Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

VOL 15: No. 31 11 Salt Lake & Minneapolis Sales: it’s presumed that Time Inc. has plans of “trading up” into larger markets, now that it has sold KTVT & KDYL Salt Lake City to Columbia Pictures for $3 million-plus (Vol. 15:30). Time Inc.’s last major upward move was when it acquired Bitner group in 1956 for $16,785,000 (WFBM-TV & WFBM Indianapolis, WOOD-TV & WOOD Grand Rapids, WTCNTV & WTCN Minneapolis) and disposed of KOB-TV & KOB Albuquerque (Vol. 12:51). To pave way for the KTVT-KDYL sale. Time Inc. recently bought up the 20% owned by mgr. G. Bennett Larson. Meanwhile, there’s been no official announcement of the sale of KMSP-TV Minneapolis by National Theatres to 20th Century-Fox, but it’s understood that a deal for more than $4 million is wrapped up. It would mean a good capital gains for National Theatres, whose National Telefilm Assoc, bought the station for $788,411 in 1957 (Vol. 13:34,47; 14:7). We can find no disposition at FCC to look askance at this entry into station ownership by the 2 movie producers. Justice Dept, has an anti-trust suit pending against Columbia Pictures’ subsidiary Screen Gems (and others), on charges of “block-booking” its film sales to stations, but it has been FCC’s practice to approve such station sales — conditioned on the outcome of the suits. TV’s Community Impact: NAB has released a special UP-Movietone-produced 30-minute documentary film, “In Focus,” for public relations use by its members to show how TV enriches lives of viewers in “a typical American city” — Binghamton. Narrated by NAB pres. Harold E. Fellows, the film uses clips from network & local programs shown on Gannett’s WINR-TV and Triangle’s WNBF-TV to demonstrate their wide-ranging services to viewers. Interspersed with these show samplings are shots of representative Binghamton citizens, all of whom attest to TV’s values. Included are mayor John Burns, library director Marcus Wright, Roberson Memorial Center director Keith Martin, housewife Shirley Walford, farmer Steve Juriga, factory worker Bucky Harris, art teacher Emily Forsythe. Production of “In Focus” was supervised by Donald N. Martin, formerly public relations asst, to Fellows, and NAB public relations staffer Stan Raiff. NAB TV members may buy the film for $55 plus shipping costs, rent it for 10 days for $17.50 plus shipping. — ■ Alabama’s New Uhf Outlet: wafg-tv (Ch. 3i) Huntsville began operation Aug. 1, planning to affiliate with ABC-TV as soon as line charges are settled. It’s the 3rd uhf in northern Ala., others being WMSL-TV (Ch. 23) Decatur, about 25 mi. away, and WOWL-TV (Ch. 15) Florence, approx. 60 mi. west. New starter changes operating total to 556 (86 uhf). WAFG-TV has 1-kw GPL Continental transmitter and 172-ft. U. S. Tower on Monte Sano Mt. Operating as Rocket City Television Inc., its principal owners are attorney James R. Cleary, chairman & 18.28% owner; John S. Gregory, pres. & 18.28%; cafeteria-operator Wharton K. Burgeen, 18.28%; farmer James E. Beasley Jr., 15.62%; realtor Robert M. Darby, 10.39%. John Higdon, ex-district operations mgr. for Capitol Air Lines, is gen. mgr. & 2.3% owner; pres. John S. Gregory also is program director; Ralph Robinson, ex-WBRC-TV Birmingham, operations mgi\ ; Lloyd W. Root, ex-WHIO-TV Dayton, chief engineer. Base hour is $165. Rep is Weed. Foreign U.S. Networks Down Under: Australia’s “open door” policy toward U.S. financial investment in its thriving TV industry has placed it at the head of countries with overseas TV investments by major U.S. bi’oadcasters. All 3 U.S. networks now have some degree of TV interest in the “downunder” Commonwealth. The latest indication of Australian interest is in the forthcoming “vacation” there of AB-PT pres. Leonard H. Goldenson, and ABC-TV pres. Oliver Treyz, who will be visiting The News Ltd. of Australia this month “with a possible eye to further investment.” ABC now owns a minority interest (50,000 shares bought several months ago for approximately $120,000) in The News Ltd., which owns NWS-TV Adelaide. NBC’s only known foreign station investment is a 10% interest in a station in Brisbane, Australia. However, the network is “involved with other stations in other countries,” but “for legal and governmental reasons,” will not disclose the locations, A1 Stern, NBC dir. of international operations told us. CBS, which has no known overseas station investments, is currently negotiating in Australia and South America, according to Howard L. Kany, dir. of international business relations for CBS-TV. He 4: ^ Australian TV will resemble the U.S. variety to a large extent this fall. Working through Charles Michelson, N.Y.-based buying agent, the Australian TV Inc. has purchased a total of 48 telefilm series — ranging from NBC’s brand-new Bonanza to ABC Films’ rerun Wire Service package — for telecasting this season— plus feature, cartoon, and news packages long familiar to U.S. viewers. The total number of U.S. programs destined for Australia approximates the seasonal output of any of the 3 U.S. networks (excluding specials). Russians have “bested” U.S. in field of color TV, Khrushchev claimed in the celebrated debate with Nixon — much of which was devoted to discussion of use of TV in U.S. & Russia for free interchange of ideas. Color-TV issue came up when Nixon told the Soviet Premier: “There are some instances where you may be ahead of us — for example, in the development of the thrust of your rockets for the investigation of outer space. There may be some instances in which we are ahead of you — in color TV, for instance.” Khrushchev shot back: “No, we are up with you on this too. We have bested you in one technique and also in the other.” Replied Nixon: “You see, you never concede anything.” Just before the rather heated exchange between the 2 statesmen, Khrushchev & Nixon briefly discussed the marvel of tape-recorded TV, Nixon specifically paying tribute to Ampex Corp. Khrushchev didn’t even claim the Russians were ahead in this field. Offering of 75,000 shares of British Industries Corp. (Garrard changers. Wharf edale speakers, other hi-fi equipment) common stock at $30 a share is being made through a group of underwriters headed by Emanuel, Deetjen & Co. With more than 26,500 spots transmitted in June 1959, British TV advertising for that month totaled over $12 million. Commercial programmer Associated Television reported profits for year ending April 30, 1959 with earnings of 814,886,180; $10,264,545 for the preceding year.