Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

6 EQUAL TIME on the air is becoming a shibboleth, almost to point of ludicrousness, as politicians scramble for free pre-convention TV-radio time. They’re even looking to FCC to help them as TV-radio people balk. Return of Gen. Eisenhower and the telecasting of his Pentagon press conference, his Abilene speech and his Abilene press conference brought matters to a head this week. Senators Taft and Kefauver have asked FCC to force networks to grant them equal TV-radio time with Ike— and former’s campaign headquarters made no bones about being irked with extreme lengths to which NBC-TV & CBS-TV went to get the special Abilene-to-Kansas City microwave relay installed (at cost of $30,000 or more, which they shared). FCC has taken usual course of asking networks to explain, but obviously doesn’t want to put itself in position of deciding what’s political. Foolishness of the “equality” rule is indicated (1) by fact that Taft, Kefauver and the other candidates have been getting more than their share of free time for months, while Eisenhower was abroad; and (2) fact that Commission has in effect ruled that one Wm. R. Schneider, a Republican “presidential candidate,” who polled some 600 votes in New Hampshire and Oregon primaries combined, is entitled to as much time as his “rivals”. At Taft’s first demand, the networks all stood up on hind legs and refused him a half-hour simulcast on a 6 p.m. hookup such as Eisenhower had from Abilene. Nor would CBS give Kefauver the half-hour immediately after Ike, on grounds the General’s homecoming was “news event” and not primarily a political speech. At Abilene, after big speech, question arose whether Ike’s first “political” press conference would be telecast. Faced with flat ban on live pickup by Ike’s campaign managers and bitter opposition of newsmen, who claimed “off-the-record” problem was insurmountable, CBS-TV crew (working with Omaha affiliate KMTV’s cameras) nevertheless set up in conference room and got green light from Ike himself. They’re still debating merits of such gigantic “Meet the Press” programs. Opinion generally was that Eisenhower handled himself well before cameras, especially at Pentagon press conference. Said New York Times’ Jack Gould: “Where the General appears to have the major edge over his rivals for the Presidency is in the quality of his delivery. Yesterday [at the Pentagon] there was an intuitive variation in the inflection of his voice as he moved from moments of light banter to moments of great earnestness. The timbre of his speaking voice is aurally pleasing and wears well.” That TV scored solid beat over radio and press at Pentagon conference, was noted by Variety. All 4 TV networks were there with pool of 3 cameras. Radio did not carry it, but did do good job of repeating recordings later (and to bigger night audiences). Variety described Eisenhower as “a forceful, quick-thinking speaker with conviction.” Consensus among observers, even those opposed to the Eisenhower candidacy, is that he’s very telegenic, will do well on TV provided he doesn’t “overstay his welcome” by too-frequent appearances (Vol. 8:21). PLEADING FOR SPEED, desperately needed, ABC and United Paramount Theatres on June 6 petitioned FCC to sever question of their merger from interminable Paramount hearing and to render final decision on it as soon as possible. Stating that all testimony affecting the two companies has been completed, ABC and UPT urged haste for these reasons: (1) Completion of whole Paramount hearing will take “many weeks, or even months.” Hearing is now in 6th month, has consumed 78 days and occupies 11,000-plus pages of testimony. (2) ABC continues in need of capital — to keep going and to expand. Terms of agreement with UPT prevent ABC from getting capital elsewhere. (3) Retention of ABC personnel is becoming increasingly difficult during period of uncertainty. (4) Delay of merger decision beyond August will handicap ABC not only in present operations but in obtaining crucial fall sponsorships — seriously harming ABC’s AM and TV affiliates as well as ABC itself. ABC and UPT claim that merger question was combined with Paramount hearing “not because of legal necessity or requirements but as matter of [FCC] convenience.” Dr. Allen B. DuMont returned to stand during this week’s hearing to state that he had no opinion on whether ABC-UPT merger would be good or bad. “It’s up to the Commission to decide,” he said. He was also cross-examined in connection with patents owned by old Scophony Corp., stated that he had no knowledge of Paramount’s alleged attempts to suppress Scophony’s TV patents. He also testified he still believes that TV system of Skiatron Corp., Scophony’s successor, lacks commercial utility. FCC’s last 2 witnesses were also heard — David G. Edwards, Salt Lake City theatre owner, and Judge George W. Latimer of U. S. Coui't of Military Appeals, who was counsel for Salt Lake City’s Joe Lawrence Theatres in 1941. Both testified that UPT president Leonard Goldenson, when with old Paramount Pictures Inc., threatened to withhold first-run pictures and to use “all the power” of Paramount — in unsuccessful effort to regain theatres owned by Lawrence. Personal Noles: Wm. S. Paley, CBS chairman, completes his job late this month as chairman of Materials Policy Commission, special board set up by President Truman to evaluate metals resources; Wm. Ackerman, director of CBS reference dept, on leave as secretary of Commission in Washington, is expected to return to CBS within month afterwards . . . Niles Trammell, NBC chairman, named head of TV-radio committee of the Advertising Council; Edgar Kobak heads promotion committee . . . Edward D. Madden, NBC-TV operations v.p., addresses American Marketing Assn, convention in Cincinnati June 17 on “TV — a Revolution in Marketing” . . . Frank B. Hand, ex-FCC attorney, and Daryal A. Myse, attorneyengineer formerly with Federal Power Commission, have formed law partnership to specialize in TV-radio practice, with headquarters in Transportation Bldg., Washington . . . Walt Dennis, ex-TV-radio director of Allied Stores, now commercial mgr., WILS, Lansing, Mich. . . . Peter Storer, son of George B. Storer, heads new promotionmerchandising dept., WJBK & WJBK-TV, Detroit . . . Sydney Eiges, NBC press-information v.p., elected president of N. Y. professional chapter, Sigma Delta Chi . . . Robert M. Banker, unit mgr. of Studio One, named CBSTV casting director, succeeding Robert Fryer, resigned to join NBC-TV . . . Wells (Ted) Church, acting director, named CBS Radio director of news & public affairs . . . Melvin A. Goldberg, DuMont research chief, on leave of absence to join State Dept, information office . . . Tom McManus named head of newly-established station relations dept., Telenews . . . Stanley C. Florsheim, eastern sales mgr., promoted to sales mgr., Frederic W. Ziv Co., headquartering in Cincinnati . . . Nicholas E. Keesely is TV-radio v.p.. Peter V. Keveson TV-radio copy chief & v.p., of newly formed Lennen & Newell Inc. . . . John E. Mosman, ex-Biow, named TV-radio v.p., Harry B. Cohen Adv. . . . Wilfred S. Roberts, ex-Pedlar & Ryan, joins TV dept., Benton & Bowles . . . Florence Warner, ex-CBS, joins Hutchins Adv. as public relations director, will work on promotion of Philco convention sponsorship . . . Norman Cash named sales mgr., WLW, Cincinnati, in separation of AM-TV sales; David Partridge is WLWT sales mgr.