Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

12 Network TV-Badio Billings October 1953 and January-October 1953 (For September report see Television Digest, Vol. 9:44) EW RECORD billings for all TV networks were achieved during October, according to Publishers Information Bureau report, with NBC-TV for first time since May regaining lead from CBS-TV. Month also showed network radio well up from September, though lagging behind October 1952 and slightly behind 10-month 1952 total. NBC-TV hit $10,394,200, up from $7,748,619 in September and comparing with $8,076,848 in October 1952. CBS-TV jumped to $9,421,202 from $8,503,620 in September and $6,896,206 in October 1952. It makes 5 times each has held monthly leadership this year. ABC-TV broke $2,000,000 mark for first time this year, DuMont $1 ,000,000 for second time. Aggregate October billings for the 4 TV networks were $23,487,072 vs. $17,385,539 in October 1952; first 10 months, $178,975,411 vs. $146,228,170. Network radio’s leadership continues to be held by CBS by wide margin. The PIB breakdowns follow (for preceding years, see tables on p. 350, TV Factbook No. 17) : NETWORK TELEVISION October October Jan.-Oct. Jan.-Oct. 1953 1952 1953 1952 NBC $10,394,200 $ 8,076,848 $ 76,979,840 $ 67,385,750 CBS 9,421,202 6,896,206 77,367,723 55,315,230 ABC __ . 2,297,862 1,453,811 16,094,615 15,624,416 DuMont — 1,373,808 958,674 8,533,233 7,902,774 Total $23,487,072 $17,385,539 $178,975,411 $146,228,170 NETWORK RADIO CBS $ 5,477,711 $ 5,851,106 $ 51,433,455 $ 48,287,237 NBC 3,395,554 4,371,569 38,047,598 39,417,871 ABC 2,653,079 2,914,322 24,155,393 29,506,385 MBS . 2,172,526 2,304,804 18,927,729 16,839,304 Total $13,699,270 $15,441,801 $132,564,180 $134,050,797 NETWORK TELEVISION— January-October 1953 ABC CBS DuMont NBC Total Jan. $ 1,604,892 $ 7,083,619 $ 932,794 $ 7,604,638 $ 17,275,943 Feb. _ 1,481,032 6,621,620 862,299 6,876,029 15,840,989 Mar. . . 1,728,446 7,739,812 1,054,857 7,998,131 18,521,246 Apr. .. 1,640,597 7,770,181 819,398 7,513,430 17,743,606 May _ 1,813,985 7,622,432 864,870 8,052,545 18,353,832 June 1,607,320 7,399,078 803,848 7,324,315 17,134,561 July _ 1,299,471 7,422,337 511,047 6,903,092 16,135,947 Aug. _ 1,244,993 7,783,813 657,746 6,564,841 16,251,393 Sept. _ 1,376,017 8,503,620* 602,566 7,748,619 18,230,822* Oct. __ 2,297,862 9,421,202 1,373,808 10,394,200 23,487,072 Total $16,094,615 $77,367,723 $ 8,533,233 $76,979,840 $178,975,411 NETWORK RADIO— January-October 1953 ABC CBS MBS NBC Total Jan. -_..$ 2,674,622 $ 5,156,404 $ 1,786,134 $ 4,260,555 $ 13,877,715 Feb. 2,538,663 4,670,089 1,638,075 3,813,602 12,660,429 Mar. _ 2,797,544 5,526.360 1,995,478 4,342,082 14,661,464 Apr. 2,637,364 5,375,243 2,008,990 4,196,009 14,217,606 May _ 2,593,923 5,333,481 2,038,210 4,141,070 14,106,684 June _ 2,113,725 5,226,098 1,926,865 3,979 471 13,246,157 July 2,030,989 4,869,719 1,830,467 3,494,330 12,225,505 Aug. 1,958,683 4,790,114 1,738,248 3,219,250 11,706,295 Sept. 2,156,806* 5,008,238* 1.792,736* 3,205,675* 12,163,455* Oct. 2,653,079 5,477,711 2,172,526 3,395,554 13,699,270 Total $24,155,398 : $51,433,455 : $18,927,729 $38,047,598 : $132,564,180 * Revised as of Nov. 25, 1953. 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 satisfactory index for comparisons & trends. Five stations were interconnected this week with AT&T network facilities, making total of 227 stations in 141 cities now hooked up for live network shows. Newly connected: WKJG-TV, Ft. Wayne, Ind. ; KCRI-TV, Cedar Rapids, la.; WJBF-TV, Augusta, Ga.; WITV, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; WIRK-TV, West Palm Beach. Next on AT&T’s list, possibly for next week: WSIX-TV, Nashville; KFDATV, Amarillo; KFOR-TV, Lincoln, Neb.; KHQ-TV & KXLY-TV, Spokane; WWOR-TV, Worcester, Mass. Plenty of “shoppers” are out trying to buy up TV stations, particularly the well-established ones with network affiliations — but there aren’t many sellers in immediate prospect, apparently. Other than Westinghouse’s projected purchase of 49£/c of KPIX in San Francisco for $2,450,000 (Vol. 9:45), impending sale of Los Angeles' KLAC-TV to Copley Press for $1,375,000 (Vol. 9:46) and plan of Springfield Union and Rejmblican interests to buy into WHYN-TV there — none of which has yet reached FCC for approval — nothing seems to have jelled to date. This week, however, Variety, reporting “Lotsa Fabulous Offers Rejected,” states that a N. Y. syndicate recently tried to buy KSTP-T V, St. Paul, for $6,000,000 ; that TimeLife (with stations in Albuquerque & Salt Lake City) offered $5,000,000 for WAAM, Baltimore; that Bill Pape’s W ALA-TV, Mobile, “could have fetched him a tidy $2,000,000”; that George Storer sought to buy WATV, Newark, for $3,000,000. It also repeats oft-rumored story, always denied by Dr. Allen DuMont, that Westinghouse has offered $8,000,000 for DuMont’s WDTV, Pittsburgh. Note: KLAC-TV deal is understood to be completed, essentially as reported in our Vol. 9:45, with transfer papers due to go to FCC next week. British plan for commercial TV passed first test Nov. 26 when House of Lords, by 157-87 vote, upheld govt, scheme to set up network competitive with BBC after acrimonious debate during which group of influential Conservatives led by Earl of Halifax joined Laborites in opposition. Despite heavy vote in favor of commercial TV, opponents claimed moral victory, contending that between 80 and 150 peers abstained from voting. Govt, proposal would permit only spot announcements on commercial network, no “sponsored” shows as such, and would continue BBC’s non-commercial operation (Vol. 9:46). Fullscale debate on issue is scheduled in House of Commons, where anti-commercial forces are again expected to cite American TV as “horrible example.” Earl Jowett, Labor Party leader in House of Lords, quoted article by humorist P. G. Wodehouse describing U. S. and Canadian TV as “the foulest, ghastliest, loathesomest nightmare ever inflicted by science on a suffering human race.” Three new applications for TV stations were filed this week with FCC: for San Antonio, Ch. 12, by owners of KONO; for Ardmore, Okla., Ch. 12, by KVSO (John F. Easley); for Seattle, Ch. 20, by Seattle Construction Co. Among week’s 15 dismissals was application for Ch. 11 in E. St. Louis, 111., by KSTM-TV, St. Louis, now operating on Ch. 36 (Vol. 9:45); Commission returned it as “not acceptable for filing.” Pending FCC action are 402 applications, including 95 uhf. [For further details about these applications, see TV Addenda 17-U herewith; for complete listings of all grants, new stations, applications, dismissals, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 17 with Addenda to date.] TV tape recording to be demonstrated by RCA at Princeton labs Dec. 1-2 (Vol. 9:45) has excited enormous interest, being first public showing of TV tape in east. We haven’t seen the tape, but those who have assert it’s comparable with, or even “superior” to, televised film. TV film producer Marion Parsonnet, speaking to AAAA conference in New York this week, stated that RCA’s tape is “way ahead” of Bing Crosby Enterprises. Press and movie representatives will attend Dec. 1 session, Govt, and industry Dec. 2. New FCC hearing examiners, bringing total to 17: Charles J. Frederick, 44, ex-asst. attorney general of Iowa and ex-CAB; Isadore A. Honig, 42, ex-Office of Rent Stabilization and Office of Housing Expediter; Harold L. Schilz, 47, ex-NPA and ex-member of Washington law firm Clagett & Schilz.