Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

16 Telecasting Notes: Kefauver telecasts proved that “vacuum cleaner” audience can be very considerable — New York AP report noting they depressed local retail trade 23 rf, requii-ed extra generators to handle increased power load, enjoyed 30,000,000 audience in 21 areas to which they were piped . . . Cost to industry of handling crime hearing telecasts was estimated at $75,000 — most stations keeping spot commercial schedules but hardpressed to relinquish shows; ABC-TV sponsor Time Inc. reported to have spent $200,000, regarding it as big bargain since “talent was free” . . . Several independent radio stations, including New York City-owned WNYC, New York WFDR (FM) and Pittsburgh WWSW, picked audio part of Kefauver Washington telecasts off the air and rebroadcast it by permission of DuMont Network . . . Rep. Keating (R-N. Y.) among fii'st to record films for fortnightly telecasts of reports to his constituency via WHAM-TV, Rochester . . . Easter throngs on Fifth Avenue, due to cold weather and TV, hit peak of only 550,000 to 600,000, as against traditional sunny Easter Day’s 1,000,000 to 1,500,000, according to New York Times . . . CBS has leased “spectacular” on 46th & Broadway fi’om Douglas Leigh Inc., will use giant animated electric sign for promotion of WCBS & WCBS-TV programs . . . Margaret Truman’s exclusive contract with NBC calls for 11 TV and radio appearances between now and June 1952, with option for 4-year renewal ... In line with growing exclusivity policies of networks, CBS signs Mary Sinclair, actress in 14 Studio One shows, calling it “approach to star system intended to recognize those talents that have matured within our own medium” . . . And NBC reports signing new long-term contract with Burr Tillstrom, creator of Kukla, Fran & Ollie . . . Independent WPIX, New York, now doing same sort of promotion that WOR did in its early days under A1 McCosker, building up local prestige as a non-network TV; last week’s New Yorker Magazine carried full-page WPIX ad listing 57 clients, products, agencies, comparing New York area’s total claimed 2,050,000 TVs (as of Jan. 1) to circulations of city’s 9 dailies. IT SURPRISED few in the industry when widely published newspaper reports, sparked by Variety March 28 item, revealed that ABC chairman Edward J. Noble had held conversations with IT&T chairman Sosthenes Behn looking to possible disposal of the network to that company in exchange for IT&T stock. Inquiry elicited admission from IT&T that there had been such conversations, but “no developments.” Over last 3 years, there have been reports that Mr. Noble would sell his majority holdings — first to 20th Century-Fox (offer reported $20,000,000, asking price $26,000,000), then at various times to Pai’amount and Mary Pickford. Nothing came of x’epoi'ted negotiations, it being indicated almost every time that buyers were more interested in ABC’s 5 TV stations in top 5 markets rather than network as a “package”. IT&T has sought to rival RCA in all-around radio fields ever since war forced disposal of many of its foreign telephone-radio properties. It sells transmitter equipment through Federal, TV-radio receivers through CapehartFaimsworth which it purchased last year (Vol. 6:7 et seq). But latter sold its AM station in Ft. Wayne, and IT&T last year sold only station it owned — in San Juan, P. R. ABC has been I’unning poor third among the 4 AM and 4 TV networks (see p. 2 & 1950 PIB figures, Vol. 7:3). Its earnings reports haven’t been very impressive over last few years — blamed mainly on high TV operating costs. But its 5 TV outlets and its 5 O&O broadcasting stations are reputed to be profitable, the former now especially on high road to share in telecasting’s fantastic growth (sec p. 1). Big league baseball will be telecast this season from the lots of all clubs save St. Louis Browns and Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates. Many a minor league club, too, will permit telecasts this year. In all cases, advertising sponsors will pay for rights as well as foot the telecasting costs. In some instances, only partial home schedules will be telecast, by agreement, presumably to whet attendance — also because stations couldn’t always clear time. Baseball is expected to prove boon to TV receiver market once again when season gets under way April 16. Here’s lineup of big league telecast schedules, stations, sponsors: AMERICAN LEAGUE — Boston Red Sox, 20 home day and night games rotated on WBZ-TV & WNAC-TV, also on WJAR-TV, Providence, sponsored by Atlantic Refining Co.; Chicago White Sox, 58 daytime games on WGNTV, American Vitamin Associates Inc.; Cleveland Indians, all home games on WXEL, Leisy Brewing Co.; Detroit Tigers, 35 games on WWJ-TV, Goebel Brewing Co.; New York Yankees, all home games divided between WABD & WPIX, P. Ballantine & Sons; Philadelphia Athletics, all home games divided among WPTZ, WCAU-TV & WFILTV, co-sponsored by Atlantic and Ballantine; Washington Senators, 21 games on WTTG, Heurich Brewing Co. NATIONAL LEAGUE — Boston Braves, all day, 14 night games rotated on WBZ-TV & WNAC-TV plus WJAR-TV, Ballantine; Brooklyn Dodgers, all home games on WOR-TV, Schaeffer Brewing Co.; Chicago Cubs, home games rotated on WGN-TV & WBKB, American Vitamin Associates sponsoring on WGN-TV only; Cincinnati Reds, 26 weekday and Sat. games on WCPO-TV & WHIO-TV, Dayton; New York Giants, all home games on WPIX, Chesterfield; Philadelphia Phillies, all home games rotated on WPTZ, WCAU-TV & WFIL-TV, Atlantic & Ballantine. Minor League clubs already reporting telecasts include Baltimore Orioles, Oklahoma Indians, San Francisco Seals, Los Angeles Angels. Last year’s gross income from operations was $45,879,660, compared to $40,267,488 in 1949, $37,110,726 in 1948, $35,955,004 in 1947. The 1950 profit was $84,605, up from 1949 deficit of $519,085. In 1948 earnings were $468,676, in 1947 they were $753,911. At end of 1950 earned sui’plus was $3,627,559. Notice of annual meeting April 12 lists Mr. Noble as largest stockholder, holding 901,667 out of 1,689,017 shares outstanding, with these other officer and director holdings: Earl E. Anderson, v.p., 8500; Robert E. Kintner, president, 7000; Mark Woods, vice chairman, 6500; Franklin S. Wood, director, 6000; Owen D. Young, honorary chairman, 5000; Wm. Zeckendorf, du’ector, 2000; C. Nicholas Priaulx, v.p., 1000. Officers’ 1950 salaries and fees included: Mark Woods, $75,000; Mr. Kintner, $58,333; Mr. Priaulx, $27,499; Paul Whiteman, v.p., $86,999. m * * * CBS officer-director stockholdings and salaries at end of 1950, as disclosed in notice of April 18 annual meeting; Wm. S. Paley, president, 88,510 shares of Class A stock, 223,500 Class B, $100,000 salary; Frank Stanton, president, 810 A, 3025 B, $100,000 salary, $51,597 bonus; Joseph H. Ream, executive v.p., 100 A, 100 B, $52,192 salary, $17,475 bonus; Edward Wallerstein, president Columbia Recoi'ds Inc. (resigned), no stock, $60,000 salary, $4421 bonus; Edward R. Murrow, director, no stock, $135,086 in fees, salaries, commissions. Other director stockholdings include: Isaac D. Levy, 31,826 Class A, 20,475 B; Leon Levy, 14,100 A, 40,900 B; Samuel Paley, 7000 A, 15,000 B; J. A. W. Inglehart, 3400 A, 1000 B.