Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1950)

12 Telecasting Notes: tv is called the “fen-eatest door bell-ring-er of them all” in Nov. 8 Variety, reporting that TV and radio not only emerged from recent election campaigns as “the most important media for the candidates’ slugging, but they also cornered a large poi'tion of the politicos’ ad budgets” . . . Combined take of broadcastersteiecasters in New York State alone is estimated at $500,000, in New York City upwards of $235,000, and Democratic National Committee, in report filed Nov. 6, stated it had spent $55,391 on TV broadcasting . . . President Truman’s political hookup for Nov. 4 simulcast cost $132,COO. of which about $79,000 went for 1140 radio stations, $53,000 for 72 TV stations . . . Biggest “rave” of current TV programming is Jimmy Durante, who made debut Nov. 1 on Motorola’s 4 Star Revue on NBC-TV; everyone agrees he’s the most refreshing new star of the day, who wisely won’t overwork his welcome, appearing only once every 4 weeks . . . New network affiliation (probably DuMont, since ABC and NBC have own local outlets) is due when and if Los Angeles Tmes-controlled KTTV, 49% owned by CBS, severs affiliation with that network. It’s now learned CBS bid for TV part of $12,320,000 “package” sale of Don Lee properties (Vol. 6:42) will nin better than $3,000,000 for KTSL; transfer subject to FCC approval . . . Cleveland Indians’ 77 home games will again be telecast via WXEL next season (Leisy’s Brewing Co., sponsor), club’s management being convinced TV did not cut into attendance this year . . . Fan magazine Radio & Television Best will appear on newsstands in February as TV Screen Magazine . . . Baseball is hottest thing on TV in Havana currently, reports Union Radio TV, with police handling crowds of people before store windows exhibiting receivers . . . Mrs. D. Leigh Colvin, president of Women’s Christian Temperance Union, broke into headlines Nov. 9-10 with criticism of Schlitz sponsorship of Pulitzer Prize Playhoti.se on ABC-TV, charging Columbia U with “behind the scenes cooperation” in “a scheme of education for alcoholism.” Schlitz paid Columbia U $100,000 for rights . . . WDTV, Pittsburgh, raised base rate Nov. 1 from $450 to $600, and 1-min. from $75 to $100 . . . KDYL-TV, Salt Lake City, has raised rates from $200 to $250, and from $30 to $40 . . . KTLA, Los Angeles, Nov. 15 raises base rate from $750 to $1000; 1-min., from $125 to $175. . . ABC-TV network rate Jan. 1, 1951, goes up from present $24,800 to $25,975. NBC-TV is also revising rates, but they aren’t available yet. Aplication for experimental TV on vhf channels 3, 6 & 10 in Portland, Ore. has been made by Northwest Television & Broadcasting Co. — of which electronics engineer Lloyd E. Parsons is one of principals. Parsons last year asked FCC to okay setup whereby he meant to pick up Seattle’s KING-TV, feed programs to his Astoria, Ore. neighbors. FCC turned him down early this year (Vol. 6:8). Reasons for picking vhf channels, application states, is to test propagation in mountainous Pacific Northwest. [Fo» details about application, see TV Addenda ll-R.I First theatre-TV arrangement with network took place this week, when NBC-TV and sponsor agreed to permit Camel Newsreel Caravan (Mon. thru Fri., 7:45-8) to be picked up off air, projected on screens of Century Circuit’s Marine Theatre in Brooklyn and Queens Theatre in Long Island. Two-week experiment starts Nov. 13. Commercials will be carried. TV newsreel will be run in both theatres in lieu of regular newsreel. ^lore Nov. 1 sets-in-use, reported since NBC Research’s “census” of Oct. 1 (Vol. 6:42): Cleveland 349,319, up 34,319; St. Louis 206,500, up 21,500; Washington 188,685, up 14,100; Pittsburgh 160,000, up 15,000; Kansas City 73,566, up 11,965; Omaha 44,666 (Nov. 6), up 9,266; Louisville 60,250, up 7,850. First comment on FCCs proposal to limit hours stations in markets with less than 4 outlets can take from single network (Vol. 6:42) came from Norfolk’s WTARTV. Manager Campbell Arnoux claimed proposal was against FCC policy that programs were sole responsibility of management. Storer stations asked for postponement of comments deadline from Nov. 13 to Nov. 24. Although rumors were rife networks were getting together to compromise AT&T intercity circuit allocation, and thus eliminate need for Nov. 20 FCC hearing, check with responsible network officials failed to confirm report. To the list of those appearing at Nov. 20 hearing (Vol. 6:44) can be added ABC. TV’s rapid gobbling up of New York theatre space has become so impressive it prompted editorial in New York Times gently decrying passage of legitimate theatres from stage shows to telecasts. Theatre real estate activity was compared by Gordon Allison in Oct. 7 New York Times to the 1930s when movie houses were crowding out theatres in Broadway sector. NBC now has Hudson, International, Center theatres. CBS has Mansfield, Maxine Elliott, Hammerstein, New Yorker, Town, Lincoln Square (latter 2 were film houses), Liederkranz Hall (former music hall). Peace House (as arena). ABC has Ritz, Vanderbilt and 58th Street. DuMont has Adelphi and Ambassador theatres (latter was film house). WOR-TV has New Amsterdam Roof. Did TV elect Dewey? New York Herald Tribune comments editorially that thousands believe Dewey was reelected “because he is a good television man,” speculates that Dewey’s TV technique may strongly influence future political campaigns. Newspaper sees video influence bringing back old-style “cracker-barrel” campaigning, with candidates discussing issues face-to-face with opponents and voters. Critic John Crosby calls Dewey first man to exploit TV’s political potential properly, applauds N.Y. governor’s relaxed, informal attitude during 18-hour Nov. 6 video stint via WOR-TV. NBC is studying Hollywood facilities in preparation for early 1952 transcontinental link, hasn’t made up mind whether to buy or build new plant, according to president Joseph H. McConnell at Los Angeles press conference where he introduced new western div. v.p. John K. West. Among plans is one for production of motion picture films for TV, as well as facilities for live productions, he said. There are more sponsors in network TV than in radio — 142 vs. 129, accoi’ding to latest edition of Factuary, published by Executives Radio-TV Service, Larchmont, N. Y. It lists 162 TV programs on networks, compared with .78 last fall. Radio sponsors have 207 programs on networks vs. 226 this time last year. Sharper telecasting of films is possible with its new mercury vapor lamp, claims Westinghouse. Use of new lamp in station projectors is said to produce better contrast and gray shadings. It consumes 800 watts, gives light %th as bright as the sun with an arc %-in. long, has life expectancy of 600 hours. TBA’s annual TV Clinic will be held Dec. 8 in New York’s Waldorf-Astoria with WOR-TV’s Eugene S. Thomas as chairman. 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