. and W. G. Crockett, competitors for Ch. 3 in Prince George, B.C.; CKSA Television Ltd. for Ch. 2 in Lloydminster, Alta.; La Television de la Bale des Chaleurs Inc. for Ch. 12 in New Carlisle, Que. Also to be considered are applications for Ch. 7 satellite in New Glasgow, N.S. by CFCY-TV, Charlottetown, P.E. L, as well as following 4 Manitoba satellite applications by CKX-TV Brandon, Man.: Ch. 6 in The Pas, Ch. 10 in Swan River, Ch. 3 in Flin Flon, Ch. 8 in Moon Lake. Request to boost power to 62-kw by CJON-TV (Ch. 6) St. John’s, Newfoundland, also is on agenda. Equipment shipments: RCA — shipped superturnstile antenna June 9 to WSAZ-TV (Ch. 3) Savannah, planning boost to 100-kw; 25-kw amplifier May 20 to WEDU (Ch. 3, educational) Tampa, planning boost to 56.2-kw; superturnstile antenna May 4 to WGR-TV (Ch. 2) Buffalo, planning move to 700-ft. tower at new site. GE — 5-kw transmitter and microwave equipment June 2 to KTVI (Ch. 2) St. Louis, planning move to 1000-ft. tower at new site in Sappington, Mo. (4-bay batwing antenna was shipped May 20); 1-kw transmitter May 25 to KHTV Portland, planning to reactivate Ch. 27 there. Another step in TvB’s push to “sell TV via TV’’ was taken last week when members received a series of 13 animated film spots with the theme “People Are Sold on Television.” The Bureau’s on-the-air image drive began last Nov. and member stations have contributed more than $5 million in time to the project. The current package of spots includes a 20-sec. announcement showing the increase in summer viewing this year over last and a 10-sec. spot pointing out that 84% of the U.S. population see TV each day. The Wexton Co. is agency for the campaign. Local specials are worth it, concludes Sponsor in a case-history of a one-time splurge produced & telecast recently by KMOX-TV St. Louis for the Community Federal Savings & Loan Co. The filmed TV special cost the sponsor $15,775, approximately the price of a planned roto section, and produced immediate & long-range institutional & sales benefits. As the sponsor’s pres. John H. Armbruster put it: “Above & beyond dollar gains, we have attained stature in the minds of thousands.” Meeting newspaper strike in St. Louis, now 2 weeks old, TvB retail-sales v.p. Howard P. Abrahams, last week urged ad mgrs. of St. Louis retail & department stores to use TV in the “advertising emergency.” He also sent a storyboard showing retailers hov/ to translate print media elements into TV commercials, using slides & offcamera voice. “We believe,” said Abrahams, “that an examination of this technique will put you on the right road for effective TV preparation.” Question of diligence in prosecution of the CP held by KSOO-TV (Ch. 13) Sioux Falls, S.D. was raised last week by the FCC in designating for hearing the application of the grantee for additional time to build. The grant was made July 1957. Also questioned was a stock option agreement held by the owners of WDAY-TV (Ch. 6) Fargo, N.D. which would give them control of KSOO-TV & KSOO. Sale of “Jacksonville Journal,” owner of off-air WJHPTV (Ch. 36) Jacksonville, Fla. to the publishers of the Jacksonville Times-Union for an undisclosed amount was announced last week. The newspaper is owned by John H. Perry interests, which also own WESH-TV (Ch. 2) Daytona Beach and 40% of radio WNDB there. Auxiliary Services TELEMETER REJECTS FCC TEST: Paramount-owned International Telemeter doesn’t “presently contemplate” an on-the-air pay-TV test as authorized by the FCC, but instead will rely on closed circuit because it’s “more economic.” That was the gist of a 5-page statement by Telemeter pres. Louis A. Novins, read at a press conference in Los Angeles last week. Novins went into great detail to explain that broadcast pay TV would be more costly because of time charges, availability of multi-channel closed-circuit equipment and existence of pre-wired CATV systems. He conceded, however, that “at a certain point of saturation in a large market, the economics of a broadcast system can be more favorable,” and added that “Telemeter’s broadcast system is prepared for that eventuality.” Simultaneous announcement by Trans Canada Telemeter Ltd., div. of Famous Players Canadian Corp. (Paramount’s Canadian affiliate) stated that Toronto suburb Etobicoke would get the first Telemeter system. “Starting with more than 70 miles of TV cable, with a potential of 13,000 homes, the system will be readily expandable to serve 40,000 homes in the west Toronto area,” said the announcement. “It is planned that at least 5000 home units will be installed next fall & winter.” Initial investment by Famous Players was said to be about $1.25 million. Continued Novins: “We are actually considering a study & ai’rangements for a choice of locations for Telemeter in the U.S.” Said Telemeter v.p. Paul MacNamara: “We are manufacturing coin boxes at a considerable investment. I can’t say how many are in production; we expect 10,000 by the end of the year.” When we asked if Telemeter would finance wiring of cities such as Los Angeles, the reply was emphatically no — that “entrepeneurs” would provide such financing, that Telemeter would provide the service, technical facilities, knowhow and programming. Novins estimated it would cost about $100 a home for original wiring. “As we see it, it would be a local operation financed by local people. They would put up the money for the cost of wiring — we would do the rest,” said Novins. Also mentioned were the possibilities of tie-ins with the telephone company & CATV. When Novins was pressed for facts regarding Telemeter operations in the U.S., he replied that “deals are now in negotiation. We are deeply involved in programs of national significance.” There was an indirect swipe against rival Skiatron with the remark, “We don’t want any bluesky talk about giving you the Bolshoi Ballet, the Giants or the Dodgers.” Novins also criticized the Bartlesville, Okla., pay-TV test which failed, in his opinion, because “they charged a flat rate for a block of pictures. We don’t believe entertainment can be sold on a block basis. The public is entitled to its choice. Also, at Bartlesville they confined their programming to movies. That was a mistake. V/hy didn’t they put on the Oklahoma football team games ?” When we asked him about Telemeter’s Palm Springs test of 5 years ago, Novins blamed its troubles on a Palm Springs drive-in theater operator who he said complained to the Govt., alleging that companies other than Paramount wouldn’t supply movies. He added that the test “was never intended on a continuing basis,” and the facilities used then are now “obsolete.” He also read a statement from Paramount pres. Barney Balaban on studio policy toward pay TV: “We will