Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

Record Details:

Title:
Weekly television digest
Date:
Jan-Dec 1960
Publisher:
Washington D.C. : Triangle Publications, Inc.
Volume:
Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)
Leaf #:
000511
Language:
English
Subjects:
Television -- Periodicals, Television broadcasting -- United States -- Periodicals.
Collection:
Broadcasting & Recorded Sound
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
University of Maryland, College Park
Sponsor:
LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
A weekly digest of brief reports tracking recent developments in the U.S. television marketplace. Published out of Washington, D.C. with much more focus on the retail of TV sets than the other D.C.-based trade paper, BROADCASTING. -- Eric Hoyt, 2015
Date Added:
March 28, 2024
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MAY 23, 1960 © I960 TRIANGLE PUBLICATIONS, INC. f j VOL. 16; No. 21 The authoritative service for executives engaged in all branches of the television arts & industries SUMMARY-INDEX OF WEEK'S NEWS rcc MAJOR FCC POLICY CHANGE — deep investigation of all phases of station performance to come from new 25-man complaints & compliance div., if Congress provides $300,000 (pp. 1 & 5). MILLS FINALLY OUT; new talent hunt on for FCC member. Attorneys find no solution to conflict-of-interest problem (p. 4). FCC RECOMMENDATIONS on station sales and network regulation— as submitted to House Commerce Committee (p. 6). Congress "GREAT TV DEBATE" PLAN peters out as Democratic & GOP spokesmen join industry against Magnuson-Monroney bill requiring free time for candidates (pp. 2 & 7). Auxiliary Services CATV BILL KILLED by crash lobbying; sent back to committee in 39-38 vote after 100 CATVers descend on Senators (pp. 3 & 8). Film Tape COMEDY MAKING COMEBACK; viewers to find partial relief from Westerns as situation comedies prepare resurgence (p. 4). WASSERMAN PLAN REVIVED in Ziv-UA defection from Alliance as latter disavows itself from plan. WGA votes Tues. on proposal to end 18-week-old writers strike (p. 12). Networks GROSS-TIME BILLINGS were up 9.8% in the first quarter to $171.8 million, reports TvB. March billings gained 5.4% to $58.5 million, to score 1960's highest monthly volume (p. 9). Manuiaeturing Distribution 1961 TV LINES are unveiled by Motorola & GE; RCA shows new color sets, will introduce complete line this week (pp. 17 & 20). MOTOROLA'S 19-IN. CORDLESS TV stirs distributors at Grossinger's showing; sef-power unit is in production, carries $275 price tag, with energy cell $88 extra (pp. 17 & 21). MORE IMPORTS SHOWN at Parts Show, concentrated in components & hi-fi fields. Sampson shows Hitachi color TV, plans no b&w TV imports (p. 18). GE's L. BERKLEY DAVIS elected El A president (p. 18). Outgoing Pres. Hull sees electronics future "unlimited" (p. 23). Stereo de-confusion drive scuttled (p. 19). CHANNEL MASTER succeeds in new channels, selling half-million radios in year, grossing $33 million, antennas representing less than half. Picture tubes next (p. 21). REPORT FROM JAPAN by Commerce Dept.'s Donald S. Parris: Transistor capacity "over-expanded," hi-fi components next big export item; dim view of TV exports (p. 22). PHONO SALES up 30% at retail during 1960's first quarter; stereo increases to 75% of unit sales vs. 45% last year. Retail sales exceed output (p. 23). Other Departments STATIONS (p. 10). PROGRAMMING (p. 11). CONGRESS (p. 12). ADVERTISING (p. 15). TECHNOLOGY (p. 15). FOREIGN (p. 15). EDUCATIONAL TV (p. 15) PERSONALS (p. 16). MAJOR FCC POLICY CHANGE — DEEP INVESTIGATION: In one of most powerful moves on record, FCC has acted to create a full-fledged "watchdog" division — a 25-man complaints & compliance div. designed to track down transgressions of every conceivable kind — right in stations' back yards. Commission needs money to do it — $300,000. At the moment, it stands almost certain chance of getting it, because influential Senators & Representatives have been just begging Commission to request funds for this exact purpose. Whether Commission gets the $300,000 or not, it's setting up the division June 1 with small staff, perhaps 2 or 3 (chief not yet selected). Investigations will run the gamut — actually monitoring programs, checking program logs, payolaplugola, political broadcasts, stations' handling of public complaints, compliance with all pertinent laws, treaties & rules, etc. Investigators will even check on "participation by broadcast licensees in actual station management & operation." In "flagrant" cases, hearings will be ordered — in the field, if necessary. So significant is the (Zlommission action that we reprint full text of FCC statement on p. 5. Commission goes before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee May 24 (delayed from last week) to justify its request for funds. Group is headed by Sen. Magnuson (D-Wash.), chmn. of Commerce Committee, who constantly nags Commission to ask for "monitoring" & "investigating" funds. His House Appropriations counterpart. Rep. Thomas (D-Tex.) has done same thing. Some field investigations have been conducted by FCC before, but only sporadically & in cases of