Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

14 NBC’s NEW PRESIDENT is Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver, with Robert W. Sarnoff as executive v.p., both elected at board meeting Dec. 4, effective immediately. Selections weren’t unexpected, may be followed by further shuffling of top staff — including probably separate executive heads in charge of TV and radio operations. Weaver continues to be vice chairman of NBC board, reports to Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, RCA-NBC chairman, who stated he will continue to take an “active interest” in NBC. Gen. Sarnoff has been acting pres, since resignation of Frank White in July after serving only 6 months (Vol. 9:30). Pat Weaver is 44, Bob Sarnoff 35 — a team which Weaver, in closed-circuit broadcast to NBC affiliates, said aims to “make NBC the greatest social force and the greatest selling force in the nation.” Weaver has been in charge of both TV and radio networks since summer of 1952, recently detailed to color. He has been responsible for many innovations, including the 7-9 a.m. Today with Dave Garroway, which he started 2 years ago in face of strong criticism both within and outside his company and which he saw grow into a participating show that not only is “changing the habits of America” but accounts for some $5,000,000 in annual billings— the largest in TV. Weaver is a native of Los Angeles, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth ’30. He started in radio in 1932 as a writer for KHJ, Los Angeles, became N. Y. mgr. for Young & Rubicam in 1935, and in 1938 (at 30) adv. mgr. of big American Tobacco Co. He served in the Navy 2 years, commanding an escort vessel, rejoining American Tobacco after the war, returning to Y&R in 1947 as TVradio v.p., joining NBC in 1949. Young Sarnoff is eldest of 3 sons of Gen. Sarnoff, was graduated from Harvard in 1939, attended Columbia Law School for a year, was in the Navy 3 years, returned in 1945 to be asst, to Gardner Cowles Jr., publisher of Look. He joined NBC in 1948, was elected a v.p. in 1951, named head of film div. in 1952. He was prime mover in production of NBC-Navy documentary Victory at Sea, for which he received the Navy’s distinguished service award. He’s likely to be succeeded as head of film division by Carl L. Stanton, his right-hand man there. SB Plane crash in which Michigan’s ex-Gov. Kim Sigler and 3 companions were killed after hitting 550-ft. tower of upcoming WBCK-TV, Battle Creek (Ch. 58), was third such tragedy involving TV or radio tower in 4 months. CAA officials said ceiling was only 400 ft. at time of Michigan crash, allowing some 150 feet of tower to project into overcast. WBCK-TV tower was knocked dovto. It had Jan. 1 target date, hasn’t yet estimated how long debut will be delayed. Two previous crashes this year were fatal for 30 persons: 2 were killed Aug. 8 when light plane struck guy wire of 1036-ft. tower of WHUM-TV, Reading, Pa. (Vol. 9:33); 28 died Sept. 16 when airliner hit two 346-ft. towers of radio WPTR, Albany. CAB this week released results of investigation of Aug. 8 crash, placing all blame on pilot. It said ceiling was only 200 ft., yet pilot attempted to fly by visual flight rules (without instruments). CAB staff analysis also blamed pilot for “failure to observe objects.” CAB has completed public hearings on Albany crash, and has begun probe of Michigan disaster. Besides “inventing” TV, these Soviet “firsts” as reported by AP from London monitor of Russian radio: “Soviet TV has outstripped American TV as regards clearness of reception. Color TV is being worked on. It is the aim of the designers to bring color TV out of the experimental stage in 1954-55.” (Presumably that’s time enough for Soviet agents to deliver the specifications on U. S. equipment.) Three of the 5 applicants for Buffalo’s Ch. 7 withdrew this week and formed new corporation, Great Lakes TV Inc., filing new application for the channel. New firm is equally owned by the 3 dropouts — Buffalo Courier -Exrrres * (WEBR), Copper City Bcstg. Co. (WKTV, Utica & WKAL, Rome, N. Y.) and Cataract Theatre Corp. & WPIT, Pittsburgh (each of which had 50% of old Frontier TV Inc. application). Also filed this week was application for newly assigned Ch. 6 in Milwaukee (allocated to nearby Whitefish Bay) by WMIL, which also filed request to dismiss its CP for Milwaukee’s Ch. 31 (see p. 4) ; application for Selma, Ala., Ch. 8, by group led by Wm. E. Benns Jr., half owner of Vulcan Tower Co. and Wm. J. Brennan, mgr. of WBAM, Montgomery; application for Indianapolis, Ch. 13, by Crosley Bcstg. Co., whose application for Ch. 8 there was dismissed this week at applicant’s request. These 4 applications, together with 10 dismissals and week’s 10 grants, left total applications pending at 386, including 86 uhf. [For further details about these applications, see TV Addenda 17 -V herewith; for complete listings of all grants, new stations, applications, dismissals, hearings, etc., see TV Factbook No. 17 with Addenda to date.] Restoration of baseball TV-radio curbs, scrapped in 1951 under pressure from Justice Dept., was urged by minor leagues, meeting this week in Atlanta. Resolution by Sen. Johnson (D-Colo.), pres, of Western League, was passed unanimously, will be submitted next week to major league meeting. Principal points: (1) Commercial TV-radio broadcasts of big league games would be barred in minor league cities on dates when the minor league club is playing at home or away, unless minor league club gives its consent. (2) Sustaining TV-radio coverage would be permitted without restrictions. Major league meeting next week may consider proposal for NCAA-type “game of the week” TV series on Saturday afternoons, involving all 16 big league clubs, to be sold to sponsor for about $2,000,000. Chemical Bank & Trust Co., N. Y., reported to be planning to become active in TV picture financing, following announcement it’s backing Telemount-Mutual Productions’ series of 13 Cowboy G-Men. Bankers Trust Co. is bankrolling Mark VII Productions’ Dragnet, and expansion of more big banks into TV films is regarded as certain. Channel shifts & power increases: WXEL, Cleveland, Dec. 10 moves from Ch. 9 to 8, increases antenna height from 437 to 778 ft., changes from 6 to 12-bay antenna. KFOR-TV, Lincoln, Neb., has increased ERP from 11 to 59 kw. RCA Dec. 3 shipped 50-kw amplifier to WAAM, Baltimore. Added to AT&T’s TV network facilities this week were KFDA-TV, Amarillo, Tex. and WSIX-TV, Nashville, making total of 230 interconnected stations in 143 cities. Next on list to be interconnected are WWOR-TV, Worcester, Mass, and WTOV-TV, Norfolk. KSTM-TV, St. Louis (Ch. 36) announces sale of 10% interest to East St. Louis Journal, one of Lindsay-Schaub newspaper group. Bound and Indexed We will index and bind, between embossed hard book covers, a limited quantity of all 1953 issues of the Television Digest Weekly Newsletters, plus the semi-annual TV Factbooks with all Addenda, plus all Supplements and Special Reports. This volume will provide a handy and handsome permanent refence for your own or your company library. Orders will be taken only until Jan. 5. Price: $25 per volume.