Variety (September 1961)

42 _ eee Galling the Shots Siitees Continued front page 20 jae from an earlier time period into & 10.30 Monday slot next fall, at a time when most of its former audience strength has gone to bed. For .NBC-TV: “Thriller,” 30°7; “Laramie.” 30°¢: the new Dick Poweil hour, 275°: “Cain’s 100,” 81°!; “Outhiws.” 33.5¢7: ° “InterNatiynaal Shawtime.” 22.577; “The Detectives.” 28.5/¢: new hour “eli, Fargo.” 30.5°7; “Tall Man,” $1.5 and “87th Precinct,” 30.5%. The azencies average out the fourth quarter on the NBC Saturday night features at 26°C, althouzh one or two of the features, gay the agencies, might go as high as 9 4) share. Among the non-participating shows of interest to the industry at lars2 might be the news and pthaffairs stanzas to be regularly scheduled next season: The agen. cies give “CBS Reports” a 13°F, ‘and “David Brinkiey’s Journal” 20%. Frank -McGee’s NBC halfhour is chalked down for a 15°o. At ABC, when the “Bell & Howell Close-Up” programs share the same Tuesday night hour as “Alcoa Premiere” dramas. the joint 10-11° p.m. share is 28°;. Ironically, the dramas are not expected to do as well on the weeks that they take up the full hour without B&H pubaffairs, because they are, in such eases, marked down for a 26%. The agencies determine ratings in advance for any.given web show in the fourth quarter by considering several things: knowledze of the producer, of the show itself «via screenings'; iead-in programming. lead-out programming, and problems peculiar to a network tlike ABC's difficulties in raising an ample station iineup for its live programs or NBC's heavy sked of special program preemptions’. Then there is the business of overlaying past performance on all new findings: how a certain, kind of film fares against another kind of film show or against a quiz or variety show or even one of its own kind. OF course, these predictions occasionaily show miscalculation, but that’s what makes horseracing. For ability of trained researchers to point out successfully the winners and losers in a tv season reflects, some think, on the whole makeup of commercial tv and also on the American viewing public. Evidently, the public doesn’t abide many surprises. The accuracy of rating projections until now is partial proof that the public likes its staples Fremantle Seen Continued from page 23 som “Ani F:emantle: from Australia, ma! Parade,” “Terrific Adventures ‘enues, and $8,850,107 in expenses; | of the Terrible Ter,” “Amazing Miss Eye”; from Britain, “Bom» Little Drummer,” from Italy, “2's World” and an opera hour Canada, “RCMP”; Ireland, “Oedipus Rex” pic starring Christopher RADIO-TELEVISION VARIETY ARB FEATURE FILM CHART WBBM {SATURDAYS 10:15-12:43 -Program: BEST OF CBS Ed. G. Robinson, R. 6 “WILD HARVEST” . -Alan Ladd, Dorothy May May 13 “THE. BIG LIFT”: a ene WBBM SUNDAYS 10:15-12:00 _ Program: LATE SHOW April 30 “CHINA GATE” Gene Barry, Angie Dickinson 1957, FOX, NTA, ist Rua 7 “DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE” Dirk Bogarde, Kay Kendall May 1955, Republic, .P.T May 14 “GOODBYE MR. CHIPS” Robert Donat, Greer Garson 1938, MGM, MGM-TV, Repeat | _Fisefrom . $10,560,279 to, $11,473,454. i Chi’s Upbeat Picture Chicago, second only to New York in profit totals, rose from $13,393,188 in 1959 to $14,630,691 lest year. The four Chicago tv stations reported a revenue total ‘of $41,082,455 last year compared with $38,853.073 in 1959. Expenses were pegged at $26,451,764 in 1960 and $25,459.885 the previous year. ; Listed in order of profits, the ifirst 10 ty markets in 1960 were: (1) ‘New York (see above); (2) Chicago ‘see above’: (3) Boston, three sta tions, $8.942.617 in profits, $20,- 034.196 in revenues, .and. $11,091,1579 in expenses; (4) Philadelphia, ‘three out of four stations report‘ing, $8,416,807 in profits, $24,928,284 in revenues, and $16,511,477 in expenses; (5: Detroit, three stations, $8,226,101 in profits, $18,138,798 in revenues, and $9,942,697 ‘in expenses;. (6) Cleveland, $8,044,-822-in profits, $16,894,929 in rev 117) Los Angeles (see above); (8) ‘Pittsburgh, -three stations, $5,849,‘456 in profits, $15,371,436 in rev‘enues, and $9,521,980 in expenses; 49, San Francisco-Oakland -three stations, $3,947,574 in profits, -$10,303,627 in revenues, and $6,356,053 in expenses. Average Rating: 17 Average Share: 43 April 22 ‘HOUSE OF STRANGERS” 1949, OX, NTA, ist Run April. 29 “SUSAN SLEPT HERE” | Debbie Reynolds, Dick Powell. 1954, RKO, Shew Corp, 1st Run. 1947, Paramount, MCA, Ist Run Montgomery Clift, Paul Douglas 1950, FOX, NTA, 1st un Average Share: 28 April 23 “UNFAITHFULLY YOURS” __ Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell 1948, FOX, NTA, Repeat Western Stations Take It on Chi Continued from page. 23 === 118 (see special, “The Rustic Singers”; from ‘above); (10° Buffalo-Niagara Falls, | $461.2 million (84.5%). and their . | control permitted by the medium (Continued from page 38}... 938,769 in profits, $8,916,456 in rev 10:30-12:00 ‘enues, and $5,977,667 in expenses; (15) Washington, four stations, $2,887,679 in profits, $11,831,164 in revenues, and $8,943,483 in expenses; (16).St. Louis, five stations, $2,802,123 in -profits, $12,433,587 in revenues, and $9,631,464. in expenses; {17): Dallas-Fort | Worth, four stations, $2,792,844 in profits,. $10,211,021 in revenues, and $7,418,177 in expenses; (18) Miami, three stations, $2,762,090 in profits, $9,247,336 in revenues, | and. $6,485,246 in expenses; (19) Baltimore, three stations, $2,'703‘642 in profits, $9,712, 385 in revenues, and $7;008,743 in expenses; (20: Minneapolis-St. Paul, four stations, $2.643,473 in profits, $11,461,224 in revenues, and $8,817,721 in expenses. _ toe Further data furnished by the ‘FCC report included these high lights:. —The networks and..their 15 j o&o’s received $640.7 million in total revenues last year, .Of this amount, the. webs gleaned $494.8 ‘million. (77.29) and their tv out|} ‘lets $145.9 million (22.879). —O?f the $545.5 million in expenses, the networks incurred. ‘Stations $84.3 million (15.5%). —Of total profits by. the webs ‘a ae. , jand their stations, the networks tft Second 10 in’ terms of Proj, Teceived $33.6 million (35.3%) _and Its ast ear Wee. ee miA in oennte their stations, $61.6 million (64.7%). three stations, $3,499,518 in profits, ‘In 1959, the networks accounted $9.875,078 in revenues, and $§,375,*: ; holr dr: ’ 560 in expenses; (12) Kansas City, |,; thetr dramas elsewhere. Mo., three stations, $3,213,661 in |"1O"S 63.6%. Recent American product ac-! profits, $8,536,649.in revenues, and| -—-Of 507 tv stations reporting qulved for distribution by Freman-| $5,322.988 in expenses; (13) Mil-|data in 1960 for full year operatle includes “Peter Gunn,” “Mr.| Waukee four stations, $3,118,213 tions, 389 (76.7%) showed a profit Lucky,” “W as in profits, $9,194,858 in rev-jand 118 (23.3%) a loss. Of the: 107 ucky, Wire Service, Yancey . D Hpeg be ca ” enues, and $5,977,667 in expenses; erringer,” and |“Beachcomber” |(14) Hartford-New Haven-New .Britand “Garlund Touch.” ain-Waterbury, five stations, $2, ACTION THAT ATTRACTS BIG AUDIENCES! “TWO FACES WEST” Plummer. In addition, Fremantle his a running agreement with' Britain's Associated Rediffision and Associated Pathe fo distribute ifor’ 36.4%. of profits and their sta ported a. profit and only 8 (7.5%) a loss, Among tle 328 post-freeze MACON MOBILE ODESSA’ } (Aud Share) 1070 (Aud. Share) 54% (Aid, Share) 65% Sourcer ARB, 1961. For Further Detaiis Contact . . \ ve. . . . SCREEN ky GEMS, ic. TELEVISION SUBSIDIARY OF COLUMBIA. PICTURES CORP. 711 Fifth Avenue, New York 22 PL 1-4432 Ls CHICAGO. — DALLAS HOLLYWOOD — ATLANTA NEW YORK -DETROIT TORONTO pre-freeze stations, 99 (92.5%) re-. '|drama titled “People Need Peo T problems of the Vietnamese peo: | one of which he'll produce and the other produce and.direct, will be | jand may be shot in England, COMPETITION a ‘STATION & PROGRAM AVG. RATING: Movie 5 WNB 10:15-12:00 ~ Wrestling WNBQ C 12:00-42:45 5: ae yhamp Bowlin Conte, Susan Hayward 1 10:15-11:00 8 bit Wrestling WBEB 11:00-12:00 ._ 7 Eichmann Trtat WBKB 12:00-12:45 2. News: J. Conway WGN 10:15-10:30 7: Lamour Divorce Court WGN 10:30-11:30 5 Californians WGN _ 11:30-12:00 3. Armchair. Theatre WGN 12:00-12:45 4° Average Rating: 9 COMPETITION ‘boat, STATION & PROGRAM : AVG. RATING Movie 5 WNEQ 10:15-11:43 9 News. WNBQ _ 11:45-12:00 7 Weather: Comments WBKB ‘. 10:15-10:30 a . Movietime USA WBKB 10:30-12:00 = “6 _ News: J. Conway WGN’ I, lst Run . 10:15-10:30 — 9 Festival Of Stars WGN 9 ——~|VHE stations, 254 (77.4%) report ed a profit. with 74 (22.4%) a loss. . —-AS a group, 81.1% of VHF stations showed profits. while only 9% a deficit. In 1959, 78.5% .of VHFers were in the black, and 21.5% in.the red. —The 72 -UHF outlets reporting full-year operations full-year ‘operations for 1960 were split equally with 36 in the black and 36 in the red. In 1959, 35 UHFers were profitable and 34 losers. Alcoa aemee= Continued from page 21 Gemaams rich talent pool opening up for the makers of tv’ dramas on films. It SS the only way to make the. “‘wasteland” bloom, a point of view nourished by the dreary assemblyline fare churtied out by the Hollywood film factories in the last couple of years. If filmed drama admittedly lacks the immediacy and flow -of the live show, Lewis points out that film also lacks the frequent fluffs as well. Even more ‘important .for Lewis in appraising the superiority of film is the absolute in’ the editing. process. “Every great documentary on television,” Lewis said, “is the product of great editing, a creative device not .available to live show.” In any case, Lewis said: “Live. drama on tv is ‘Targely a myth. When you're talking. about live, you really mean tape. And when you talk about | tape, you mean integrating many filmed sequences.” will have over shows like. “Playhouse 90,” Lewis pointed ‘out, will a three-act format for each hour ucts. But don’t get Lewis wrong, While initial stanza will be a oné-hour ple,” with a script by Henry Greenberg themed to the question of. community psychiatri¢: therapy, show, titled, “The Hour: of the Bath,” will deal with some of the ple. The two Hitchcock dramas, tongue-in-cheek suspense dramas Wednesday, September 6,1961 |. | that tradition.” will also deflate the ‘mounting |. lather’ of talk that live drama is]. Another ad-| vantage which the Alcoa series |i be single sponsorship, permitting show without the distraction of| ‘multiple plugs for various prod| | aiming at high artistic standards, { Lewis is gearing the Alcoa series emphasis on drama and melo-]. drama. As ‘presently skedded, the | Alex Segal is producing. Another | Balto WJZ-TV | aamet Continued from page 23 imme | ‘mate the financial outlay for the. Program at $200,000. . ' At the Leadership. Conference, | local and. national. spokesmen ‘will spell out: the scope of the city’s | problems and put forward. ideas toward solution. ~The . viewer groups, composed of citizens at | large and citizens active in im provement associations, civic orgs, . ‘| service clubs, business groups with 10 to 20 members each, -will. receive advance material on upcoming shows. They'll be able.to get together following the shows, and | WJZ and the University will act as liaison in’ communicating group | opinions to authorities involved. In a brochure prepared for civie groups, WJZ general: manager .{ John L. McClay says, “Service to. community needs is an -obtigation of communications media.as ‘well as one of their proud: ‘traditions. .| We feel that an. unremitting as Sault on-the problems. of community development, continuing for. a full year, is in-the best spirit of \Ty Followup. Comment | immmes Continued from page: 36 — | day (estimated). cost. to the. Times alone ‘for its own chartered: flight | daily to Frankfurt and Zurich. He was au courant with the news coverage of hoth.. The Trib’s corps of correspondents channel, everything via Paris so the Fren@n-baséd paper “helps itself first”. and then transmits to America: The Times. cenversely, which has: three leased cable lines and ditto: wireless coverage, channels everything: first. to New York and it’s: then transcabled back to ‘Europe, a. 6,000. mile journey, at high tolls. He mentioned Tom’ Curtiss, by name, as a sample of the Trib’s own localstaffers; own rate. results, own fashion editor (no. mention of Art’ Buchwald,’ incidentally) and) own local apreal, “which makes. it. fun: to read; apparently the Times. doésn’t want it to.be fun to read,” as“ he appraised the good gray Sheet’s stolid-news approach: But he summed it up that both serve American best in their excellent. image” abroad and he “hopes both prosper.” oe “Abel. Bing’s L.A. Indie mean Continued from page 22 hamemad . on Friday leveled a record fine of . $7,500 against KFWB disk ‘jockey ° Hal Murray, found guilty: of charges of “conduct prejudictal: to. the welfare of the union,” at formal. hearings. _ _ At same hearing by AFTRA board, union withdrew “without prejudice” charges «of “strike-. breaking” against: KFWB . disk jockey Gene Weed. Immediately ‘following the withdrawal of charges, ‘Weed informed the: board. of his. resignation from AFTRA. f qe |: EMMETT RELLY | ‘300. E. 51st St:, New York PL 2-1764 ,