Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

’’""Television /V . JANUARY 18, 1960 © 1960 TRIANGLE PUBLICATIONS, 'ING. ^ VOL. 16: No. 3 The authoritative service for executives engaged in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS Congress REUSS CLAMP-DOWN BILL is first of many due as open-season on TV-radio starts in Congress. Its chances: dim. Payola hearings start Feb. 8 (pp. 1 <S 6). Film S Tape GE THERMOPLASTIC RECORDER excites industry at developmental demonstration — possibly heralding compact, fast, low-cost film-recording system, perhaps in 2 to 3 years (pp. 2 & 10). TV'S POSITION NOT SERIOUS now in Hollywood writer's strike. Good supply of scripts on hand (p. 3). 15 PILOTS AT SCREEN GEMS: Columbia subsidiary planning comedy, action, suspense in new series projects (p. 10). SYNDICATION'S BIG RISKS continue in a tough, competitive, $100million U.S. & overseas market (p. 12). Networks CBS GOES EDITORIAL, issues guide to TV & radio o&o's for speaking out on public issues (pp. 3 & 7). rcc DOERFER'S PUBLIC-SERVICE PLAN asks 3 networks to rotate responsibility for providing nightly 30-min. cultural shows. Networks considering (pp. 4 & 6). FCC HEARS INDUSTRY VIEWS in its continuing programming investigation; more to come Jan. 25th (p. 5). Manuiacturing Distribution FACTORY TV SALES totaled 6,285,000 in 1959, phono sales reached 4.3 million, radio 15.4 million. Breakdown of TV sales by cabinet type (p. 16). Finance SEIATRON "ERRORS" CONCEDED by pay-TV firm's counsel at SEC hearing on stock ban, but he says SEC registration statement was filed in "good faith" (p. 19). Advertising TvB STIRS THINGS UP with new study of recent trends in magazine advertising, which show rising costs, falling newsstand circulation and lower efficency for all but specialized magazines. MAB replies promptly (pp. 4 & 9). FTC FIRES BIG SALVO against TV commercials for Standard Brands, Colgate-Palmolive, Alcoa, Lever Bros. More pdyola charges also filed (p. 8). Auxiliary Services CROSS-CURRENTS IN TRANSLATOR COMMENTS filed with FCC. CATV proposes 5-year status quo, then shift to uhf. Stations caution against technical & economic interference (p. 5). Other Departments PROGRAMMING (p. 14). PERSONALS (p. 15). STATIONS (p. 15). REUSS CLAMP-DOWN BILL FIRST OF MANY: After slow early-session start (Vol. 16:2 p4). Congressional open-season on broadcasters got under way with bang last week. House investigators, led by Rep. Harris (D-Ark.), set Feb. 8 as D-Day for attack on TV-&-radio payola (see p. 6) and Rep. Reuss (D-Wis.) launched legislation to end all legislation for govt, controls of medium. Nobody took Reuss bill seriously as something which has any real chance of getting through Congress. Harris smiled when asked about its prospects. "No comments," he said. Author himself joked about it. But it did reflect anti-broadcasting sentiment stirred up by quiz & payola disclosures — and more measures like it can be expected before this session ends. "Improving the level of TV & radio broadcasting” is what he had in mind in drafting his multiplepart bill (HR-9549) to amend Communications Act, Reuss assured House. He added blandly, tongue in cheek : "Since that is the intent of my bill, and since that also happens to be what the broadcasting industry & its friends claim to want, I expect to have their support for this legislation." Reuss formula "to advance education & culture” via TV & radio included these ingredients : ( 1 ) Govt, requirement that all stations devote at least 20% of prime time to "public-service" shows. (2) Govt, creation of Advisory Board on Education & Culture, composed of non-broadcasters, to guide policies. (3) Regular monitoring of stations by FCC. (4) Competitive bidding for commercial stations, with licenses going to those