Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

20 JUNE 20, 1960 Financial Reports of TV-Electronics Companies These are latest reports as obtained daring the last week. Dash indicates the information was net available at press time. Parentheses denote lass. Company Period Sales Pre-Tax Earnings Net Earnings Per Common Share Common Shares Acoustica Associates 1960 — year to Feb. 29 $ 8,106,788 $ 240,879 $0.63 383,625 1959 — year to Feb. 29 6,135,517 147,180 .43 340,150 Allied Radio 1960 — 9 mo. to Apr. 30 26,543,076 938,409 .92 1959 — 9 mo. to Apr. 30 22,918,118 851,179 .83’ 1960 — qtr. to Apr. 30 9,094,541 345,604 .34 1959 — qtr. to Apr. 30 7,950,216 314,392 .31’ Ampex 1960 — year to Apr. 30 68,113,000’ 4,013,000’ .55 7,270,000 Story on p. 19 1959 — year to Apr. 30 46,239,000 2,730,000 .38 7,270,000’® Avnel Electronics 1960 — 9 mo. to Mar. 31 6,875,563 785,337 .52' 1,512,438’ 1959 — 9 mo. to Mar. 31 4,557,929 547,430 .36’ 1,512,438" Columbia Pictures 1960 — 39 wks. to Mar. 26 534,000 .28* 1,302,109' 1959 — 39 wks. to Mar. 28 275,000" .08* 1,302,109® Desilu Productions 1960 — year to Apr. 30 23,406,100 1,596,559 811,559" .70 1,155,940 Story on p. 19 1959 — year to Apr. 30 20,470,361 496,266 249,566 .22 1,150,000 Electronic Communications 1960 — 6 mo. to Mar. 31 11,451,000 89,282 .13* 590,076 1959 — 6 mo. to Mar. 31’ 17,971,480 496,203 1.25* 382,866 Lab for Electronics 1960 — year to Apr. 29 1,225,880 2.23 1959 — year to Apr. 29 577,926 1.11 Pacific Mercury 1960 — 9 mo. to Mar. 31 17,365,987 — 302,972 .43 700,000 Story on p. 19 1959 — 9 mo. to Mar. 31 15,751,608 347,923 .50 700,000 United Artists 1960 — 13 wks. to Apr. 2 23,188,000 788,000 .47" 1,664,218 1959 — 13 wks. to Apr. 2 19,297,000 712,000 .43" 1,390,107 Universal Pictures 1960 — 26 wks. to Apr. 30 7,570,194 3,695,194 4.04* 892,190 1959 — 26 wks. to May 2 (899,266) (533,266)* 927,254 Notes Adjusted for stock split or stock dividend. ® Outstanding after 2-for-l stock split May 11, 1960. ® Record. ‘After pfd. dividends. “Outstanding Mar. 26. 1960. * Includes $2,622,000 profit on sale of West Coast lab facilities. ’’ Includes Standard Products Inc. acquired March 19B9. “Based on 1,664,218 shares outstanding Apr. 2, 1960. “After $366,000 tax credit and not including $3,667,387 profit from sale of studio. “ Adjusted to refiect 3-for-l stock split Jan. 1960. Foreign USIA’S FOREIGN TV DATA; Since Jan. 1, TV circulation in the Free World, excluding U.S. & Canada, has increased from 28,950,000 to 34,500,000 while the Soviet bloc total has risen from 5,300,000 to 5,600,000 — according to the latest summary by the U.S. Information Agency. At the same time, overseas TV stations have increased from 1,088 to 1,237. Though USIA doesn’t differentiate between regular-power stations and low-power boostersatellites, it’s assumed that most of the increase was in the latter category, as it usually is. The Free World accounted for 109 of the increase, the Sino-Soviet bloc for 40. USIA’s TV service now offers its programs to some 1,000 foreign stations with an audience of more than 100 million. The agency reports that more than 80% of all Free World receivers are being served by stations with — ^video-tape facilities — and USIA is supplying both 525and 626-line tapes. Most of the Commimist efforts to use TV for propaganda, USIA states, is in East Germany, where 18 stations have started since the first of the year, bringing the total to 38. USIA quotes East German TV-radio officials, asserting that broadcasting “is the most important weapon in our efforts to exert political influence on the West German population . . . Every program for West Germany is like an artillery salvo straight into the enemy camp.” Among other highlights of the report: (1) Costa Rica & Okinawa started TV. (2) Eurovision extended to a total of 14 countries. (3) Algerian network extended. (4) Rhodesia station due in Nov. (5) Japan now has 92 stations, 5 million sets. (6) Taiwan station due this summer. (7) Soviet bloc started “Intervision” network. (8) Soviet Union added 13 stations, now has 149. (9) Communist China now has 5 with the start of a Changchun outlet. Britain’s Border area will get commercial TV next year under proposed plans of the Independent TV Authority. Subject to final contract, ITA has accepted the application of a group known as Border Television to provide programs for 2 TV stations which ITA will build in the area. One station, at Caldbeck near Carlisle, is expected to be on the air early in 1961; the other, near Selkirk, has an end-of-1961 target. The combined broadcast areas of the 2 ITA stations embrace 500,000 people. Border Television, which will have its hq & studios in Carlisle, is chaired by John L. Burgess, managing dir. of Cumberland Newspapers Ltd. Among its directors are film producer Sir Michael Balcon. Among major shareholders: Glasgow U.; Brasenose College, Oxford; Cumberland Newspapers Ltd.; Tweeddale Press Ltd.; British Cotton & Wool Dyers’ Assn. Transmitter contract for Eire TV, reportedly approximating $300,000, has been awarded to Pye (Ireland) Ltd., which beat out U.S., UK, Dutch and German competition. The transmitter, with 350-ft. mast, will be built on Kippure Mountain, in County Wicklow, and is slated for completion within 11 months. The equipment will be designed for 405line transmission, but will incorporate facilities for a switching to 625-line operation. Construction has already begun on studio buildings at Montrose, near Dublin.