Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

5 SIMULCASTS will be favored wherever TV is used by Republican National Committee in current presidential campaign, with “flexible budget” for TV-radio combined revealed by publicity director Robert Humphreys at “between .$1,800,000 and $2,000,000.” Democratic headquarters, on other hand, plans to use TV and/or radio, as strategy dictates, according to radio chief Ken Fry — and budget is expected to be as large as GOP’s, if not larger. GOP budget includes air time, films, talent displacements, etc., some of funds coming from affiliated organizations such as Young Republicans and local groups. Ad agencies ai’e Kudner and BBDO; latter handled GOP’s placements in 1948, v/as asked by Kudner this week to lend a hand and will have Bruce Barton on the job. Kudner estimates half-hour simulcast will cost $50-65,000, more if time is preempted. Eisenhower & Nixon are booked for 15-20 simulcasts thus far. There will also be tie-ins with Senatorial and Congressional campaigns by means of film and tape cut-ins or split-screen technique. “Plenty of TV-radio spots,” were also promised by GOP publicity chief, who obviously is emphasizing TVradio. He has undertaken to handle network-agency dealings himself — despite lack of experience in that field — while TV-radio director Edward T. Ingle concentrates on speakers bureau. BBDO is expected to place most if not all national TV-radio time. Telecasting Notes: Arthur Godfrey this season will total 5 hours per week on CBS-TV, ZVz hours daytime. His Talent Scouts resumes Sept. 1, Mon. 8:30-9 p.m., sponsored by Lipton; Arthur Godfrey & His Friends, Sept. 3, Wed. 8-9 p.m., sponsored alternately by Toni & Pillsbury Mills 8-8:30, by Chesterfield 8:30-9; Arthur Godfrey Time, Mon. & Wed. 10:15-11 a.m., Tue. & Thu. 10-11, sponsored by Frigidaire, Owens-Corning Fiber Glass, French Sardine Co., Lever Bros., Pillsbury . . . Daily serial drama will be carried as 15-min. segment of Kate Smith Hour on NBCTV when it resumes Sept. 8, Mon.-thru-Fri., 4-5 p.m. ; it will deal with family life in small town, and titled The House in the Garden . . . Ted Granik’s Youth Wants to Know (NBC-TV, Wed. 8-8:30 p.m.) wins American Legion’s first annual TV award; Legion’s “Mike” awards, based on poll of members, went in TV class to CBS’s I Love Lucy, Strike It Rich & Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, in radio to Talent Scouts & Dr. Christian and to -NBC’s Cavalcade of America . . . Metropolitan Opera’s usual oneshot telecast not slated this season on ABC-TV, though Sat. 2 p.m. Texaco broadcasts will again be heard on ABC from Nov. 29, thru Kudner . . . Bishop Sheen, returning to DuMont Nov. 11, may be sponsored this time, proceeds to go into his multi-denominational “Mission Humanity” fund, according to Variety . . . First nuptial mass on TV was celebrated in Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese via WBZ-TV by Archbishop Cushing Aug. 24 . . . BBC planning four 30-minute TV films showing preparations for Coronation, for sale in U. S. markets as well as Canada; project is said to be forerunner of new BBC “overseas film TV program” . . . Degree in TV-radio being offered by U of Texas; its TV workshop, under E. R. Norris, is installing complete closed-circuit facilities, and students will also work in Austin’s 2 new TV stations . . . CBS’s Television City, Hollywood, now 85% complete, with some operations due to start this fall . . . TV station compensation structure will be upset by ABC-United Paramount merger, says Sponsor Magazine; “with $30,000,000 dropped into ABC till, ABC is expected to make strong bid for more affiliates,” offering better affiliation deals than other networks . . . More Sept. 1 rate increases to add to those reported last week (Vol. 8:34): KTTV, Los Angeles, raises Class A hour rate from $1000 to $1200, one-min. from $210 to $240; WSPD-TV, Toledo, hour from $600 to $700, one-min. from First simulcast for Eisenhower will be on NBC Sept. 4 from Philadelphia, 9:30-10 p.m. EDT, officially opening campaign (cost: $30,500 for TV time, $16,000 for radio). Next comes radio-only from Kasson, Minn. Sept. 6 on selected ABC & NBC stations, 12-12:30 p.m. CST, rebroadcast via transcriptions Sept. 8 on Keystone network over 525-550 stations in farm areas; then, radio only Sept. 9 on total of 514 ABC & NBC stations from Indianapolis, 9:30-10 p.m. CDT. Democrats have Gov. Stevenson on CBS-TV, no radio, Labor Day from Detroit, 1-1:30 p.m. EDT; President Truman same day on CBS, radio only, from Milwaukee, 10:3011 p.m. EDT; Gov. Stevenson Sept. 5 in simulcast on ABC from Denver, 9-9:30 p.m. EDT. Also on Stevenson agenda is Sept. 6 NBC radio broadcast from Kasson, Minn., on delayed basis, 9 p.m., and simulcast on CBS Sept. 9 from San Francisco, 10:30-11 p.m. That’s as much schedule as they’ll disclose at this time, though it’s also known the Democrats have tied up CBS-NBC networks for simulcasts election eve, Nov. 3, from 10:30-11 p.m. EST. GOP bought 10-10:30, but may now switch to 11-11:30. Notec In 1948 campaign, when there were few TV stations, Republican National Committee spent $650,000 on radio, $10,000 on TV; Democrats spent $750,000 on radio, $15,000 on TV. $120 to $140 . . . Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) releases first of its 26 half-hour films, produced at Family Films Inc. in Hollywood at cost of $500,000, to TV stations in 19 cities week of Sept. 7 ; titled This Is the Life, series covers life of “a typical Christian family” . . . United Nations general assembly sessions will be telecast on NBC-TV 11-noon daily starting Tuesday, Oct. 14; CBS-TV will also cover but hasn’t announced schedule . . . CBS-TV Pacific Network for sponsorships “tailored to a western audience” announced by gen. mgr. Wilbur Evans . . . ABC’s owned-&-operated stations may drop own spot sales rep, with Petry taking over WJZ & WJZ-TV, KECA & KECA-TV, KGO & KGO-TV; Blair handling W'ENR & WENR-TV, WXYZ & WXYZ-TV. Integration of TV-radio executives, staffs and functions has about been completed at NBC (Vol. 8:25). — and next major policy step will be new network radio rate structure, expected shortly after Labor Day. How NBC cuts will compare with new CBS discount structure (Vol. 8:33), isn’t indicated yet, nor have ABC and MBS revealed their new cards. CBS explains daytime increases, night decreases by way of discounts, in brochure sent to advertisers and agencies last week. New rates went into effect Aug. 25, approved by most affiliates, but reports were current, unverified, that 50-kw WJR, Detroit, and WGAR, Cleveland, were contemplating withdrawal from network rather than accept; and that these other stations have not accepted: KRNT, Des Moines, and WNAX, Yankton, S. D. (Cowles); WNOX, Knoxville; KCBQ, San Diego. NARTB challenged educational CPs granted institutions which haven’t made adequate financial showing (Vol. 8:30,33) by petitioning FCC this week to reconsider its Channel 8 grant to Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kan. NARTB president Harold Fellows stated: “In no way is our petition in opposition to the grant to Kansas State College, but instead is expressing opposition to the manner and method of the handling of the grant by the FCC.” NARTB contends FCC has violated Communications Act and its own rules wrhich require applicant to prove financial ability to construct and operate station. Roy W. McLaughlin, 57, ABC spot sales mgr. in Chicago, ex-mgr. of WENR-TV, died Aug. 24 after long illness.