Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

Television Digest WEEKLY JANUARY 11, 1960 ^_7^r960 TRiANaL^i^cX|[J^, me. >• H t960 VOL. 16: No. 2 The authoritative service for executives engaged in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS FCC FCC'S VHF DROP-INS proposed on basis of broad criteria, with no list of markets suggested. Change of engineering standards also proposed (pp. 1 & 4). HOT & COLD REACTIONS TO ROGERS report. Harris seeks stronger deception curb. FCC split on "censorship" issue. FTC's Kintner applauds report (pp. 2 & 5). PAYOLA & SNEAK-COMMERCIAL REPORTS filed with FCC by most of 5,236 stations queried. "Internal controls" listed include employe affidavits, monitoring, instructions & warnings (p. 3). FCC PONDERS ITS POWERS as programming-hearing witnesses continue to sharpen issues. Advertisers insist on programming role, say they have stake in improvement (p. 5). Stations NAB RELEASES CODE LIST to FCC (and public). It's at all-time record (71.8% of stations) of 372 subscribers (pp. 3 & 8). FTC MAY CITE STATIONS — along with sponsors & agencies — for fraudulent commercials. Five more record firms accused (p. 7). THEY SEEK CANADIAN STATIONS. Two dozen applicants are vying for 5 new channels (p. 9). TWO NEW STARTERS open up 1960 as KNBS (Ch. 22) Walla Walla, Wash, and KDSJ-TV (Ch. 5) Deadwood, S.D. begin operation. Reports on upcoming stations (p. 10). Congress LULL BEFORE STORM in Congress marks opening of new session for broadcasters. No punitive TV & radio bill introduced — yet (p. 4). Manuiacturing <E Distribution 1959 TV PRODUCTION totaled 6,349,008, according to EIA figures. Radio output of 15,619,809 was best since 1947 (p. 17). Elevenmonth retail sales figures (p. 22). OPTIMISM & ENTHUSIASM keynote Chicago marts. Manufacturers agree steel settlement presages banner year. Firm prices, stress on quality are outstanding trends (p. 17). IMPORTS UP, EXPORTS DOWN in U.S. electronics tally by Commerce Dept., which shows Jan.-Sept. 1959 electronics exports down nearly 5%, imports up 2V2 times (pp. 18 & 22). 23-IN. TUBES shown widely at Chicago marts. First 19-in. sets due in 2 months; new size seen as a natural (p. 19). AUTO INDUSTRY cited by Philco's Skinner as merchandising model for TV-appliance trade; urges selling on quality basis, de-emphasis of price (p. 20). FULL TV LINE planned by Ckipehart by June; shows stereos & combinations. Hybrid U.S.-German TV-phono-radio combinations shown by 3 manufacturers (p. 20). OPTIMISM ABOUT JAPAN THREAT prevails at the winter marts in Chicago; apparent in our conversations with leaders about color & b<Sw TV, transistor radios (p. 21). GOVT. ELECTRONICS FORECAST, by BDSA, sees consumer output rising from $1.95 billion to $2.2 billion, with total electronics topping $10 billion for first time; GE, Hoffman see good year (p. 23). Other Departments NETWORKS (p. 11). FILM & TAPE (p. 12). PROGRAMMING (p. 12). ADVERTISING (p. 15). PERSONALS (p. 16). FINANCE (p. 24). FCC'S 'INTERIM, LIMITED' VHF DROP-INS: Congress is back in town and FCC knows it. Hence the Commission's proposal last week to relieve shortage of vhf assignments in critical major markets — via mileage cuts & changed engineering standards, as predicted (Vol. 16:1 p3). Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash.) & Commerce Committee colleagues have been getting impatient with FCC ever since Commission on April 23, 1959 stated that "immediate steps must be taken to remedy the critical shortages of facilities in a number of important population centers" (Vol. 15:17 pi). Commission didn't list the markets it proposed to relieve, for 2 reasons: (1) The 3-man majority (Doerfer, Ford & Cross) — Bartley & Lee dissenting — didn't feel strong enough to do so, undoubtedly are waiting for Craven to join them. (2) It gave industry opportunity to make its own suggestions. Obvious candidates for list are previously mentioned Providence, Grand Rapids, Louisville, Syracuse & Rochester. FCC asked industry for comments by Feb. 19 (replies March 7), on its proposal to allow short-mileage drop-ins that meet 4 criteria — and your interpretation of the criteria is as good as anyone else's : "(a) The assignment would make possible a 2nd or a 3rd vhf TV station in an important TV market. "(b) The need for the additional service outweighs the need for any service lost GS a result of additional interference to existing stations. ' — . ' • ;