Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

3 Then the CBS-Hytron tube got plenty of attention, after what New York Times' Jack Gould termed its "dramatic comeback" from week before. Notably absent among receiver demonstrators was DuMont. We asked Dr. DuMont why. "We'll show a big picture when we show," said the man who pioneered big tubes in the early days of black-&-white . "These pictures," he added, "are no bigger than our old 12%-in." Asked about CBS-Hytron tube, he said there's no question about its potential for cutting costs in mass production — but he didn't disclose whether his company will use the CBS-Hytron approach. BUFFALO NEWS STATIONS SWITCH TO CBS: The ever-changing face of network TV — and radio — is once again reflected in the forthcoming shift of Buffalo News' pioneer WBEN-TV (Ch. 4) to CBS, along with its radio station WBEN (5 kw on 930 kc). It's second such defection from NBC since CBS began series of "raids" on longtime NBC-TV affiliates last spring, weaning away Norfolk's WTAR-TV & WTAR (Vol. 9:20-23). WBEN-TV actually won't change until next Nov. 2, when it becomes a primary basic of CBS-TV at present base network rate of $1125 per hour. Radio WBEN, an NBC affiliate more than 20 years, becomes "secondary basic" of CBS Radio immediately at $315, but because NBC contract runs to May 51, 1954, that network continues to have first call on its option time until then — unless NBC arranges earlier to switch to WGR (5 kw on 550 kc) whose contract with CBS expires June 1, 1954 or to WEBR (5 kw on 970 kc, MBS), owned by Courier-Express, whose editor is veteran radioman Cy King. Change caught NBC unawares, was engineered by CBS station relations v.p. Herbert Akerberg with publisher Edward Butler, his v.p. A.H. Kirchhofer and WBEN-TV gen. mgr. Robt. Thompson. Butler issued statement in Buffalo saying "we can't tell at this time when all the changes will take place" and adding that they were being made to bring Buffalo "the dynamic program facilities and resources of the CBS." First station in Buffalo and its only vhf to date, WBEN-TV has been basic NBC since inception in May 1948, had been getting choices of all 4 networks until uhf WBUF-TV (Ch. 17) began operating Aug. 17 and procured some ABC, DuMont & CBS. Second uhf, WBES-TV (Ch. 59), began operating Sept. 5. Since Buffalo's other 2 vhf allocations seem to be inextricably tied up in competitive hearings not yet held — and could be delayed for year or more — the assumption is that NBC will turn to one or other of the uhf and give it same promotional push it's giving new uhf affiliate WVEC-TV in similar one-vhf Norfolk area. That would not only be another fillip for uhf in another major market (14th in J. Walter Thompson rankings) but would further commit NBC to speedier program and technical buildups of uhf in general. Even CBS takes position it's encouraging uhf, and fast-rising ABC-TV & DuMont are necessarily committed to it. There seems to be little doubt about uhf's strength where it gets in first (as in Portland, Duluth, Fresno, Sacramento, Wilkes-Barre, Peoria, Rockford, etc.) and where it offers only competition in otherwise single-station vhf markets (such as Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Norfolk, etc.). But there's no doubt that CBS hit NBC where it hurt — not only its pride but its pocketbook. Timebuyers are still inclined to favor vhf, and uhf still has big job to do to build up comparative "circulation" in old vhf areas. Though later into TV than NBC, fast-moving and intensely competitive CBS-TV has also taken away NBC's long-standing lead in network TV billings. But the NBC-TV people are inclined to laugh that off as a "temporary condition which the sale of one or two daytime accounts will overcome." Actually, CBS-TV August billings jumped some $1,200,000 ahead of NBC-TV's (see PIB figures, Vol. 9:40). Also taken by surprise — and hurt — by the switch was CBS's longtime AM affiliate WGR, whose head is veteran Leo J. Fitzpatrick, the man who handled major shift of Detroit's 50-kw WJR to CBS a score years ago; WGR's gen. mgr. is I.R. (Ike) Lounsberry , ex-chairman and still member of CBS Affiliates Advisory Board. But the current legend in the broadcasting industry - that "network loyal ties are only dollar deep" ■ — is particularly apparent today, with jockeying for top position in TV the dominant motivation of networks and stations.