Variety (December 1950)

Wecliiesday, December 6, 1950 TELEVISIOX SI RCA HIRE NARROWS Banki'ollers and their agencies are amused over dramatized com^ mercial rates in the Television Au- thority code. Rule calls for the payment of $60 for each commer- cial insert on.,a 15-ndnute shoNV. if a performer or announcer does two commercials arid two bill- boards on a stanza, his fee would be $240 for the broadcast and on a cross-the-board show it would amount lo $720 weekly, the spon- sors stress.- ^ Clients want the rule amended so that the work in dramatized commercials would be paid on a per-program basis. They are mak- ing strong protests on the rule and may try to negotiate for a change in the code directly with TV A. Asm. of National Advertisers is said to be rallying the sponsors and agencies to bombard NBC, which negotiated the deal solo with TV A during the Nov. 18-19 period when the other chains broke off with the union. According to CBS and other web toppers, the per-insert provision was unilaterally negotiated with i'VA in subsequent talks between NBC and the union in which col- lateral working conditions were hammered out. This, *however, is denied by both NBC and TV A. An NBC spokesman declared that the per-insert clause Was in the pack- age which it made wtth the union, but that through a “typing omis- sion” it was unfortunately left out of the rough copy which was pre- pared for the other nets’ consid- eration. TVA exec secretary George Heller confirmed this yes- terday (Tues.), adding that the sec- ond NBC-TVA talks were only on the chorus categories. TVA chief said that he was an- gered by other chains “trying to put the blame for allegedly onerous provisions of the code on NBC.” He said, “Actually NBC performed (Continued on page 38) NBC’s Pro Grid Deficit on Coast Hollywood, Dec. 5. NBC will take a $60,000 out-of- pocket loss for telecasting pro foot- ball games. Deficit would amount to $150,000 on charges for time, pickups and production crew. On the guaranteed attendance ar- rangement. Admiral (radio and television set maker) took a red- inking of $180,000. KNBH-NBC has first refusal on possible title playoff game in the-Coliseum Dec. 17. but isn’t interested in the $ 150.000 asking price by Los An- geles Rams prexy Daniel Reeves. Reeves said if KNBH bypassed the tilt*, it M'ouldn’t be telecast at all. Playoff game would be made po.ssible if the Chicago Bears de- feat the Detroit Lions next Sunday (10), thus tieingwUh the Rams. Sunday^’s Rams-Packers tilt was the only league game that exceeded the guafanteect attendance. Garsoii after lilt TV debut lamcntt Have*! Got Troubles I ah amuting byline feoture in . the upcoming 45th Anniversary Number SAG Sluffoff In Hollywood, Dec. 5. Coast TVA chairman Ken Car- penter charged that the Screen Actors Guild board refused to dis- cuss with TVA reps his new part- nership plan after studying it be- hind closed doors for a half-hour at an SAG board meeting. New plan differed on two major points from the original partnership plan which SAG also spurned. New scheme does away with a joint membership ruling and suggests mutual agreement before a part- nership is signed, Carpenter pro- posed that each union would, under the new membership setup, take_ its own issues to its own board and theri to membership. If both agreed, they yvould move together, if not each was free to move on its owm, respecting each other’s picket lines. Further, if either should come up with a new pact, the dissenting union would not be allowed to sign another contract which would be less favorable to performers on wages and w'orking conditions. Carpenter said TVA should have a voice in the vidfilm situation, adding that “neither SAG nor TVA should dominate,” but thesps shouldn’t go to sponsors, agencies.! (Continued on page 38* Washington, Dec. 5. RCA demonstrated further im- proVements in Its color television system here today (Tues.) in a spe- cial showing for the press, With ob- servers generally agreeing that the difference between its color qual- ity and that of CBS has been cori- siderably narrowed. In contrast with pi'evibus deriionstrations, pictures showed greater fidelity, stability, bright- ness and texture. The improve- ment in the reds and blues w'as I particularly outstanding. Some j observers felt the colors lacked the ! warmth, sharpness and brilliance ] of CBS tint. The face of Di\ E. W.; Engstrom, RCA veepee in charge | red as he appeared on; the screen for introductory reinarks. Oc-' casionally, a greenish tinge ap- peared in the background fabric and at times there was a slight haze. For the first time. RCA showed a converted set in which the black and white tube was replaced by a tri-color tube and circuitry was changed. In addition, a compan- ion, or “slave,” set which would be used to show color alongside a con-: ventional black-and-white receiver! was demonstrated. Biit Dr. C. B. 1 Jolliffe, executive ve®P®^ Ip' charge of RCA labs, would give no estimates on costs of such appara- tus in view of present unsrttled conditions. The companion set was shown as RCA’s answer to the FCC criticism that the system has no convert- ibility. It is, in effect, a separate set containing the essential com- ponents and circuitry for color which is wired to the black-and- white set. Its color performance was distinctly poorer than that of the converted set but the company contended that no converter can be built which can give 75% of the performance of a color receiver. Brig, Gen. David Sarnoff, RCA board cliairman, in answering questions from the press, called the demonstration “an evolution, a fulfillment of the promises we have made.” He declared that the absence of FCC officials from the demonstra- tion implied no “personal feud” and that an RCA representative had explained to Chairman Wayne Coy that commissioners we^e not in- vited because of litigation pending in a Chicago Federal court. As soon*as the court issues its decision, lie said, the Commission will be asked to observe the improvements. I If the Commission sees the im- provement. regardless of the out- icome of the litigation, and still Red Barber diicumi A Ne^ Facet in TV Sports Coverage one of tke mony InterMting features in f|ie upceming 45th Ahhlversary Number of Because of the “delayed action” attending kinescoping of TV shows, with the kine Versions of programs not showinjl up on many local sta- tion until two or even three weeks after the Hve performance, network producers have, been alerted to do their (jhristnias showings early, or not at all. For example, CBS’ “Studio One” is doing its Christmas presentation, “Mary Lou” on Dec. 11. That’s to .: pernrit the “Kine Circuit” to unveil \ it prior to Christmas. That goes for New Vear’s-slanted programs as well. “Mary Lbu,*’ based bn Mil- dred Cram’s short story, was adapt- ed to video by Catharine Turney, the film scripter. CBS last week issued the foliow- ign directive: “As we approach the holidays, bear in mind that refer- ence to Christmas, New Year’s, etc., I is undesirable on all programs that may be carried via TVR (Televi- sion Recording) in sections of the country, one two or three. weeks Hater.” ' The practice of piping in cafined [rommercials from points outside a studio where a show originates, and without benefit of dress rehearsal, may come in for some vigorous overhauling as result of the recent “nightmare” iriciderit that practi- cally induced ulcers among every^ body connected with CBS’ Saturday night “Sing It Again.” It was ope of those things that networks, agencies, sponsors and producers dread more than any- thing else—not only running in the wrong conimercial, but that of a rival product, tb boot. Incident occurred during the Arrid-sponsored segment of “Sing It,” which emanates from CBS’ Playhouse No. 3, in N.Y. The body deodorant commercial, however, is piped in by the agency—Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles—from the CBS Grand Central building studios: To the consternation of all, how- ever, a filmed commerciai extolling the virtues of the competing Stop- ette Spray deodorant (Arrid makes a point of cautioning people not to use the spray method) was flashed on the CBS video screens. There was nothing to be done about it, for it would take more than the 60-second allotted commercial time to make a phone connection to the plug-originating point SSC&B screamed. As a result, it will not: only get a rebate, but probably a free pipe-in on the dress rehearsal. Arrid previously had refused to shell out the $150 in- volved for the dress rehearsal on the commercial. Investigation by CBS and the agency disclosed that someone had put a wrong film in the can during some shifting around at the Grand Central building. Washington, Dec. 5. • Washington has passed the 200,- 0()0 mark in TV set circulation, sales last month reaching a new record of 17,250 rand bringing the Dec. 1 official estiriiate of the Washington Television Circulation Comiriittee to 205,835 sets for the metropolitan area. November sales figures turned out to be a big surprise in view of the heavy business duririg Septem- ber and October when buyers flocked to the market to. avoid the 10% manufacturers excise tax which took effect Nov. 1. It is likely that intensive selling cam- paigns during the month, in which major dealers offered sets ip" stock free Of the new tax? arid fear of shortages brought in the custom- Air Time, Not B.O. Problem, Blacking Out Telecasts Af DliClliri thinks RCA color is no better than 1/1 BSSkClDSlll in 1 niliy I it was or is only as good as the philarlelnhia Dec 5 1 CBS system. Gen. Sarnoff said, the Philacl^lpbia. uec. 5. , of compatibility, screen i Lack of available air time | god all-electronic . operation ' again black put telecasts of pi-o-: (Continued on page 38> fessional basketball in this city. I — ' " -— : I Pete . Tyrrell, ‘general manager, of I tbe WalTibrs, Philadelphia .club; ill the National .Basketball Assn., i said the club wants the games tele-1 vised but the stations couldn’t give;; international Alliance of Tbea- them the time! i trical Stage Employees has won ' Warrinre; nlaV here Tuesday wage hikes for 600 stagehands, car.- nr.d ™s^^ orniit^ and the penters.; property men and electri- three loeal ^ staliofs arc heavily ciaps emploj^d by the f : "he" team's gairics were telecast;, was reached . F ■ T^rms^ retroactive. to S^t. 4. ^iKcd .lensihg%f the local court lATSE WINS HIKES to Released for Tele By WOR—But for Royalties* “Juvenile Juiw/' ciirrently aired on MBS, has been released by WOR, Mutual’s Gotham outlet, for a televersion on other netwprks as part of a settlement of a three- ^ year-long wrangle over title own-, : ersliip, ■ Jack Barry and Dan Enright,' who package the' show, take over- the title today IWed.* and will shortly start peddling a kinescope audition pf “Jury.V Barry-Enright will pay roy'alties to WOR. which can amoimt to $25,000 in a two; year span. Dispute stemmed from the fact Columbus, Dec. 5. Edward Lamb, radio and TV station owner, today (Tues.) asked the Justice Dept, to investigate why his Erie, Pa , video station, WICU, was not permitted to tele- cast last Sunday’s Cleveland Browns-Philadeiphia Eagles foot- ball game. He also claimed that his TV station here, WTVN, and WSPD-TV, Toledo, also had been “discriminated” against by the Browns “in an almost identical P'.shion.” Lamb released copies of letter he had written to Attorney Gen- eral J. Howard McGrath register- ing a “formal complaint” with the denartment’s Anti-Tru.st Division. “We are arixious,” Lamb wrote, “that your department investigate the circurh.stances surrounding the refusal of the National Football Federation, the Cleveland Browns football team arid ABC, acting in concert with others, to permit tele- vision station WlCtJ, Erie. Pal the right of telecasting” the game. Lamb .said the station had a con- tract with ABC as a.gent for Sun Oil Co. to sponsor games, He also that Barry and Enright were on . .. : AVOR's pavroll When thc.v came up t.*>**t Bert Bell commissioner ^ ■ y-v AT IVT A * 1 rv 1 • Li^ ^ ^ A I I • I ■ A M squad. Tyrrell left the door openwith crease over their previous weekly ' be^topy to * triiiiimum of $104.36. New category *hav^h“Wtlv^ head stagehands will get an :up a deaT'with''anFstaSow^ comes rip with a sponsor and air' get a 3ya tilt, trine ’’ Effect of television on tlm j Union’s demand for a pens on into the sub- plan is in abeyance temporarily. tT « all Lalfyea? thd War^ H *f3 Agreeable to legalltes on both ' ioll^lxed TV anWan^^^^ sides, a checkoff ^system may be lance low. This year, the local set up to deduct individual dribblers are leading the eastern ers'. contributions to the p an, but d vision and video is figured to the managements will not con- era, 1J r . f ^ I. help. : J i tribute. 1 y with the idea; While the station didn’t contest their rigbl. to the .shovv. It said it owned trie title. WOR will hold on to other sub-. . sidiary rights -until, the present ra- ' dio contract expires in December, ,1951. after which time the AM ; airer could be shifted to another •web. General Foods, which bankrolls / the am edition. wiU get first crack at the tCleversion. Outfit backed it on a 16-week trial run oh video a couple of years ago; B-E outfit 1 was willing to pay for the title and I TV rights now because similar kid- i panel programs are making the ; rounds. “Jury” producers have ' warned nets that if they screen a : stanza aliegedly infringing on their property, legal action will be Uaken. / < , of National Football League, and Paul Brown, coach of Browns, “orevailed uoon ABC tb refuse telecast rights to WiCU.” Lamb said they gave as their reason that a special train was to carry Erie residents to the ganie arid that telecast might hurt ticket sales for excursion. Pkilco Ckhgea Mind, Phlico has reversed its decislori to drop half of the Don McNeill television show on ARC^TV, and has renewed the full hour. Manufacturer also backs a seg- . ment of the McNeill ^“Breakfast ; , .< ri r^Uiub” on ABC’s r^io.|«eb,^