Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

OPERA PICKUP A NOBLE EXPERIMENT: Except for a few trade pressmen turned critics, and some barkeeps and barflies demanding the fights instead, most everyone seemed to agree that ABC-TV's historic telecast of Monday's Metropolitan Opera premiere (811:36 p.m.) was a noble first effort, a great technical achievement, a milestone for TV. That it commanded widespread attention and respect is manifest in the generally favorable front-page newspaper play it got and the surprising 42.3 Hooper it scored for the measured 8-10:45 p.m. period (59.8 out of the 70.8 sets in use). ’ Like Toscanini on NBC-TV (repeating for season's second time this Saturday evening), grand opera will have an eager and faithful following when done on TV — though ABC says there aren't any present plans to continue and Texaco isn't likely to spend another §20,000 for telecast facilities and extra-paid talent and stagecraftsmen. Not this season, anyhow. Most significant technical achievements were (1) use of infra-red "black light" in addition to normal stage lighting, which proved what Image Orthicon really can do, and (2) camera handling, which ABC engineering chief Frank Marx says proves TV can do a good job covering a legitimate show from a big theater. There were lots of "bugs," but the effort was a valiant one and pointed to achievable improvements. On the showmanship side, you can take your choice between such restrained but laudatory estimates as New York Timesman Jack Gould's; "...an exciting and rewarding achievement, the Verdi masterpiece being brought into untold hundreds of thousands of homes with a new and arresting quality of intimacy. . .view of 'Otello' that came into one's living room frequently was more detailed and more revealing than that obtained from a seat 'down front' in the Metropolitan auditorium." Or the Radio Daily critic's; "...ABC pickup of the Met opening. . .probably sovmded the death knell for grand opera as it is known' in this country. .. terrible overacting ...should be condensed to, say 90 minutes tops, and translated into English. .. should be done in a large studio built for tele..." Whatever else was said, ABC and Texaco scored a big A for effort, did something worth doing, made staionch friends for itself and for TV among people who count, big and little. If proof of the intensity of interest is needed, there's example of ABC's Washington outlet WMAL-TV, which didn't carry any of it because of a commitment for wrestling (beer sponsor simply wouldn't relinquish). Station got greatest voliame of protest in its AM or TV history — and few were satisfied with promise that a film-recording would be shown sometime later. •CBS BUYS mio SPORTS FOR TV: Officially announced this week was important deal long ^in making (Vol. 4:43) — doubly significant because of its long-range approach to problem of sports promoters' claims that telecasting cuts into attendance. CBS bought into Tournament of Champions Inc., big sports promotion outfit, to ensure getting major boxing and other sports on its TV network. It holds 25%. as do big talent agency Music Corp. of America and exploitation firm Allied Syndicates Inc. — plastics manufacturer George Kretz retaining 25% and presidency. CBS's Larry Lowman is v.p. ; MCA's Charles Miller, treasurer. Company will enter into other sports fields , including hockey, football, tennis, etc., even securing team fran'chises in New York and other cities. It's same outfit that handled Zale-Graziano and ZaleCerdan fights, is handling Robinson-Belloise bout from Jersey City Armory Dec. 9, to be sponsored by Ballantine on CBS-East. Noteworthy v;as Mr. Kletz's observation about quest for New York City arena; "Under our plan to tap the growing TV market, the size of the arena in which the bouts are held is not a prime factor. The boxing gate itself will be vastly increased by TV, radio and motion picture revenue, and the boxers v/ill cut into the bigger take." CBS, which owns about 5% of Madison Square Garden and holds exclusive TV rights to all events there but boxing (NBC), pro basketball (ABC), hockey (\\TIX), thus follows example of WFIL-TV, which owns Philadelphia Arena, and Chicago's WBKB, which puts on boxing from own Michigan City Arena. I On another sports front. Thoroughbred Racing Assn, meeting this week, held TV was okay for racetracks, each making own arrangement with local stations. It was disclosed Kentucky Derby telecasts on network in 1951 are already being planned with Churchill Downs directors .