Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)
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overall cost of entertainment, such as parking, expensive real estate, etc."
That last reason is what got the exhibitors. Film Daily's Chester Bahn editorialized: "What expensive real estate?" Then he told of one important circuit
operator who wondered "if perchance theatre real estate was meant."
"He was extremely serious, too." wrote Bahn.
Same exhibitor mused, according to Bahn: "Must be we're not in the motion
picture business; only the producers and Telemeter appear to be."
Brochure also anticipated struggle with other subscription TV systems, said that Telemeter is simpler, has no end-of-the-month billing problems, is "the only pay-as-you-see method of subscription TV."
Theatre TV is also talked down. "It calls for substitute products. . .fights, ball games, etc. on the theatre screen. Theatre TV must pass on to the public the present high overhead of operation..."
That Telemeter folk are working hard is evidenced by fact it has appointed Dr. Louis H. Ridenour, ex-chief scientist of the Air Force, director of engineering. Its Washington counsel is firm of Arnold, Fortas & Porter.
♦
Zenith's Phonevision appears to face tough technical hurdles — perhaps tougher than those of other systems, since it requires phone line to subscriber's home. Illinois Bell System officials have never been too happy about getting mixed up with system — fearing interference with phone service, worrying about jammed switchboards, wondering about billing and collecting, etc.
Zenith may also expect competitors to claim that Phonevision discriminates against people without phones.
♦ ♦ ♦ *
Skiatron hasn't yet asked FCC for permission to test its punchcard-operated system in homes, though officials have been to Hollywood recently, presiamably seeking top films. In meantime, it has an FCC authorization to conduct technical tests over WOR-TV, New York, for 60-day period started Oct. 16.
RCA remains complete dark horse. Some time back, it announced it had a system — then said no more about it. Whatever RCA's plans, you can be sure it will seek inside track on anything which could conceivably become important to TV.
* ♦ * *
Others interested in subscription TV include such disparate individuals as retired ad tycoon Raymond Rub i cam and James L. Wick, co-publisher of the Niles (0.) Times, Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) Herald, Bogulusa (La.) News, New Iberia (La.) Iberian.
Former supports Sen. Benton, another ex-advertising mogul, by writing in Nov. 3 Saturday Review of Literature : "Radio... has come nowhere near serving the
American people as well as it ought to have served them. I am convinced that a large part of the reason lies in the domination of radio by the advertisers." The cure, he says, lies in subscription TV and channels reserved for education.
Publisher Wick isn't concerned with sociology — just competition. He warned Oct. 16 meeting of Inland Daily Press Assn, in Chicago that "today, there is little local TV advertising," but when proper techniques are worked out, "you can imagine the volume of local advertising that will develop." He urged newspapers to lobby for subscription and theatre TV to forestall "the horrible punishment inflicted by TV upon some motion picture theatres in TV cities."
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When FCC begins theatre hearing, scheduled for Feb. 26, subscription TV could possibly be consolidated with it. One commissioner thinks theatre TV "might be cleaned up in a week." Others say "months — it's another color TV hearing."
First Sylvania Awards in TV fields (bronze and crystal plaques designed by Norman Bel Geddes) omitted “grand award” because judges found no program measuring up to its concept of “truly outstanding entertainment” — but other grants went to: WPIX, New York, for coordinating pool carrying Kefauver hearing telecasts; WDSUTV, New Orleans, first to carry Kefauver telecasts; Meet
the Press, best public service program; Zoo Parade, best program suitable for children; Your Show of Shows, best revue, along with Max Liebman as best director, and Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca as best actor and actress; John Daly, for excellence as moderator; Fireside Theatre, best use of film on TV, along with its director Frank Wisbar and writer Arnold Belgard.