Variety (April 1964)

ey Chicago, “April 14 Matters of .. wired. munications Commission’s cerns editorializing and. ‘political broadcasting, were among the prin-: cipal concerns of broadcasters. in'} their q.-and-a. session’ with the -geven commissioners at. the wrapup } of last week's National Assn: of. Broadcasters convention. The FCC Z boys, per usual, gave the customers | their money’s. worth, and it might } be said that NAB ‘delegates. this. year learned more of. value from }. the final event than from all the: rest of the wordy meetings. ° Im passing, three of the: commis-. sioners gave their bléssingsto: the chine ‘the trade for the first time at the conclave. Commissioner Frederick |. Ford rated the machine as having |. “interesting: possibilities,” Robert Bartley said he hoped Nielsen would look into. it,:. Loevinger opined that’ if. it ‘proves economically prattical “it. will be: a better rating | system Ahan. any available.’”” A question. on the -possibility. of: modifying the” fairness doctrine brought the response ‘from Com-. missioner Ford that the basic principles and policies of the FCC still stand. and that the basic document ‘would remain unchanged, . -but :he did indicate that. the commission: ‘would soon issue a “primer”. on editorializing. and ‘political ‘broadcasting that would. be a. collection’ of factual situations: on which the FCC has ruled: He‘ said, however, that broadcasters: would ‘have . to |. bear in mind that’ “what is -fairin one situation may not. be fair in another.” Ford and Loevinger: fell into. a: debate over the: fairness of -net‘works broadcasting election results. from the east coast ‘at times of day when the West . Coast polls are still open. “it may’ be an interference. by ‘broadcasting in voting: procedures” .. ahd he. advised the . broadcasting. industry to review the problem so as to be above | criticism. . Loevinger, however, argued that: it ‘was not the duty of the commission to see that-.all processes of democracy. be instrumented and. added, “I don’t think-we. can ban. it: on radio. and tv. .We can’t ‘suppress | the mews and shouldn't try.” Ford’s position. was that the. western voter. migiat be influenced by the reports | to go with the drift-in the east, while Loevinger allowed. that. the early tallies from the east’ could |: have just the opposite effect.. way.” CATV Inroads To a question on. the:inroads be Ing made by conimunity: antenna systems. into commercial television, ‘Commissioner Kenneth Cox ‘in-. dicated that the FCC was..con cerned about it and.that it had al-. ready issued rule making. proposals. anent some form of :regulation.. But Loevinger inserted. that’. an, industry has to expect moments of: ~-erises and he told the NAB ‘dele ‘gates twho. had heard their. prexy,. Goy. LeRoy Collins, .wage war on the pay systems only two days before) that “it will not do to. say ‘this jis ‘a. chailenge: and therefore ‘we must oppose it’, If. this.is‘the’ ‘ approach by broadcasters to prob-. ems. of your industry. you'll live ‘to regret it, because if you» want | regulation for your competitors you'll get it for yourself’ aswell.” Loevinger tors. He. ‘said. further, know the. answer to the pay. tv: problem, and I don’t think that | anyone else’ on the”. commission ‘does either.”. UHF Stockpiling ” Commissioner Robert .E: Lee: an-: swered a broadcaster whoalleged ‘that. television’ set ‘manufacturers were stockpiling VHF sets, and. that this was slowing the develop: | ment of UHF, thus: perience, there ‘is. no significant |. stockpiling of VHF sets -at ‘the: manufacturers’ .. pay-tv and { CATV, and of. the Federal Com| “fair| ness doctrine,” especially. as it.con| : ABC Happy Over mobile audience measurement maz|: (Tanner Electronic Survey |: ‘Fabulation). which was exhibited to |: and Lee; Ford’s: view was that} “O'Toole” “The voter in the west. might be’ so}. outraged by. the. trend ‘in.-the east {°. that he'd cast . his. vote the. ‘other ° admonished. broadcasters to adopt “consistent. prin-. ciples”: that would: be. as applicable |. to themselves as to their .competi-. “I. don’t: “From our €xi ABC’s Werner ‘Tribute. ABC-TV’s “Wide World. of ‘will pay brief tribute: to ace Yank skier Buddy Werner, 7 basketball. to feature ‘Bob Beattie, coach. | Of the U.S. Olympic ski team, “who claimed Werner’s.. body for’ return to. the: States. = + {on . ABC. The ‘first 30-market.: Nielsen ‘available. ‘since “O’Toole’s”. debut on ABC (for the last’ two’ weeks. of March) in the Thursday: night 9: to 9:30 slot; ‘find it. topping: oth. “Dr. “Perry. “Mason” ‘on CBS by a good margin.. In its half hour against. the hour | shows, “O'Toole”. ‘pulled: a 21 rat|: Kildare” on NBC-: and. ‘ing for a‘31 share of° “audience ‘against an 18.6 rating:-and. 27.4 Share for “Mason” and an. 18.8: and 27. 8:share for “Kildare.” . ‘duction | company, :. has” markets: already’. sold.’ night had .. little chance~ against “Lassie” -on CBS «because. it has | little: ‘appeal for. kid audiencés. Al-. though: Firestone could-be accused’ of a special. interest: in his new off-— web. syndication : package, it: ap pears. his crystal. ‘ball was none-the-. Jess unclouded. im Is On for Govt. Washington, April. 14. “The ‘boon: is on for. Federal educational: television money,. the gov -ernment’s etv ‘expert told: a House | ; Appropriations subcommittee. Lot -John Bystrom, ety. topperin ‘the ‘Dept: ‘of Health,: Education: and-} Welfare, told the House: Appropria-. tions subcommittee. thatnext year “will mark the peak of demand for teach-vee ‘Federal ‘grants. _ : Bystrom. was: justifying. the De .partment’s budget: request . of $15,-. 300, 000—compared: to. $6,500,000 last’ ‘year—with « ‘assertions. it. will -a Tiew. peak.* tures would reach’ $22, 700,000,:.he added, :But-even this: amount won't’ ‘be able ‘to:fund all the applications strom. predicted. | When asked: by: “subcommittee ° ‘chairman. .Jchn Fogarty .(D-R. I): -why only $934,000 has ‘been ‘issued | SAG WORKING ON NEW _ TELEFILM. DEMANDS} “to stations: sO far, Bystrom replied ‘the program is. going through. the usual ‘bureaucratic: growing pains | facing ‘any. new operation and. will ‘soon be going ‘full. tilt. . In response to..Rep. ‘John Lesin: | ~ : 8. Mich, who! wanted ‘to Imo. governing actors’ appearing. in vidLwere. getting, Bystrom .. estimated . the: few studies on this. estimated : average. ‘one’ out of six adult: viewers. for a: regular evening. “Storer: Divvy . Miami Beach, “April 14," ; “Directors of . Storer Broadcasting. level... It “doesn’t. declared a regular. quarterly ‘divi-. make good sense to them. There’ dend ‘of 45¢. per Share on. common | seems to be some’ at the tetail: i stock. level, in some cases. about. (Continued, on page. 45) Six} It’s -payable June 9 to holders of “record May 21, me “Sports” stanza’ Saturday \-(18) oF who was killed’ in that. snow | -avalanche at St. Moritz. :.Seg ||. will. . replace . | “Olymple | Arial: Sy -Show’s tribute is " expected: 7 “ABC-TV. is: jumping. with. ‘Joy: ‘aver. what: appears to be a long delayed. Nielsen. hit. The © situation | comedy “Ensign: O'Toole,” ” ‘which™ -madeé.an. unimpressive rating score| on NBC-TV, is knocking over tough |: competition in its ‘current re from 10 -to.15%. of _ the’. sets. in ‘| Europe." will be’. -able to receive}. color: 8.500,000 new. television sets; black and’ white of course, are purchased -|‘annually’ in'Europe. Price for the | color’ sets would. be. about: thrée | times that of | ‘the: black-white: Te-+. Britain's $ ; ABC J v | _Ifthe record. holds, there’ sa a chance’ that ABC. and. Four. Star |will get together. on a revival of. = first runs forthe ‘coming season. | | Meanwhile, Four Star. Distribution, |. the syndication: wing: of ‘the ine [ 1 e|“O'Toole”: reruns off NBC. on. the’ | market : for a ‘fall start : ‘with | top. 7 FSD. topper. Len Firestone. sev-. eral weeks ago. was. predicting that: -would’ take off in‘ its. ABC summer rerun, reasoning that: _the: show on NBC. early.. Sunday RV Appropriation | tie: in--with the -new. ‘demand. for: | all-charinel ‘tv sets which. is hitting ; coming in for. Federal. coin,: > By-: he German Vv Industry ‘forColor, Frankfurt, _April14. The’ West German television. set * ‘makers. are “getting ready for:color }. television. ° According to. a’ rep of} the. Philips’ company, the. German|| ‘set makers are prepared. to adapt|' ‘1 their color: reception séts to.:any |. one of ‘the three. methods, ‘Ameri-: {-can;-German or French, ' ‘which are a Now . available:. They are. waiting, -|.only: for word: from: the European a | Radio. and. Television. Union .as ‘to -| which: of thé three ‘methods will}: ‘be. adopted | for. Buropean trans “OToole’ Nielsens Inission. ° transmitted |: : from:’ Eurovision. ‘viewers, England It is also. expected that’ by: 1970, shows. Currently, ‘about celvers.. ells Rediffusion “London, ‘April WA that ABC-TV shows are: now being | ‘seen in the: capital on ‘weekdays as | well as weekends and ‘that. for the] . first. dime, ABC-TV’ has‘ effected: f: local program ‘sales’ to another. : 1 major commercial: contractor. on a | : | financial, not exchange,. basis: ees |“Rediffusion’: Ss decision. to’ “buy. | | from: : ABC-TV has now. “opened Ap. an. across-the-board _ ‘market «for “ABC-TV which; of. all. the: indies, | probably ‘has-: the. most * difficult ‘franchise to’ operate, carrying ‘as it}: does the full weight ‘of. production and. studio. overheads of. a :major . Station. while having: only. two days On: the air. — in ‘London on: weekdays, as well as at . weekends ming. notwithstanding the fact it-is. ‘only. a Satyrday-Sunday outlet. The}. nabe: stations incidentally, are .en|: .titled to take. what shows they, want: | when. they want. ; If ‘the request. is ‘granted by. Con-| gress, total: Federal.etv. expendi-. First effect’ of. ‘the: ‘screening’ ‘of “Big Night Out” in: London was to. | accelerate’: ABC-TV’S.: ‘trust’ in the. 20 toprated :shows, an ‘achievement which: may be: ‘duplicated. now -that ABC-TV shows. ¢an be: calculated other ‘three: major’s Product: . _ Hollywood, “April 14. . “Improvements” . regulations pix’ pilots. and. “tighter. restrictions on’: exclusivity . among” “proposals ' currently being a hammered . out: ‘by ::SereenActors || Guild, in. preparation. for: upcoming ‘negotiations with ‘producers:. ~ ik: SAG's. current vidpix | ‘pact : exe. -l pires Jan.°30, and it's anticipated} that.new negotiations will probably. ‘get under way. in’ May. “Meanwhile, Guild execs have. been holding | meetings here and in N-Y. Working ‘on new damanids to be made: when . they meet with producers. hoa “and on the third admirable: Hope for 66. Tecaff ‘ : The Philips spokegman intimated vs ‘| that. by* 1965, . ‘the final: ‘European, — system | would be accepted, and! ¢° probably’ ‘py the beginning of 1966, | the first’ color. shows . would 3) C 1) : | Big Night’ Show In “an! ‘unprecedented... -move, ‘Rediffusion, the London’ ‘weekday ‘Major. commercial ‘station ‘helmed by John ‘MeMillan,; hasbought’.11 |. “Big Night Out.Shows” from ABC-| wa... |-T'V, the weekend-only major which, ‘operates in the. North ‘and: Mid-| lands.” ‘Significance of the: buy is |” .Thomas-Sheldon Leanord comedy “eombine™ have. ended. -Desilu prexy ‘Lucille Ball . ‘has : ee {rep. are over. -“But now that ABC: can get shows (when Associated: Television takes-over from: Rediffu|. + sion); the. smallést ‘of. the ‘majors ‘can at least get-national, seven days a week exposure for its program Rogers,. a ‘Stamford,Conn., | ‘ing . firm, for.. $1,300,000. "Sale. is subject to approval ‘of. Federal Comimications Commission...“ on a full network -basis. as. is. . the | _ } Publishers of the:-magazine. bought: “| the-Atianta.indie: from Rounsaville }, | web jin 1960 for $1; ,600,000.° Esquire, ‘said station: was sold be‘cause his company. felt it was. not | getting © sufficient. return: from . it. and .wanted. to put their. capital to: work jn. other. fields... in ‘telefilms. -are|-. and Dayid . Brinkley. he was: assigned to. Bonn, «and -was ‘assigned to’ New: ‘Delhi about a N ¥. World's Fair impresario Robert Moses had: some “trenchant” | observations to make‘ in his luncheon address: to. the International: : | Radio. and TV Society at the Waldorf-Astoria. ob.” “We shall exploit every faculty and branch. of. human: knowledge : | .-.and look to you to broadcast what: we show... “-“Tf IT may. be. permitted. a broad generalization, ‘and assuming’ of Bethesda, — I hear tales, p ‘your audience to be a third young, a third. middlé-aged.:and a of third elderly, I -would. say that your. (broadcasting’s) influence on .. ‘| . the’first' group has as yet. been negligible, on the second improving, |. If this be. ‘treason—well, you hardly. =. . ‘expect a Niagara. of molasses from. one moving closer to: the Pool’ perhaps apochryphal, .but with. the ring ~~ ‘Of truth, . of ‘Programming based on haphazard. night. telephone oe a ‘calls by ‘rating services, sample. sausage machine ‘ballots, ‘applause’ =~ ° “meters, noiseless: Univacs, all accepted substitutes .for. ‘good judg-. . ‘ment and courage...No doubt. the most. conscientious juries of the ~~. : Nobel. and other prizes’ also’: make occasional. mistakes; but they . . are at least aiming: at. excellence without -artificial aids. © A ‘ribald. friend. of mine bet that he:could buy. Phi. Beta Kappa’ keys. at/pawn=. “shops: on the Bowery: He picked up: 18. in: an hour ‘and had the. .game success. with ‘foreign: decorations: Picking | winners | seems -. always to have been a. difficult business. : 7 “The critics have an. easy time. broadcasting from: ‘their ‘sinall. ; “Ivory. ‘Towers, amplifying’ catcalls and Bronx cheers. with ‘exuber-..”: ‘praise. tant. Spite,.or muttering in: ‘their beards. and. damning. with. faint ‘They: ‘build. nothing. They are the jeering section at the _ great games, the eunuchs of our battered caravanserai:: with: the wind. : “As the quaint. phrase goes, pay them: no mind.” .". They go New -Walper Division. Hollywood, ‘April 14. ‘by. Harry: Salter and Nat Ligerman, ‘slated to originate: from Hollywood..| | Salter, originator of radio’s:suc-. “ cessful “Stop. the. Music”. program, ‘has been signed’ by ‘Wolper. 3s con-. sultant’ and: will’ ‘work on the : new ty. y-project... oe Hollywood, ‘April 14. “Those: ‘negotiations: for: a merger. of Desilu. Studios and the :Danny any such “marriage, ‘and as a-.re sult the months-long talks involying Thomas, . ‘Leonard, Miss‘Ball; | and the “William. ‘Morris ‘Agency ‘aS ‘Feps.. of: ‘Thomas and Leonard, andMickey Rudin, as Miss. Ball's -Overtures | originally had: ‘been “made by WM on. -bebalf. of Thomas “and Leonard. SORE SELLS TIS . Atlanta, April 14. ° Esquire; inc, ‘sold its only. radio ‘| station, WQXI, Atlanta,. to Jupiter -@. Broadcasting: .of / Georgia, -Inc.,. property .of | Fox, .. Wells, .. and Transaction . ‘marks. end. of Esquire’ ‘s. entry : into broadcasting. A. . ‘L:... Blinder, © president of. “Anderton Exits NBC. NBC: News correspondent. Piers ‘Anderton, . who’s” .been Delhi. for the. network, -has ankled with. reports that he may. Join the cs ABC news: operation, . . Anderton joined. NBC News in’ ‘57 as a writer. for’ Chet. Huntley In: ‘May 61, year ago-in a ‘routine. shuffle es. _ correspondents, wal Code to Split | Piggy ot Tn. line: with © further. diversifica+ tion of corporate activities, a new “| “live” television . division : has: been a ‘originated . ‘by... David L. Wolper ">". Productions,: New. game, 1 panel shows: ‘will: be. ‘developed. and“produced: under this wing in: asso-| ciation: with.. United. Artists-TV for. ‘the 465-66: season. 2 First half-hour ‘program planned: | is “Stop the ‘Camera;” cocreated.|. quiz ‘and. ~ GEORGIA AM OUTLET invest .in New “Viewer Inpression Is i . Chicago, ‘April. 14. not: ban. “piggybac ie “commercials . but. instead will treat them. -as’ two: ° : separate blurbs. This. by’ way’ ‘of trimming down: “the | ‘appearance... of « -over-commercialization;” which: ~ Code... Authority. ‘director : Howard a ‘H ‘Bell sees as one. of: the: more: rent problent . with “commercial practices. » Said Bell, during the annual piteh y ‘for. the. Code at last. week’s National ‘Assn. of ‘Broadcasters -convention, ‘powl.: There. is no.. place ‘to -hide. What -goes on.:...The appearanceof: | over-commercialization ‘is: no: ‘less j/important: than. the fact. of over commercialization. . If three loosely | integrated. multiple ‘product: -anof nouncements ' impress -the viewer | as six commercials, then the viewer i. thas. ‘seen Six. commercials.” . The -|essential test .of: any’ broadcast’ | practice, he ‘said, is ‘public. benefit. ‘Merger Now Cold ‘{moral relationship to the question. .}of hard liquor’ advertising . which -’: Bell had nothing tangible to offer : on: the question of cigaretcommer-. cials and completely ducked ‘their the. Code prohibits. He did’ state; however,. ‘that he hoped..that~any.. -. Code. Authority at any early stage so-that difficulties can be resolved ‘before’ they. get out of. hand. ” . (A: ‘few. days. earlier, the® ‘Radio ‘Code -Review.” “Board proposed: amendments for tobacco -advertis-. ing, specifying that.the copy should | not ‘state or-imply claims regarding health nor suggest that: the. use of tobacco ‘contributes ‘to individual: t achievement or. ‘Personal: accept: : ‘ance a -As to the. new Television. Code. ruling: on’ piggybacks,. Bell. said, “Weare ‘merely calling : 2. “spade a “‘spade—and”. two ‘spades, | spades.” He: stated that the rule is | designed to.encourage the -produc two tion of integrated. product ome mercials which: will ° ‘be: ‘accepted. by the viewer as single: announce Ments. The matter :will be brought « to the attention of . . advertising: agencies, he.-said and added’ that . -| the: Code. ‘Authority. ‘was going to |. break new. ground ‘with agencies ‘| to. let. them : now. what the. .Code: a stands" for: Similarly, che reported ‘that. the = would ‘give more status to. the ‘sta--.. . jtions -displaying. -the Seal. .-Bell: ' called” the Television Code consvience -of the industry. “6 9 OUT og “the. Hippocratic Oath.” wy “He reported : that Jonah-~ Gitlitz. : {had ; joined the» Code: Authority: *. staff as his:assistant and. as a public... information... specialist. to _ instru": -. |ment: the publicity campaign. -Bell-.. indicated. that there was-a ‘possibil|: : on ‘the Code and.-:.self-regulation Mor us by. subscribing tations. tae | A new. amendment .to.:the ‘Tele-~~ | vision. Code, effective Sept. 1, wilF.. For ‘Live’ TV Shows: serious: aspects -of .television’s: cur. “The television screen is a ‘goldfish... problems ‘arising in the “sensitive ~ ‘area” of cigaret advertising would decided. she is,: not. interested. in. be called to the attention of ‘the. Code’ Authority “was. launching” a. | mew ‘campaign: this. year to. tell the: tory. of the Code Seal to the :publi¢ ‘so that they will know that. “some. one. other than: the FCC—the .in| . dustry: itself—is ‘eoncernéd | -about.: . television . problems” and. is work= * ing towards their “improvement. -°~ . Public: “understanding: of. the Code . : lity’ of a professionally-produced film"