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

12 Metwork TV*Badio Billings October 1951 and January-October 1951 (For September report, see Television Digest, Vol. 7:43) Though network tv bilUngs in October continued steep rise — going to $14,469,284 from September’s $11,925,51(3 — they failed to duplicate feat of surpassing month’s radio billings, first accomplished in September (Vol. 7:43). Ten months’ TV billings of the 4 networks were just shy of $100,000,000 — $99,854,288 — compared with $27,371,607 same 1950 period. Radio billings also showed sharp increase in October, rising to $14,966,436 from September’s $11,849,246, though down from $16,169,808 in October 1950. Worth noting is fact that all networks’ combined TV-radio billings in October was $29,435,720, considerably over the $22,611,250 year ago, while networks’ grand TV-radio total for first 10 months of 1951 reached $245,595,466 vs. $179,263,135 same 1950 period. The Publishers Information Bureau figures: NETWORK TELEVISION NBC - CBS ABC DuMont — . October 1951 $ 7,165,225 4,704,775 1,846,408 7.52,876 October 1950 $ 3,007,771 2,211,898 1,221,773 Jan.-Oct. 1951 $ 46,147,808 33,102,526 14,643,504 5,960,450 Jan.-Oct. 1950 $ 14,840,925 8,444,185 4,086,497 4> Total $14,469,284 $ 6,441,442 $ 99,854,288 $ 27,371,607 NETWORK RADIO CBS ... . $ 5,615,074 $ 6,676,037 $ 58,248,614 $ 57,744,701 NBC 4.411.380 4,945,307 45,662,244 51,293,402 ABC 3.180.514 3,013,938 27,209,667 29,431,370 MBS — 1,759,468 1,534,526 14,620,653 13,422,055 Total $14,966,436 $16,169,808 $145,741,178 $151,891,528 • Figures for 1950 not available. * « • * Following are network TV and radio figures for January thru October, asterisks indicating revisions from previously reported PIB figures: NETWORK TELEVISION 1951 ABC CBS DuM NBC Jan. $1,328,719 $2,601,165 $ 435,527 $4,187,222 Feb. 1,254,851 2,600,339 406,079 3,949,360 March 1,539,470 2,993,902 457,811 4,654,063 April ... 1,432,319 2,906,891 574,025 4,758,309 May . . 1,385,901 3,066,249 622,646 4,946,338 June 1,437,593 2,900,782 564,478 4,244,240 July 1,351,168 3,434,659 645,359 3,477,952 Aug. . . 1,444,593 3,734,551 763,071 3,359,856 Sept. 1,622,482 4,159,213* 738,578 5,405,243* Oct. _ 1,846,408 4,704,775 752,876 7,165,225 NETWORK RADIO 1951 ABC CBS MBS NBC Jan. $3,099,418 $6,833,626* $1,542,887 $5,215,947 Feb. 2,702,721 6,097,737* 1,426,705 4,731,626 March .. 2,891,339 6,793,966* 1,648,006 5,085,636 April . ... 2,930,183 6,487,717* 1,539,801 4,897,882 May 2,991,227 6,744,098* 1,510,818 5,329,752 June . . 2,720,268 6,201,963* 1,191,691 4,739,193 July .. 2,267,674 4,387,193* 1,347,841 3,728,687 Aug. 2,210,352 4,440,261* 1,329,375 3,808,906 Sept. 2,165,971 4,645,979* 1,324,061 3,713,235 Oct. .. .... 3,180,514 5,615,074 1,759,468 4,411,380 Total $ 8,552,633 8,210,629 9,645,246 9,671,544 10,021,134 9,147,093 8,909,138 9,302,071 11,925,516 14,469,284 Total $16,691,878 14,958,789 16,418,947 15,905,583 16,575,895 14,853,115 11,731,395 11,788,894 11,849,246 14,966,436 Note: These figures do not represent actual revenues to the networks, which do not divulge their actual net dollar incomes. They’re compiled by PIB on basis of one-time network rates, or before frequency or cash discounts. Therefore, in terms of dollars actually paid to networks they may be Inflated by as much as 40%. Figures are accepted by networks themselves, however, and by the industry generally, as a satisfactory index of comparisons and trends. Slated primarily for TV chores at Motion Picture Assn., though “no firm decision on the appointment has been reached yet,” is Edward Cooper, currently assistant to Senate Majority Leader McFarland. He would take over about Jan. 1. Newsman Cooper first came to Senate from Montana in 1939 with Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, served as communications staff assistant to Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee from then until he joined Sen. McFarland last January (Vol. 7:3). Eric Johnston is strengthening staff in preparation for return to job as MPA head after serving as ESA administrator, recently added Cecil Dickson, former coordinator of information of House. Baseball is stni llttle affected by tv, concluded researcher Jerry Jordan in third annual survey, reiterating his findings in previous studies (Vol. 6:19). In fact, report says regularly telecast major-league teams fared better than those restricting TV ; 9 clubs maintaining regular TV had total attendance increase of 234,169 last season (though 5 showed decreases); 7 teams restricting or banning TV showed 1,485,070 decline (5 showing losses). “These figui’es would offer substantial evidence of TV’s promotion value,” Mr. Jordan said, “except for the fact that the clubs televising consistently had a better performance record as a group. And performance ... is usually the major factor at the gate . . . Regular TV did not hurt the teams that were putting on an exciting performance, and eliminating or reducing it did not help the others.” TV cannot be major factor in continued sharp decline in minor-league attendance (20% from last year), he said, because less than 10% of the 400-odd teams are near enough to TV areas to be affected. He cited case of Wilkes-Barre club (non-TV area), which lost 50% in attendance while winning 2 straight pennants. He also pointed out that major-league clubs received $4,562,312 for TV rights (including World Series and AllStar game) in 1951, nearly equal to total National League gate receipts in biggest pre-war year (1940), and forecast much more TV income for baseball as new stations are built and theatre TV spreads. « * :it * Spectacular new remote-telecasting devices now being developed in RCA labs may some day make TV nearly as mobile and flexible as radio. NBC-TV technical operations v.p. Robert E. Shelby gave NBC affiliates convention at Boca Raton, Fla., glimpse into the future when he revealed work on: (1) Disaster mobile unit, with no external wire connections, carrying film developer, micVowave and projection equipment. (2) Flying boxcar, to carry “minimobile” TV transmitter near site of any event. Mobile unit would drive from plane to scene, relay picture directly to studio or to relay in plane. (3) Helicopter-borne TV camera and microwave for disasters, floods, sports events, etc. (4) Remote-controlled camera, operated electronically “like robot plane,” controlled from studio or theatre. Shelby said RCA laboratories are engaged in active developmental work on 2 new projects assigned by chairman David Sarnoff to his scientists (Vol. 7:39). “Magnalux,” electronic light amplifier, he said, would “provide comfortable, effortless viewing outdoors, even in sunlight.” “Videograph,” TV tape recorder, would permit stoi’ing of programs for re-use, with no deterioration in quality. Flurry of 7 TV Applications this week brought total pending to 460 of which 21 are uhf. Only uhf filed was from Texas oil man W. W. Lechner for Channel No. 35 in San Antonio. Other 6 were: WKYB, No. 6 in Paducah, Ky.; KEYD, No. 9, Minneapolis; KROC, No. 10, Rochester, Minn.; KECK, No. 7, Odessa, Tex.; KGBX, No. 3, Springfield, Mo.; KOPR, No. 4, Butte, Mont. [For further details, see TV Addenda 13-T herewith; for listing of all applicants to date, see TV Factbook No. IS and Addenda to date.] Stations can’t censor political speeches, regardless of State libel laws or anything else. Such was FCC’s pronouncement in renewing license of WDSU, New Orleans, this week. Action was prompted by Jan. 26, 1950 complaint of Alvin A. Cobb, mayoralty candidate whose speech station refused to carry unless certain “libelous and defamatory” portions were deleted. Commission said it was renewing WDSU’s license because action wasn’t “willful violation,” but from now on “we will not accept the plea of doubt and uncertainty in the state of the law . . .”