Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

2 AUGUST 17, 1959 Most dramatic network billing gain will be by ABC, which expects day-night TV billings to be 23% higher in last quarter as compared with same period in 1958. NBC anticipates over-all gain of 10% and CBS is likely to score the same or higher. Direct comparison gives inaccurate image of sales ability, however, since latter 2 networks had much less unsold time on their hands last year than ABC. But ABC is now firmly in the big league. TV PROFIT PARADE LED BY POST-FREEZE GROUP: FCC's final audit of TV broad cast business last year discloses that 322 post-freeze vhf stations amassed before-income-tax profits of $21.3 million — nearly double the $10.8 million earned by same group (302 reporting) in downtrend 1957, when its total dropped from $16.4 million in 1956. Detailed data in FCC's full report on how TV did in 1958, released last week to supplement the preliminary statement issued in June (Vol. 15:25), also reveal that profits of 94 pre-freeze vhfs declined for 3rd straight year. They earned $75.8 million in 1958 vs. $82 million in 1957 and $89.7 million in 1956. These statistics stand out in audit of telecasters' first $1 billion-plus revenue year, in which profits of industry as whole rose 7.4% from 1957 to $171.9 million, while expenses mounted 9.6% to $858.1 million (see p. 4). For 3 networks and their 19 o-S-o stations alone, revenues from time, talent and program sales were $516.7 million — more than half of industry total. Their 1958 profits were $77 million — up 8.9% from 1957, while expenses climbed 10,7% to $439.7 million. Stark facts of life in uhf band are uncovered in FCC report, too. Total revenues of 401 post-freeze stations reached $249.7 million last year, vhfs contributing $223.6 million, increase of 19.4% from 1957. But i revenue balance of $26.1 million accoimted for by 79 uhf stations in group was down from $26.7 million a year earlier. It-could-be-worse consolation for uhfs: Their 1958 losses ($2.2 million) weren't nearly so bad as their 1957 red figures ($3.5 million). EQUAL-TIME REFORM CLEARED FOR HOUSE VOTE: Moving with unaccustomed i speed. House Commerce Committee Chairman Harris (D-Ark.) last week won quick clearance for floor action n on his bill (HR-7985) to reverse FCC's doctrine that political equal-time requirements apply to newscasts as m well as campaign speeches (Vol. 15:32). I Bill was placed on ready-agenda of House for debate & vote after Harris and 3 other Commerce : members, taking time out from participation in week-long floor hassle over labor legislation, went before ri Rules Committee Aug. 12 to get its go-ahead on equal-time revision. Earlier Harris had displayed no signs j, that he was in hurry to get decision on his measure — despite lateness of session. Action was tentatively set for Aug. 18 by House Democratic leader McCormack (D-Mass.), who :i marked amendments to Commimications Act's Sec. 315 on the day's order of legislative business. And im ii less unexpected opposition develops. House is expected to follow Senate's lead in voting to free broadcasters from at least some harassments under FCC's Lor Daly newscast ruling. Unlimited amendment of Harris bill is permitted under Rules Committee resolution providing for 3-hour ^ general debate on measure, which exempts newscasts, news interviews and on-spot coverage from Sec. 315. I Free-for-all on amendments could be stirred up in House, as it was in Senate, which removed panel shows from t exemptions urged by its Commerce Committee (Vol. 15:31). j Few questions about Harris bill were asked at Rules Committee hearing, however. In answer to one, j Harris said he thought his measure was broad enough as written to remove such panel programs as NBC-TV's 1 Meet the Press and CBS-TV's Face the Nation from Sec. 315 coverage. | Harris was supported at Rules hearing by Reps. Bennett (R-Mich.), ranking minority member of I Commerce Committee, Mack (D-Ill.) and Hemphill (D-S.C,). Floor amendments defining "qualified" candi i dates and cancelling all Sec. 315 exemptions 45 days before primary elections and 90 before general elections | are planned by Mack & Hemphill. • There were more equal-time rumblings on Senate side, meanwhile. Carrying on feud with CBS-TV i over its cancellation of Presidential hopeful Sen. Humphrey (D-Minn.) from Face the Nation (Vol. 15:30), Sen. ' McCarthy (D-Minn.) said network was playing favorites with Vice President Nixon, whose Russian trip was l featured in Aug. 9 special show. McCarthy complained that Nixon's appearance had "clear political bearing" ' on next year's Presidential campaign. And on its part CBS filed another equal-time document with FCC. This was reply to demand by Lar Daly himself for equal time to answer CBS Inc. pres. Frank Stanton's July 26 on-air editorial on equal time. No soap, said CBS. ii